Successful Concept Demonstration at Pacific Grove Triathalon
The XSSPP-1 (Experimental Solar Station Power Platform-Increment 1) was employed during operations at the Pacific Grove Triathalon on September 19, 2007. The XSSPP-1 demonstrated the ability to recharge the main battery powering the W1VXA deployable radio station even with cloud cover limiting the amount of available sunglight. Two main limitations were the slow rate at which charging occurred (approximately 4 hours to increase battery strength by 0.8 volts), and the inability to connect both the XSSPP-1 and the radio to the battery at the same time.
Increment 2 will attempt to address the latter issue with the addition of a power distribution assembly (PDA) that will monitor battery voltage, and switch the solar charger on and off when battery voltage reaches preset thresholds. XSSPP-2 is currently in the conceptual design state, with an initial prototype scheduled for the end of 2009.
Increment 3 involves the addition of solar collectors to increase power output. Work on XSSPP-3 will start after a successful operational demonstration of Increment 2.
