Temperature requirements
Working temperature range: Photovoltaic street light controllers generally have a suitable working temperature range. Usually, its working temperature should be between -20 ℃ and 60 ℃. Within this temperature range, the electronic components inside the controller can operate normally. For example, when the temperature is below -20 ℃, the performance of some semiconductor components may be affected, such as the amplification factor of transistors may change, resulting in inaccurate control signals; When the temperature exceeds 60 ℃, capacitors and other components may experience performance degradation or even damage due to overheating, affecting the stability and service life of the controller.
Temperature adaptability: The controller also needs to be able to adapt to a certain rate of temperature change. In environments with large temperature differences between day and night, such as desert areas, the temperature may reach over 40 ℃ during the day and drop sharply below 10 ℃ at night. The photovoltaic street light controller should be able to operate normally under rapid temperature changes, without problems such as component looseness or solder joint cracking caused by thermal expansion and contraction.
Humidity requirements
Working humidity range: Appropriate humidity is crucial for the normal operation of the controller. Generally speaking, a relative humidity range of 20% -90% is ideal. If the humidity is below 20% and the air is too dry, it is easy to generate static electricity, which may interfere with the electronic circuits inside the controller, causing program errors or component damage. When the humidity exceeds 90%, condensation may occur inside the controller. Moisture can cause short circuits in electronic components, especially between small components on the circuit board. Once short circuited, the controller may not function properly.
Moisture prevention measures: In order to cope with high humidity environments, photovoltaic street light controllers usually need to have a certain moisture-proof design. For example, the casing of the controller should have good sealing to prevent external moisture from entering. In areas with high humidity, such as coastal or southern rainy seasons, desiccant packs can be placed inside the controller to absorb a small amount of moisture entering and keep the internal environment dry.
Dust prevention requirements
Preventing dust from entering: Dust is an important factor affecting the performance of photovoltaic street light controllers. If a large amount of dust enters the interior of the controller, it will accumulate on electronic components, affecting heat dissipation. For example, dust covering the heat sink can reduce heat dissipation efficiency and cause component temperature to rise. At the same time, dust may contain conductive substances, which may cause short circuits once they fall on the circuit board. Therefore, the casing of the controller should be designed with a good dust-proof structure, such as sealing gaskets, dust-proof nets, etc., to prevent dust from entering.
Regular cleaning and maintenance: Even with dust prevention measures in place, a small amount of dust may still enter the interior of the controller after prolonged use. So, it is necessary to regularly (such as once a year) clean and maintain the controller. When cleaning, the power should be cut off first, and then a clean and dry compressed air tank or soft bristled brush should be used to gently remove the dust inside and outside the controller.
Waterproof requirements
Waterproof level and protective measures: As photovoltaic street lights are usually installed outdoors and may be affected by rainwater, dew, etc., the controller needs to have a certain waterproof ability. Generally, the waterproof level of the controller is required to reach IP65 or above. In order to meet waterproof requirements, the interface of the controller’s casing should be sealed with a sealing rubber ring, and key components such as circuit boards should be treated with waterproof coating or encapsulated with a waterproof casing. For example, in the power input/output interface, communication interface and other parts of the controller, the sealing rubber ring should be installed tightly to ensure no gaps and prevent moisture from seeping in.
Waterproof performance testing: Strict waterproof performance testing should be conducted during the controller production process. The testing methods include immersion test, spray test, etc. For example, the immersion test can place the controller in water at a certain depth for a certain period of time (such as 24 hours) to observe whether there is water ingress into the controller; The spray test uses a simulated rainwater nozzle to spray the controller at a certain flow rate and angle to check whether its waterproof performance meets the requirements.
Electromagnetic environment requirements
Anti electromagnetic interference capability: The outdoor environment where the photovoltaic street light controller is located may have multiple sources of electromagnetic interference, such as nearby high-voltage lines, communication base stations, motor equipment, etc. The controller needs to have strong resistance to electromagnetic interference to ensure the stability of its control function. Generally, electromagnetic interference is reduced by adding measures such as electromagnetic filters and shielding covers in the circuit design of the controller. For example, adding filtering circuits composed of inductors and capacitors to the power and signal circuits of the controller to filter out high-frequency interference signals.
Electromagnetic compatibility: The controller itself cannot generate excessive electromagnetic radiation to avoid interference with other electronic devices around it. During the design and production process, electromagnetic compatibility testing should be conducted on the controller to ensure compliance with relevant standards. For example, testing whether the electromagnetic radiation intensity generated by the controller during operation is within the specified range and will not cause interference to nearby wireless devices, sensors, etc.