This page is maintained with specifications for power components which represent the current best-practices employed by UNAVCO in the Polar Permanent GPS Station design. Specifications are subject to change as the design evolves, however the most current design will reside here. There are two fundementally different power systems detailed below.
The Antarctic Margin (Coastal) Station is designed to operate in high wind environments but without the extreme cold found on the Antarctic Plateau. This system has been fielded in quantity as part of the POLENET project in Greenland and Antarctica.
The Plateau Station is designed to operate during longer winter darkness and extreme cold but with much milder winds. Three systems are currently deployed on the Antarctic Plateau, with preliminary specifications and drawings presented here.
| Component |
Photo |
Manufacturer |
Part Number (click for PDF drawing) |
Description |
Weight (lb) |
Cube (ft^3) |
Why? |
| Solar Panel |
 |
Sharp |
NE-80EJEA |
12VDC, 80W. See Structural Systems page for
mounting braces and backing plates for solar panels. |
Panel only: 21 |
Panel only: 1
(47.25"x21.1"x1.8") |
Robust structural frame and panel face. Sealed junction box with good terminals and knockouts for 1/2" cable
gland fittings. |
| Solar Regulator |
 |
Flexcharge |
NC30L12 |
Temperature compensated battery charge regulator. Order with integral wires (no screw terminals),
LVD OFF at 11.0V / ON at 12.85V, and UNAVCO custom temperature compensation.
Regulator power draw is < 0.1 Watt. |
Incl. in electronics assembly |
Incl. in electronics assembly |
Standard regulator for UNAVCO permanent stations worldwide, proven reliability at polar stations. Low parasitic power draw,
available without screw terminals which can loosen over time. Custom temperature compensation ensures charge voltage
stays within battery specifications. |
| Wind Regulator |
 |
Flexcharge |
NC25A-12 |
Temperature compensated battery charge regulator. Order with integral wires (no screw terminals)
and UNAVCO custom temperature compensation.
Regulator power draw is < 0.1 Watt. |
Incl. in electronics assembly |
Incl. in electronics assembly |
Handles switching under higher voltages produced by wind turbines and diverts excess power to heating elements when
batteries fully charged. Regulation is required even with low-power Forgen 500 turbine, which can overcharge and damage
batteries at the windiest Antarctic sites. Flexcharge solar and wind regulators work seamlessly together
and maintain battery charging within normal voltage range. |
| Heating Pad |
 |
STEP Warmfloor |
VEP-23-2-22W |
Self-regulating heat pad. Available in range of sizes, shapes, and nominal resistance values. Can be powered by solar panel
to heat batteries for improved charging in early and late summer. Also used as divert load for wind turbine. |
3 |
<0.5 |
Rugged vinyl-encapsulated design. Electro-plastic self-regulates at molecular level; resistance increases with increasing
temperature. Use in parallel or series for specific duty. Large size results in low power dissipation per area without hot spots. |
| Sealed Lead-Acid (SLA) Battery |
 |
East Penn Deka
Identical battery also supplied by MK Battery |
8G31ST
Deka Solar Battery Brochure[pdf]
Deka SLA Battery Technical Manual [pdf]
Deka VRLA Battery MSDS [pdf]
|
12V, 98 amp-hour, deep cycle, sealed lead acid gel cell for solar applications. ST model with two threaded stud terminals. |
70 |
1
(13"x9.5"x7") |
Gel-cell technology used by UNAVCO and numerous others at multi-year polar installations with good success. Very little difference observed in polar performance between AGM and Gel batteries, qualified with cold-chamber test. |
| SLA Battery Wiring Harness |
 |
Optimum Systems |
PPS-DC-005 revB |
2-way Weatherpack connectors with 13" red/black leads and 3/8" heavy-duty crimp ring terminals. See below for SLA Battery Wiring Harness Assembly. |
Incl. in battery |
Incl. in battery |
Robust connectors. Reduces field wiring time and accidental mis-wiring. Batteries are pre-wired with male/female
harness elements prior to deployment. |
| SLA Battery Wiring Harness Assembly |
|
UNAVCO |
PPS-DC-004 revC
sheet 1
sheet 2 |
Shows wiring for banks of 10 and 6 batteries in parallel. |
|
|
Connect batteries in a ring circuit so that any one broken connection will not cause loss of power. |
| SLA Battery Transport Case |
 |
Battery Mart |
BOX-27 |
Fits one 8G31 battery. |
4 |
1
(16.5"x10.5"x8.75") |
Inexpensive transport case for batteries. For air transport within the USAP as well as most Arctic areas, batteries
must be enclosed in separate carrying cases. |
| Lithium-ion Battery |
 |
Tadiran
Distributed by
EVS Supply |
TLP93101/E/L
TL-4930 spec sheet [pdf]
HLC-1550A spec sheet [pdf]
TL-4930 MSDS [pdf]
|
18V, 190 amp-hour, non-rechargeable, lithium thionyl chloride battery pack provide backup power for GPS receiver (no comms). Each pack consists of 50 TL-4930 and 5 HLC-1550A in series-parallel arrangement.
Batteries are hazardous materials but can be air-shipped when in manufacturer's original packaging. UN number 3090. |
Each pack: 12 |
Each pack: 1
(13"x6"x3") |
Expensive and non-rechargeable, but very high power density and power delivery in extreme cold (55% capacity at -50C). Pack is engineered to deliver specific steady-state and transient currents. Can be used to provide winter backup power to GPS receiver and/or to lighten overall system weight. |
| Lithium Battery Wiring Harness |
 |
EVS Supply |
|
2-way Weatherpack connectors to connect 10 lithium battery packs in parallel |
Incl. in battery |
Incl. in battery |
Robust connector, reduces field wiring time and accidental mis-wiring. Order batteries pre-wired with
mating connectors. |
| Power Cable |
 |
Polar Wire Products |
AUF-TC142 |
14 gauge, 2 conductor power cable (red and black). Connectors and cable assemblies
also accept 12 gauge, 2 conductor cable (P/N AUF-TC122). |
|
|
Extremely rugged cable, tested flexible to -50C. Suitable for use at all polar locations. |
Cable Assembly:
Internal Solar |
 |
PEI Genesis
Contact for all UNAVCO parts: PEI Genesis Arizona Office |
HA-070051-02 revE |
Connects Power Board wind terminals to solar pass-thru connector on enclosure wall. |
|
|
Power connections use commercial versions of MIL-DTL-5015 bayonet circular connectors. Connectors are a well-proven design and are environmentally sealed. Large form factor and 1/4 turn bayonet engagement allow easy connection with gloved hands. Unique pin arrangements for solar (2-pin), battery (4-pin with two blanks), and wind (4-pin with two blanks, rotated 120 degrees) prevent mis-engagement. Connectors use large-size crimp contacts.
Internal cables are potted for sealing and strain relief, ends are stripped and tinned for insertion to terminal blocks |
Cable Assembly:
Internal Battery |
 |
PEI Genesis |
HA-070051-03 revE |
Connects Power Board battery terminals to battery pass-thru connector on primary enclosure wall. Also connects auxilliary battery bank to auxilliary enclosure wall if more than one battery enclosure used. |
|
|
Internal cables are potted for sealing and strain relief, ends are stripped and tinned for insertion to terminal blocks |
Cable Assembly:
Internal Wind |
 |
PEI Genesis |
HA-070051-01 revE |
Connects Power Board wind terminals to wind pass-thru connector on enclosure wall. |
|
|
Internal cables are potted for sealing and strain relief, ends are stripped and tinned for insertion to terminal blocks |
Cable Assembly:
Internal Met |
 |
PEI Genesis |
HA-090080-01 revB |
Connects Power Board load terminals and GPS DB9 serial port to met pass-thru connector on enclosure wall. |
|
|
Internal cables are potted for sealing and strain relief, ends are stripped and tinned for insertion to terminal blocks. |
Cable Assembly:
External Solar |
 |
PEI Genesis |
HA-070051-04 revF |
Connects solar pass-thru connector on enclosure wall to solar panel. |
|
|
External cables are potted and overmolded for sealing, strain relief, and ease of handling. |
Cable Assembly:
External Battery |
 |
PEI Genesis |
HA-070051-05 revE |
Connects battery pass-thru connector on primary enclosure wall to pass-thru connector on auxilliary battery enclosure wall if used. |
|
|
External cables are potted and overmolded for sealing, strain relief, and ease of handling. |
Cable Assembly:
External Wind
(Antarctic Margin system) |
 |
PEI Genesis |
HA-080044-01 revC |
Connects wind pass-thru connector on enclosure wall to Forgen 500 wind turbine (Antarctic Margin system).
Wind turbines assembled with these cables by the manufacturer (uses 2-conductor 18-gage power cable). |
|
|
External cables are potted and overmolded for sealing, strain relief, and ease of handling. |
Cable Assembly:
External Met |
 |
PEI Genesis |
HA-090080-02 revB |
Connects met pass-thru connector on enclosure wall to Vaisala weather station. |
|
|
External cables are potted and overmolded for sealing, strain relief, and ease of handling. |
Connector:
Wind Turbine Cable
(Antarctic Plateau system) |
 |
PEI Genesis |
ITT Cannon CB6U18-10SXC |
Straight cable plug to connectorize Plateau wind generator cable, with crimp contacts. Cables terminated at UNAVCO with professional hand tools and epoxy system. |
|
|
Connectors potted for sealing and strain relief. |
Connector:
Solar Pass-thru |
 |
PEI Genesis |
ITT Cannon TBF18-3PSB |
Bulkhead pass-thru connector mounted to wall of primary enclosure. |
|
|
Bulkhead connector eliminates cables hard-mounted to enclosure. Connector uses O-ring seal. |
Connector:
Battery Pass-thru |
 |
PEI Genesis |
ITT Cannon TBF18-10PSB |
Bulkhead pass-thru connector mounted to wall of primary enclosure. |
|
|
Bulkhead connector eliminates cables hard-mounted to enclosure. Connector uses O-ring seal. |
Connector:
Wind Pass-thru |
 |
PEI Genesis |
ITT Cannon TBF18-10PSXB |
Bulkhead pass-thru connector mounted to wall of primary enclosure. |
|
|
Bulkhead connector eliminates cables hard-mounted to enclosure. Connector uses O-ring seal. |
Connector:
Met Pass-thru |
 |
PEI Genesis |
ITT Cannon TBF18-11PSB |
Bulkhead pass-thru connector mounted to wall of primary enclosure. |
|
|
Bulkhead connector eliminates cables hard-mounted to enclosure. Connector uses O-ring seal. |
| Nut Plate |
 |
PEI Genesis |
M85528/2-18A |
For mounting bulkhead pass-thru connectors with 4-40 x 1/2" socket head cap screws. |
|
|
Makes life much easier when assembling. |
| Seal Ring |
 |
PEI Genesis |
980-8554-000 |
Internal seal ring for all power connector plugs above. |
|
|
Spare seal rings. Seal rings inside connectors can occasionally fall out and connector will not engage properly. |
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