User Manual
Contents
1. Batteries iun eno D te Re UR eden od ane rine Mr i aga 31 6 T Battery Types temo reete ed etes ires dete 31 6 2 Automotive Batteries sean aan eh ia 31 6 3 Maintenance Free Batteries tee tereti en henna aan EO HE gen nana an nana ae nanah 31 64 Desp Cyele Batteries E EP 31 0 9 Sealed Batteries MCN 31 6 6 NiCad and NiFe Batt ries s inic traina AAA AAA 31 6 7 Battery SIZDE naa eise ndun pete ed Rr PR RE NP ree p leo Rire aah 31 6 5 Equalization Charging We esa tote rette en P COR I e Pise Pia o Cop ap es anang tania ana 32 6 9 Equalization Setpoints Non Sealed Batteries Only Wa 32 Tables Table 1 1 Factory shipping settings iieri tenen ien ng eee ES e asean 10 Table 1 2 Battery type selector switch settings oooWo ooWooWooWoooWoWoWoWoW WWW 16 Table 1 3 Temperature compensation calculation oomoooooooWoWoWoWoWoW ok 18 Table 1 4 Battery compensation coefficient trennen rennen nennen nennen 18 Table 1 2 5 Minimum Wife S120 iaia eee anna ena ham nba 20 Table T 6 The LED indicators c eset kentara anakan enam anna an Katingan tatanan 26 Table 4 7z Troubleshooting list Se antenna ana geek stoves Bana henna Sana 21 Table 1 8 Electrical specification iie ettet t Silakan an Kan lade ses e en ana 28 Table 1 9 Mechanical specification Ain nana Ute Pe Pe en nan hina 29 Table 1 10 Battery equalization iii 32 Figures2. Battery is highly charged Worn out PV modules Low insolation PV connected to BAT Nominal PV voltage has changed from 24Vdc to 12Vdc Normal operation current is reduced if battery voltage is at setpoint Replace or use as is Atmospheric haze PV s dirty sun low on horizon etc PV amp BAT must be separate for proper operation PV must receive earth ground via shunts inside the Solar Charge Controller which internally connect PV to BAT External connection prevents proper operation of internal shunts and current measurement system If PV voltage is changed from 24Vdc to 12Vdc battery and PV power must be removed momentarily to reboot unit and load initial 12Vdc PV control values Unit considers PV s to 24Vdc if PV voltage ever goes above 30Vdc Charge OFF at high temperature System temporarily shuts down due Improve ventilation or reduce PV 27 to high heat sink temperature power Sufficient ventilation to prevent over temperature shut down 5 Specifications Specifications provide the specifications for the Solar Charge Controller charge controller 5 Specifications Table 1 8 Electrical specification Rated Voltage 12 24V dc Rated charge current 40Amp Load current 15Amp Input voltage range 15 55Vdc Max PV open circuit array voltage 55Vdc Overload protection DC load 2 0 Inom 5s 1 5 Inom gt 20s 1 25 Inom temperature
3. 20 2 0 4 Long distance Wire runs cues ete lee etd NN AA Sh 20 2 9 PV Charge And Load Control Mode Wiring oooooWooooWoWo Woman 20 2 10 Easily install in parallel connection nana 22 2 LT Battery type selectOE AURA nn e aD EUR C E aei D aso ad ae e Deis 22 2 12 Installing Optional Accessories eee enano et 23 2 13 Reinstalling the Faceplate iere it He ER P EH ERE ana nek angan 23 Jc Operation z A EE RERO A OS EUN BU Nm 25 Sel Basic Operation sermesi ete te tele ien eta t ee EN NAN anali luka dana 25 32 LED Status Indicator tii e e e de eed nie Re etes 25 3 2 1 Charge Control indicada te teet epe ee tube te e e aan 25 4 Troubleshooting 75 2 3 AIRIS IS CAR IA AAA Cae CAR cascade cha Casas ER had cae ARR ER IIR ERES 27 5 Specifications AS AS AA COO rH Dt AA 28 2 T Specifications nigita PO P Ha e PH Ra HR eie A Rr di aetas 28 25 2 Enyironmehtal stereo teur he tei RT OR tt 28 3 2 1 Temperature vii erede EN dete tae eb NN BAN iei Nun dana 28 ENIM Aa aan un au aa Ne Aa ee aneh anna 29 2 3 T American Mark Ct si e asas ea aan nuansa nana 29 9 32 European Market o ur tod De EN ANN E A IICA OI 29 DAUM M D eka namun Banua TENUN Aa En banana 29 5 4 Operating HU diia tee tate ted tee ete Sen Nila 29 542 Non Operating H midity ite tete a 29 5 Mechanical features 5 uer RR UR CR IR CARTER Rn e UR Cen a n eR n de rg Bs 29 2 6 Detailed diniension drawing s eee eee eee eme nan gebang eed 30 6
4. American market 5 3 1 1 Compliant with FCC Part 15B 5 3 1 2 Compliant with UL 1741 5 3 2 European market 5 3 2 1 Compliant with EN 60335 1 5 3 2 2 Compliant with EN61000 6 1 2001 5 3 2 3 Compliant with EN61000 6 3 2001 5 4 Humidity 5 4 1 Operating Humidity 20 to 80 relative humidity non condensing 5 4 2 Non Operating Humidity 5 to 95 relative humidity 38 7 C maximum wet bulb temperature with no cosmetic damage 5 5 Mechanical features Table 1 9 Mechanical specification Specification Depth lt 192 mm Dimension H x W x D Height lt 66 mm Width lt 140 mm 29 5 6 Detailed dimension drawing Figure 1 15 Solar Charge Controller dimension drawing 30 6 Batteries 6 1 Battery Types Batteries come in different sizes types amp hour capacity voltages and chemistries Here are a few guidelines that will help in battery selection and ensure that the batteries are properly maintained The best source of the most appropriate settings for the Solar Charge Controller charge will be from the manufacturer or supplier of the batteries 6 2 Automotive Batteries Automotive and truck batteries are designed for high cranking power not deep cycling Do not use them unless no other battery type is available They simply will not last long in a cycling application 6 3 Maintenance Free Batteries This type of battery is often sold as a RV or marine battery but is rarely appropriate for use
5. Charge Controller load cOntrol oooooooooooW nana 12 1 124 Tow votate distoni Eurona Ree ids dele o Inte rr er ie eG aes Nae 12 1 12 5 Low voltage reconnect pee ree Pre ee ped Pets 12 1 13 Optional accessories erae oe oe E devas EU BN Euge inttr ain 13 2 Installation TE 14 nung 14 2 2 Removing the tODCOVet deh eati BEAN a eL ELI dep NAN NN NUN 14 2 3 Mounting the Solar Charge Controller controller eese 15 2 3 1 Mount the Solar Charge Controller charge controller eeceeseeseeeeeeeeeseeseeeeeeseesesseeneeeeeeaes 15 2 4 Configuring the Solar Charge Controller charge controller esee 16 2 4 1 Battery type selector can apply different charger method sse 16 2 5 Temperature Compensation enserrer Ten ep NU HET EIE EUER TOI ELE EUR Ee Eee an 17 2 5 1 Temperature compensation based on battery type cono cncnncnn crac cnncnnos 18 2 5 2 Automatic battery temperature compensSatiOn coooomoooooWoooWo Woo 18 2 6 Grounding 33 3 aote seen m edt EA aa dde eaedem atti 19 277 DC terminal connector locations ci tut e e beds a tbe o Ret er an Nahan 19 2 8 Wire Size and Over current Protection Reguirements oooooooWooWoWoWoWoWoW oo 19 2 0 Current Ratibg ete ree e a eie ete t teret tests 19 2 82 Surge Protection iioii rere eH anna ga Nanas 20 2 8 3 Over current Protec nis tis ecc t e reg n eer Pe edge
6. Figure L T Bulkcharge CUtve tia li an sea anakan as edocet taret 10 Figure 1 2 PV charge and load controller oooooWooo oma 12 Fipure 1 32 Load controller 4 doi ete RR Ro eret ne ete Nala ed e 12 Fig re 1 4 Removing th topCover saci oa et iaia sa bsa 14 Figure 1 5 Mounting the Solar Charge Controller charge controller sees 15 Figure 1 6 Battery type selector BSED sein eee ertet S atr nana 16 Figure l 7 Safety Barth ground eed byte IRURE E tete p aan 19 Figure 1 8 DC terminal connector locations iene 19 Figure 1 9 PV charge control mode Wiring oWooooooo Woman 21 Figure T 10 Parallel connection irri re e nr een eee Er e HE e eee rea 22 Fig re 1 112 battery type Selector tn ret Inte aa 22 Figure 12 Install BTS uni ea oe ae a Uv n pa a ade 23 Figure 1 13 Reinstalling the faceplate u iii 24 Figure 1 14 EED status mdicatot 2 ete ote ett P e aga hee PP tc e E pit 25 Figure 1 15 Solar Charge Controller dimension drawing 30 About This Manual Purpose The purpose of this manual is to provide explanations and procedures for installing operating maintaining and troubleshooting the Solar Charge Controller Scope This manual provides safety guidelines detailed planning and setup information procedures for installing the Solar Charge Controller as well as information about operating an
7. amps 17 volts 25 C cell temperature Conventional PV controllers essentially connect the PV array directly to the battery when battery is discharged When a 75 watt module is connected directly to a battery charging at 12 volts the module still provides approximately the same current But because output voltage is now at 12 volts rather than 17 volts module power production is artificially limited and the 75W module only delivers 53 watts This wastes 22 watts of available power Solar Charge Controller s MPPT technology operates in a very different fashion Under these conditions Solar Charge Controller calculates the maximum power voltage V at which the PV module delivers maximum power in this case 17 volts It then MPPT operates the module 17 volts which extracts maximum available power from the module Solar Charge Controller continually recalculates the maximum power voltage as operating conditions change Input power from the maximum power tracking controller in this case 75 watts feeds a switching type power converter which reduces the 17 volt input to battery voltage at the output The full 75 watts which is now being delivered at 12 volts would produce a current of 6 25 amps A charge current increase of 1 8 amps or 40 is achieved by converting the 22 watts that would have been wasted into useable charge current Note that this example assumes 100 efficiency to illustrate the principal of operation In actual operation boost will be so
8. process charges the battery as quickly as possible while minimizing battery water loss and maintenance Figure 1 1 Bulk charge curve Bulk Stage Absorption Stage Float Stage Charging Started Float Volts Setting Reduced Voltage DC Current Oamps Time 1 10 1 Bulk charge When charge starts the Solar Charge Controller attempts to apply the bulk charge voltage to the battery The system will switch to Bulk charge if the battery is sufficiently discharged and or insufficient charge current is available to drive the battery up to the bulk voltage setpoint During the Bulk charge stage the unit delivers as much charge current as possible to rapidly recharge the battery Once the charge control system enters Absorption or Float the unit will again switch to Bulk charge if battery voltage drops below the present charge voltage setpoint 1 10 2 Absorption charge During this stage the unit changes to a constant voltage mode where the absorption voltage is applied to the battery When charge current decreases to the float transition current setting the battery is fully charged and the unit switches to the float stage 1 10 3 Float charge During this stage the float voltage is applied to the battery to maintain it in a fully charged state When battery voltage drops below the float setting for a cumulative period a new bulk cycle will be triggered 10 1 11 Battery temperature sensor BTS The charge voltage required
9. the type of the fault when it flash And the multi color LED indicates the particular operating mode and the batteries capacity level 3 2 1 Charge control indications LEDI LED2 Operation State On Off State On Off Description mode Solid Charge ON PV gt BV l green all 0 Solid red all 0 BAT lt LVD Solid Solid Charge ON PV gt BV Normal 2 green all 0 orange all 0 LVD lt BAT lt LVR Solid Charge ON PV gt BV 3 green all 0 Solid green all 0 BAT gt LVR Solid Charge ON PV gt BV 4 green all 0 Blink red ls ls BAT lt LVD Solid Blink Charge ON PV gt BV Deed 5 green all 0 orange Is ls LVD lt BAT lt LVR Solid Charge ON PV gt BV 6 green all 0 Blink green Is Is BAT gt LVR E Fault T Off 0 all orange ls 6s BAT under voltage 25 DC load over current or Blink dc load voltage out of the 8 green 3s 6s Off 0 all range Blink 9 green 2s 6s Off 0 all Over Temperature Blink 10 green Is 1s Blink red ls Is PV over voltage Blink Blink 11 green Is Is orange Is Is PV under voltage Blink 12 green ls 6s Blink red 0 all BAT over voltage when Solar Charge Controller starts wait for 3s if the start time is over 3s Blink then mean that the BAT 13 green all 0 Blink red O all voltage is out of the ra
10. with a PV system They typically have an additional reserve of electrolyte but are vented This is not the same as a sealed battery 6 4 Deep Cycle Batteries Best suited for use with PV systems this type of battery is designed to be more deeply discharged before being recharged Deep cycle batteries are available in many sizes and types The most common is the vented liquid electrolyte battery Vented batteries usually have battery caps The caps may appear to be sealed but are not The caps should be removed periodically to check the level of electrolyte When a cell is low distilled water should be added after the battery is fully charged If the level is extremely low add only enough distilled water to cover the plates before recharging The electrolyte volume increases during the charging process and the battery will overflow if it is filled all of the way up before recharging Use only distilled water because impurities will reduce battery performance A popular and inexpensive deep cycle battery is the golf cart battery It is a 6 volt design typically rated at 220amphours RV and marine deep cycle batteries are also popular for small systems They are usually referred to as Group 24 or Group 27 batteries and are rated at 80 to 100 amp hours at 12volts Many larger systems use L16 batteries which are usually rated at 350amp hours at 6 volts each They are 17 inches high and weigh about 130pounds 8D batteries are available with either cranki
11. Negative Load Positive PV Positive Battery Negative Battery Positive PV Array DC Wiring Positive Negative Controller BTS Wire ajpuLm oq DC Load Ol 2 10 Easily install in parallel connection In order to get more than 40A charge current the Solar Charge Controller can be connected in parallel For example connecting 2 Solar Charge Controller in parallel can get 80A charger current and connecting 3 Solar Charge Controller in parallel can get 120A charger current Figure 1 10 Parallel connection PV Array 1 DC Winng Positive 4 Negative Controller BTS Wire Lighting ki 2 11 Battery type selector Please see 2 5 1 section which you find the different one of 10 positions stand for the different battery type specified You can select the Solar Charge Controller for the proper float and bulk voltage levels These levels are selected depending on the type of batteries used Refer to the table below for the charge voltages in the various switch positions Consult the battery manufacturer for optimum battery voltage charging settings Figure 1 11 battery type selector 22 Please use truss screwdriver to select proper position 2 12 Installing Optional Accessories The following sections describe how to install the optional accessories available for the Solar Charge Controller charge controller To install the Ba
12. Solar Charge Controller User s Manual Contents Important safety instructions Wanna 6 T Product description nue etr e tette e N 8 1 T General description ih e diee C e t det en dea redet SA aee e 8 ACCU T M M TPM 8 1 3 Maximum setpoint voltage limit eee a a T A A E Ai as 8 1 4 Temperature and output pOWEeE pH Rorate tre EA Cr I E d Cre hasan A 8 1 5 Maximum power point tracking MPPT nana 9 1 6 How MPRE WOEKS 2 5 cite Het e t P b te b oa BUR onto tee qdo NN as 9 1 7 Over voltage reverse polarity protection i 9 1 8 Electrostatic handling precautions oomoWoooooooWoWo mana 9 1 9 Solar Charge Controller Setup vs oir terr Hen inb iei NA yi e e et ai 10 1 9 A Factory default Settings ii re P EEUU tI e P e YEA bahasa 10 1 10 Ehree stage charge COntrols ce euer et Fee LI C pp t A OO TORRE 10 1 10 E Bulk charge Set re eene een eem eee nee ee e e ee 10 1 1022 Absorption chatte suna ian ee a te a ete ier et ert ite ete Kn 10 110 3 Float charge enr ia 10 1 11 Battery temperature sensor BTS oma 11 1 12 Equalization Chat geo bu tere e Ee EI EI He EUREN ENSE EE ERR E naungan 11 1 12 1 Photovoltaic charge and load controller i 11 1 12 2 Automatic PV array night disconnect re eriari eerte nennen tenent nennen eterne 12 1 12 3 Solar
13. TTERY TYPE SELECTOR potentiometer to the appropriate setting for the system batteries when the Equalize charge has completed 1 12 1 Photovoltaic charge and load controller The Solar Charge Controller charge controller can operate as a PV charge controller the controller can regulate up to 40amps of continuous photovoltaic PV array current at 12 24 volts DC for charging batteries This rating includes the NEC required derating But at the same time the Solar Charge Controller charge controller can provide the maximum 15Amp current to DC load however the rating charge current 40Amp will decrease That is to say the rating 40Amp current is shared battery with DC load When the PV voltage is lower the battery will provide the power to the DC load In the load control condition the Solar Charge Controller controls when to remove load from the system when an over discharge or over load situation occurs The Solar Charge Controller charge controller uses the software setpoints to determine when to connect or reconnect loads depending on battery voltage Solar Charge Controller prevents damage to the battery from over discharge during periods of poor weather or excessive loads The unit can charge the batteries when in this function If the PV array s output increases above the rated amp level the controller will continue to operate because of input current limit 11 Figure 1 2 PV charge and load controller Pi Anay 1 12 2 Au
14. ad Antimony Battery battery Antimony Battery manufacturer NiCad or NiFe Alkaline 16 0 Vdc 14 5 Vdc Not recommended A Battery Consult battery manufacturer 2 327
15. battery temperature compensation sensor 1 13 Optional accessories The follow accessories can be purchased for use with the Solar Charge Controller charge Multifunction DC Controller Battery Temperature Sensor BTS The BTS is installed on the side of the battery and attaches to RS232 port inside the Solar Charge Controller charge controller It provides accurate sensing of the battery temperature and uses this reading to control charging Using this accessory can extend battery life and improve overall charging 213 2 Installation 2 1 Pre Installation The instructions that follow are applicable to the typical installation For special applications consult a qualified electrician or your Certified Dealer Installation procedures will vary according to your specific application lt gt Important Installations should meet all local codes and standards Installations of this equipment should only be performed by skilled personnel such as qualified electricians and Certified Renewable Energy RE System Installers 2 2 Removing the topcover 1 Access the inside of the controller by removing the four screws M3 6 on the cover of the unit 2 Remove the topcover of Solar Charge Controller charge controller Figure 1 4 Removing the topcover Remove these screws M3 6 4 from the topcover to access the heatsink of controller Remove the topcover 14 2 3 Mounting the Solar Charge Controller controller The Solar Charg
16. by batteries changes with battery temperature Temperature compensation of charge voltage enhances battery performance and life and decreases battery maintenance Automatic temperature compensation can be provided through use of the optional battery temperature sensor The following table describes approximately how much the voltage may vary depending on the temperature of the batteries 1 12 Equalization charge Equalize charging is a special mode of battery charging During use the battery s cells can become unequal in the voltage and current they can deliver This is due to a buildup of sulfate on the plates as well as stratified electrolyte Sulfate prevents the cells from receiving or delivering full power If the sulfate is left on the plates it will harden and permanently reduce the battery s capacity Stratification separates the heaver acid from the water and the concentrated acid remains at the lower portion of the plates eventually corroding them Equalizing the batteries every month or two depending on usage prolongs the life of the batteries and provides better battery performance To set the Equalize Charge Remove all DC loads connected to the batteries Remove all battery vent caps Check the battery water level it should be just over the top of the plates do not over fill Use only distilled water for filling batteries Setthe BATTERY TYPE SELECTOR switch to position 0 or 1 Reset the BA
17. charge controller Through the use of MPPT technology Solar Charge Controller can increase charge current up to 3096 or more compared to conventional controllers Solar Charge Controller s sophisticated three stage charge control system can be configured to optimize charge parameters to precise battery requirements The unit is fully protected against voltage transients over temperature over current reverse battery and reverse PV connections An automatic current limit feature allows use of the full 40 amp capability without worrying about overload or nuisance fuse blow from excessive current voltage or amp hour based load control Series pass Pulse Width Modulation PWM charge voltage control combined with a multistage charge control algorithm leads to superior charging and enhanced battery performance The filtered PWM power control system uses highly efficient and reliable power MOSFET transistors The MOSFET s are turned on and off at high frequency to precisely control charge voltage and MPPT Fully automatic temperature compensation of charge voltage is available to further improve charge control and battery performance The optional battery temperature sensor is built for long term reliability The sensor element is environmentally sealed and encapsulated into a plastic lug which adheres to directly to the battery terminal and by RJ11 port connect with the unit and the Solar Charge Controller also includes an isolated RS232 port for connectio
18. connecting the Solar Charge Controller charge controller cover or disconnect the array to prevent any current from being generated 1 Connect the PV array s positive output to the terminal marked PV positive on the Solar Charge Controller charge controller and tighten the screw 2 Connect the PV array s negative output to the terminal marked PV negative on the Solar Charge Controller charge controller and tighten the screw 3 Connect the terminal marked battery negative on the Solar Charge Controller charge controller to the negative battery terminal and tighten the screw 4 Connect the terminal marked battery positive 4 on the Solar Charge Controller charge controller to the positive 4 battery terminal and tighten the screw 5 Connect the terminal marked load negative on the Solar Charge Controller charge controller to the negative load terminal and tighten the screw 6 Connect the terminal marked load positive on the Solar Charge Controller charge controller to the positive battery terminal and tighten the screw 7 Connect a cable from the controller s other terminal marked load negative to the negative terminal of your DC load and tighten the screw 20 8 Connect a cable from the controller s other terminal marked load positive to the positive terminal of your DC load and tighten the screw Figure 1 9 PV charge control mode wiring Load Negative PV
19. controlled Typical idle consumption At idle 10mA Bulk charge 14 6Vdc default 29 2V dc default Floating charge 13 4Vdc default 26 8V dc default Equalization charge 14 0Vdc default 28 0Vdc default Over charge disconnection 14 8Vdc 29 6Vde Over charge recovery 13 6Vdc 27 2V dc Over discharge disconnection 10 8Vdc default 21 6Vdc default Over discharge reconnection 12 3Vdc 24 6V dc Temperature compensation 13 2mV C 26 4mV C Lead acid battery settings Adjustable NiCad battery settings Adjustable Load control mode 1 Low Voltage Reconnect LVR Adjustable 2 Low Voltage Disconnect LVD Automatic disconnection 3 Reconnection Includes warning flash before disconnect and reconnection Low voltage reconnect 12 0 14 0Vdc 24 0 28 0Vdc Low voltage disconnect 10 5 12 5Vdc 21 0 25 0Vdc Ambient temperature 0 40 C full load 40 60 C de rating Altitude Operating 5000 m Non Operating 16000 m Protection class IP21 Battery temperature sensor BTS optional remote battery temperature sensor for increased charging precision Terminal size fine single wire 88 AWG 5 2 Environmental 5 2 1 Temperature 5 2 1 1 Operating Temperature 0 C to 40 C 40 C to 60 C de rating 5 2 1 2 Transit Temperature 25 C to 70 C 28 5 2 1 3 Storage Temperature 25 C to 70 C 5 3 Safety 5 3 1
20. cording to the temperature of the battery When battery charging voltages are compensated based on temperature the charge voltage will vary depending on the temperature around the batteries 17 2 5 1 Temperature compensation based on battery type The charge voltage required by batteries changes with battery temperature Temperature compensation of charge voltage enhances battery performance and life and decreases battery maintenance Automatic temperature compensation can be provided through use of the optional battery temperature sensor The following table describes approximately how much the voltage may vary depending on the temperature of the batteries Temperature compensation is based on battery type 5mv cell for lead acid type batteries and 2mv cell for alkaline type batteries NiCad or NiFe The temperature compensation calculations are derived from the following table Table 1 3 Temperature compensation calculation Battery Type Lead Acid 0 03 volts 30mv per degree Celsius 0 06 volts 60mv per degree Celsius 02 volts 20mv per degree Celsius 0 04 volts 40mv per degree Celsius 2 5 2 Automatic battery temperature compensation Temperature compensation can be accomplished automatically by using a Battery Temperature Sensor BTS The sensor attaches directly to the side of one of the batteries in the bank and provides precise battery temperature See Installing the Battery Temperature Sensor for detailed i
21. d troubleshooting the unit It does not provide details about particular brands of batteries You need to consult individual battery manufacturers for this information Audience This manual is intended for anyone who needs to install and operate the Solar Charge Controller Installers should be certified technicians or electricians Organization This Manual is organized into six chapters Chapter 1 Product description Chapter 2 Installation Chapter 3 Operation Chapter 4 Troubleshooting Chapter 5 Specification Chapter 6 Battery Important safety instructions Save these instructions This manual contains important instructions for Solar Charge Controller that shall be followed during installation and maintenance General 1 Refer installation and servicing to qualified service personnel High voltage is present inside unit Incorrect installation or use may result in risk of electric shock or fire No user serviceable parts in this unit 2 Remove all sources of power photovoltaic and battery before servicing or installing 3 Warning risk of explosive gases When Solar Charge Controller is working Please DO NOT touch it because the temperature is too high Working in the vicinity of lead acid batteries is dangerous Batteries produce explosive gasses during normal battery operation To reduce risk of battery explosion follow these instructions and those published by battery manufacturer and manufactu
22. e Controller charge controller is designed for indoor mounting Care should be taken in selecting a location and when mounting the enclosure Avoid mounting it in direct sunlight to prevent heating of the enclosure The enclosure should be mounted vertically on a wall In outdoor installations the Solar Charge Controller charge controller must be installed in a rainproof enclosure to eliminate exposure to rain mist or water spray lt gt Caution Damage to Solar Charge Controller charge Controller Install the Solar Charge Controller charge controller in a dry protected location away from sources of high temperature moisture and vibration Exposure to saltwater is particularly destructive Corrosion is not covered by the warranty 2 3 1 Mount the Solar Charge Controller charge controller 1 Place the controller on the desired mounting surface and mark the location of the keyhole slots on the wall 2 Move the controller out of the way and secure two mounting screws in the locations marked Leave the screw heads backed out approximately 1 4inch 6 mm or less 3 Place the controller onto the screws and pull it down into the keyhole slots 4 Then insert the two screws provided to secure the enclosure onto the wall lt gt Warning Explosion Corrosion Hazard Do not locate the Solar Charge Controller charge controller in a sealed compartment with the batteries Batteries can vent hydrogen sulfide gas which is corrosive to electronic equip
23. emperature protection is provided to protect the unit from damage due to high output power at high ambient temperatures When mounted vertically as described in the installation section the unit can deliver full output in a temperature of up to 40 C and the unit will de rate output in 40 60 C While operating in charge mode the controller will decrease the charge current to reduce the transistor temperature and the green led will be solid green If the Solar Charge Controller connected with DC load the load is disconnected before the transistors reach an excessive temperature and the green LED flashes Once the temperature has dropped the loads are reconnected reducing average power delivery to within safe limits During thermal shutdown the charge status indicator will display an off condition Over temperature shutdown occurs when the ambient temperature reaches 60 C 8 1 5 Maximum power point tracking MPPT MPPT and associated current boost operation is fully automatic and will function whenever sufficient PV voltage and current are available The percent increase in output charge current relative to PV current is variable and will change with operating conditions When conditions are such that insufficient PV power is available to produce an increase in output current the unit will stop it s internal DC DC power conversion and operate as a series pass PWM controller with very low forward voltage drop The principal operating condi
24. g instructions 6 Charger location amp installation 000000 Controller employs components that tend to produce arcs or sparks NEVER install in battery compartment or in the presence of explosive gases Protect all wiring from physical damage vibration and excessive heat Insure that the controller is properly setup for the battery being charged Do not expose the controller to rain or snow Insure all terminating connections are clean and tight to prevent arcing and overheating Charging system must be properly installed as described in these instructions prior to operation Do not connect to a PV array capable of producing greater than 40 amps of short circuit current 25 C Do not connect input to DC source directly with load Solar Charge Controller need to be powered by solar panel Symbol A Warning Dangerous Voltage Alternative Current Direct Current E Protective Earth A u Esp Abbreviations and Acronyms BTS Battery Temperature Sensor DC Direct Current LED Light Emitting Diode LVD Low Voltage Disconnect LVR Low Voltage Reconnect B SEL Battery type selector CHG MODE Charge mode PV Photovoltaic MPPT Maximum Power Point Tracking PWM Pulse Width Modulation RE Renewable Energy 1 Product description 1 1 General description Solar Charge Controller is a 40 amp 12 24 voltage Maximum Power Point Tracking MPPT photovoltaic PV battery
25. ing list Symptom Probable cause Items to examine or correct Completely dead no display No battery power Battery disconnected overly discharged or connected reverse dead no display polarity Battery powers the system not PV Unit will not turn on charge status LED off Display if attached is OK PV disconnected PV reverse polarity PV connected to BAT external to controller PV disconnected PV must supply at least 0 25Amp at 3V more than battery voltage to begin charge PV reverse polarity Reverse polarity PV will cause heat sink to heat PV amp BAT must be separate for proper operation PV must receive earth ground via shunts inside the Solar Charge Controller which internally connect PV to BAT External connection prevents proper operation of internal shunts and current measurement system Battery voltage is determined automatically when the unit first receives power Voltage must be less than 30Vdc for 12V dc battery or greater than 30Vdc for 24V dc battery Apply battery quickly and crisply Charge status LED on but no output charge current Battery voltage greater than charge voltage setpoint Battery voltage too low This is normal operation Output is off due to high battery voltage which may be caused by other charging systems Battery voltage must be at least 9V dc for the unit to operate Charge current is lower than expected PV current may be low as well
26. ive ground system is desired connect the negative current carrying conductor to the grounding system at one point in the system Consult local and national electrical codes for more information and any additional requirements Figure 1 7 Safety Earth ground Safety Earth ground 2 7 DC terminal connector locations Terminal connectors for DC wiring are located on the lower edge of the circuit board Terminal Torque Requirements Once the wires have been installed torque the terminals as follows Be careful not to overtighten Figure 1 8 DC terminal connector locations BATTERY Load Negative PV Negative Load Positive 4 PV Positive 2 8 Wire Size and Over curi Battery Negative nts Battery Positive The wiring over current protection devices tuses and installation methods used must conform to all national and local electrical code requirements Wiring should be protected from physical damage with conduit or a strain relief clamp 2 8 1 Current Rating Solar Charge Controller charge controller is rated for a rating continuous current of 40 amps Since PV outputs can vary due to the array size or sunlight striking it the safe minimum wire size should be based on the maximum current ratings 19 2 8 2 Surge Protection Since PV arrays are often mounted on an elevated structure and thus are more susceptible to lightning strikes protection from lightning induced power surges and othe
27. ment Batteries also generate hydrogen and oxygen gas that can explode when exposed to a spark Figure 1 5 Mounting the Solar Charge Controller charge controller Keyhole Slots 2 for mounting Additional Mounting Holes 2 15 2 4 Configuring the Solar Charge Controller charge controller Before making any wiring connections to the Solar Charge Controller charge controller it must be configured for the desired mode of operation The following sections describe the how to configure the unit for the desired application and function 2 4 1 Battery type selector can apply different charger method The battery type selector is a 10 position rotary switch used to set the Solar Charge Controller for the proper float and bulk voltage levels These levels are selected depending on the type of batteries used Refer to the table below for the charge voltages in the various switch positions Consult the battery manufacturer for optimum battery voltage charging settings Figure 1 6 Battery type selector B SEL B SEL Table 1 2 Battery type selector switch settings 12 volt 24 volt Charge Function Switch E Position Peseription Float voltage Bulk Equalize Float voltage Bulk Equalize Equalize Equalize V voltage V V voltage V charge rate time Egualize 1 egualizes at a rate egual to Depend on O the battery 13 2 15 26 4 30 Max 40Amp battery bank capacity capacity in amp h
28. mewhat less 1 7 Over voltage reverse polarity protection Solar Charge Controller is fully protected against reverse polarity and high voltage transients for both the PV and the battery connections If the battery is connected reverse polarity Solar Charge Controller will not operate If the PV array is connected reverse polarity the charge control system will not turn on 1 8 Electrostatic handling precautions All electronic circuits may be damaged by static electricity To minimize the likelihood of electrostatic damage discharge yourself by touching a water faucet or other electrical ground prior to handling the unit and avoid touching components on the circuit boards The risk of electrostatic damage is highest when relative humidity is below 40 1 9 Solar Charge Controller setup 1 9 1 Factory default settings Table 1 1 Factory shipping settings Basic settings Charge mode 3 stage Absorption voltage 14 4 28 8V Bulk voltage 14 6 29 2V Float voltage 13 4 26 8V Equalize 14 28V 1 10 Three stage charge control Solar Charge Controller is typically configured for a three stage charging process Bulk Absorption and Float The three stage charge process provides a somewhat higher charge voltage to charge the battery quickly and safely Once the battery is fully charged a somewhat lower voltage is applied maintain the battery in a fully charged state without excessive water loss The three stage charge
29. n to a PC computer for data logging and system monitoring The Solar Charge Controller can easily install in parallel connection so it also suitable for large system current application condition 1 2 Features High converting efficiency up to 9796 for minimizing energy loss Build in MPPT tracker for optimizing the power transformation Reversed current protection with fuse Automatic battery temperature compensation for long term reliability Capable of selecting different charging mode for various type of batteries Capable of connecting additional DC load for wider applications Three stage charge control system bulk absorption and float mode with temperature compensation LED indicators display charge status in real time Pulse Width Modulation PWM topology combined with a multi stage charge control algorithm leads to superior charging and enhanced battery performance 1 3 Maximum setpoint voltage limit Very cold batteries combined with high charge voltage setpoints can produce voltages high enough to disrupt or damage other equipment connected to the battery To minimize possible damage a maximum voltage setpoint limit feature is provided The factory defaults can be adjustable using software Regardless of what setpoint values result from temperature compensation the Solar Charge Controller will never attempt to apply a charge voltage greater than the maximum voltage setpoint limit value 1 4 Temperature and output power Over t
30. ng or deep cycle construction Purchase only the deep cycle version The 8D is typically rated at 220 amp hours at 12 volts 6 5 Sealed Batteries Another type of battery construction is the sealed gel cell They do not use battery caps The electrolyte is in the form of a gel rather than a liquid which allows the batteries to be mounted in any position The advantages are no maintenance long life 800 cycles claimed and low self discharge Absorbed glass mat AGM electrolyte batteries are also acceptable Their electrolyte is contained in mats between the battery plates Sealed batteries reduce the maintenance requirements for the system and are good for remote applications They are much more sensitive to the charging process and can be ruined in as little as a day of overcharging 6 6 NiCad and NiFe Batteries The Solar Charge Controller charge is compatible with NiCad nickel cadmium NiFe nickel iron and alkaline type batteries which must be charged to a higher voltage level to achieve a full charge To use the Solar Charge Controller charge with NiCad batteries clip the wire on the resistor labeled R46 in the middle of the Solar Charge Controller charge circuit board by cutting it See Setting Voltage Parameters for Alkaline Batteries on page26 for instructions on how to clip this wire Avoid damage to neighboring components 6 7 Battery Sizing Batteries are the fuel tank of the system The larger the batteries the longer the
31. nge Table 1 6 The LED indicators NOTE When the controller is charging the green LED will be solid green 1 Low voltage disconnect When connected with DC load if voltage remains below the Low Voltage Disconnect setting the controller will disconnect after a 1 minute delay period And the controller waits until the voltage rises above the Low Voltage Recovery setting 2 Over voltage of load If the controller detects an over voltage of load it will disconnect the load 3 Over temperature The temperature of the controller s transistors is continuously monitored This protects the charge controller from damage in high temperature environments if excessive temperatures are detected while operating in charge mode the controller will decrease the charge current to reduce the transistor temperature and the green led will be solid green If the Solar Charge Controller connected with DC load the load is disconnected before the transistors reach an excessive temperature and the green LED flashes Once the temperature has dropped the loads are reconnected 4 Over current of the load If the controller detects an overload or short circuit of the load it will automatically resets the over current protection system every 6 minutes If the default is still present the controller will shut off and wait another 6 minutes This will occur continuously until the problem is corrected 26 4 Troubleshooting Table 1 7 Troubleshoot
32. nstructions on how and where to install the BTS If a BTS is installed the charge controlling process will be automatically adjusted for the battery temperature When using a BTS set the Bulk and Float voltage for a battery at normal room temperature for 25 C Table 1 4 Battery compensation coefficient iU BIS 12 volt 24 volt Celsius Fahrenheit Lead Acid NiCad Lead Acid NiCad 6 cells 10 cells 12 cells 20 cells 60 140 1 05 0 7 2 1 1 4 55 131 0 9 0 6 1 8 1 2 50 122 0 75 0 5 1 5 1 45 113 0 6 0 4 1 2 0 8 40 104 0 45 0 3 0 9 0 6 35 95 0 3 0 2 0 6 0 4 30 86 0 15 0 1 0 3 0 2 25 77 0 0 0 0 20 68 0 15 0 1 0 3 0 2 15 59 0 3 0 2 0 6 0 4 10 50 0 45 0 3 0 9 0 6 5 41 0 6 0 4 1 2 0 8 32 0 75 0 5 1 5 1 5 23 0 9 0 6 1 8 1 2 10 14 1 05 0 7 21 1 4 15 5 1 2 0 8 2 4 1 6 20 4 1 35 0 9 2 7 1 8 25 13 1 5 1 3 2 30 22 1 65 1 1 3 3 22 35 31 1 8 1 2 3 6 24 40 40 1 95 1 3 3 9 2 6 If using a BTS when the battery temperature drops below 25 C the regulation voltage setting automatically increases When the temperature rises above 25 C the regulation battery voltage setting automatically decreases 18 2 6 Grounding The Solar Charge Controller charge controller is designed to work with grounded electrical systems The metal screw must be grounded for either system by connecting it with the heatsink If a negat
33. o methods can be used to determine if a battery needs to be equalized If possible measure the voltage of each individual cell while the battery is at rest not being charged or discharged A variation of 0 05 volts between cells indicates an imbalance exists If the battery construction prevents measurement of the individual cell voltages use a hydrometer A variation of 0 020 in the specific gravity between cells is considered significant Both conditions can be corrected by an equalization charge proper equalization charge will not damage a vented liquid electrolyte type battery It may however cause significant electrolyte usage and require that the battery be refilled with distilled water to the correct level This may be a problem with unattended systems in remote areas which do not receive regular maintenance Consult the battery manufacturer for their recommendations 6 9 Equalization Setpoints Non Sealed Batteries Only Table 1 10 Battery equalization Battery Type Bulk Volts Float Volts Equalizing Charge Default Settings 14 0 Vdc 13 5 Vdc Disabled Sealed Gel Lead Acid 14 1 Vdc 13 6 Vdc Non recommended Battery Consult Battery manufacturer AGM Lead Acid Battery 14 4 Vdc 13 4 Vdc Charge to 15 5Vdc or per manufacturer Maintenance Free 14 4 Vdc 13 4 Vdc Limited appropriateness if RV Marine water level can be checked Deep Cycle Liquid 14 6 Vdc 13 4 Vdc Charge to 15 5Vdc or per Electrolyte Le
34. ours divided by 40 Egualize 2 1 Mean reserved reserved reserved reserved reset Provides an additional Float and Bulk settings for deep cycle lead acid 2 DEL Co 1 13 3 15 26 6 30 Li Refer to the Lead Acid 2 battery manufacturer recommendation for Float and Bulk settings 16 Provides an additional 3 Not Specified 13 6 14 3 27 2 28 6 setting of Bulk and Float voltages Recommended for gel cell batteries that specify 4 Gel Cel 2 13 7 14 4 27 4 28 8 high float voltages Check with the battery manufacturer 5 Gel Cell 1 13 5 14 1 27 28 2 Typical gel cell setting 2 PcCa lead 132 143 264 28 6 Use this setting for sealed Calcium type car batteries si i Factory setting for typical 7 13 4 14 6 26 8 29 2 deep cycle lead acid Default 3 batteries Setting 8 NiCad 1 14 16 28 32 Use for NiCad battery systems z Recommended for use e ICA LO 19 i a with nickel iron batteries lt gt Important 1 Switch positions 0 and 1 are for monthly battery maintenance only Equalize voltages are displayed in the table with an asterisk Switch positions 0 and 1 only 2 Switch position 7 is the default values as shipped from the factory 3 Always refer to the battery manufacturer s specifications for equalization 2 5 Temperature compensation For optimal battery charging the Bulk and Float charge rates should be adjusted ac
35. r transient power disturbances between the PV array and the Solar Charge Controller charge controller are strongly recommended Because the Solar Charge Controller have wider input voltage range 15 55VDC 2 8 3 Over current Protection If the controller detects an overload it will automatically resets the over current protection system every 6 minutes If the default is still present the controller will shut off and wait another 6 minutes This will occur continuously until the problem is corrected Table 1 5 Minimum wire size Controller Minimum Wire Size 12 24 VDC 8AWG 2 8 4 Long distance wire runs If there is a significant distance between the PV array and the controller and or the controller and the battery larger wires can be used to reduce the voltage drop and improve performance To use a larger size wire use a splicer block terminal block intended for this purpose This allows the larger cable size from the batteries to be spliced to the smaller wire size connected to the controller Split bolt kerneys can also be used for wire splices Follow manufactures recommendations for torque and mounting if required Splicer blocks and split bolt kerneys are available from renewable energy suppliers 2 9 PV Charge And Load Control Mode Wiring The procedure below is illustrated in Figure 1 9 lt gt WARNING Shock Hazard PV arrays generate voltage whenever light strikes the surface of the array Before
36. rer of any equipment you intend to use in vicinity of battery 4 Personal precautions 9 9 Someone should be within range of your voice or close enough to come to your aid when you work near a lead acid battery Have plenty of fresh water and soap nearby in case battery acid contacts skin clothing or eyes Wear complete eye protection and clothing protection Avoid touching eyes while working near battery If battery acid contacts skin or clothing wash immediately with soap and water If acid enters eye immediately flood eye with running cold water for at least 10 minutes and get medical attention immediately NEVER smoke or allow a spark or flame in vicinity of battery Be extra cautious to reduce risk of dropping metal tool onto battery It might spark or short circuit battery or other electrical part that may cause explosion Remove personal metal items such as rings bracelets necklaces and watches when working with a lead acid battery A lead acid battery can produce a short circuit current high enough to weld a ring or the like to metal causing a severe burn 5 Preparing to charge Never charge a frozen battery Be sure battery is mounted in a well ventilated compartment Add distilled water in each cell until battery acid reaches level specified by battery manufacturer This helps purge excessive gas from the cells Do not overfill For a battery without cell caps carefully follow manufacturers chargin
37. system can operate before recharging is necessary An undersized battery bank results in short battery life and disappointing system performance To determine the proper battery bank size compute the number of amp hours that will be used between charging cycles Once the required amp hours are known size the batteries at approximately twice this amount Doubling the expected amp hour usage ensures that the batteries will not be overly discharged and will extend battery life 2 6 8 Equalization Charging Approximately every month some batteries may need to be egualized Since the individual cells of the battery are not identical some cells may not be fully charged when the charging process is completed If the batteries have been left in a discharged condition for long periods of time the plates will have sulfates on them from the electrolyte If the sulfate remains on the plates for an extended period of time it will harden and seal off a percentage of the plate area reducing the capacity of the battery By equalizing the batteries before the sulfate hardens the sulfate is removed from the plates Batteries with liquid electrolyte may become stratified Stratification concentrates the sulfuric acid into the bottom of the cell while the top becomes diluted This corrodes the lower portion of the plates reducing battery life Mixing of the electrolyte by the formation of gas bubbles during the equalization process reduces stratification Tw
38. tions which affect current boost performance are PV array temperature and battery voltage At constant solar intensity available PV power changes with PV temperature A PV array s power vs temperature characteristic is such that a cool PV array can produce a higher voltage and more power than a hot PV array When PV voltage is sufficiently high for MPPT to operate a constant power output is delivered to the battery Since output power is constant while MPPT is operating a decrease in battery voltage produces corresponding increase in charge current This means that the greatest current increase occurs with a combination of cool ambient temperature and low battery voltage The unit delivers the greatest charge current increase when you need it most in cold weather with a discharged battery Additionally anything that can be done to lower PV array temperature will also lead to increased charge current by increasing PV power production In cool comfortable temperatures and typical battery states of charge most systems see about 10 20 increase Charge current increase can go to zero in hot temperatures whereas charge current increase can easily exceed 3096 with a discharged battery and freezing temperatures 1 6 How MPPT works A PV module is a constant current type device As shown on a typical PV module voltage vs current curve current remains relatively constant over a wide range of voltage A typical 75 watt module is specified to deliver 4 45
39. tomatic PV array night disconnect When using PV Charge Control mode the PV array is automatically disconnected from the battery at night to prevent reverse leakage of power 1 12 3 Solar Charge Controller load control The Solar Charge Controller charge controller can operate as a low voltage disconnect LVD for DC loads to prevent over discharge to batteries during periods of poor charging or excessive loads The Solar Charge Controller charge controller uses the software setpoints to determine when to disconnect or reconnect loads depending on battery voltage 1 12 4 Low voltage disconnect When configured as a load controller the Solar Charge Controller charge controller will disconnect the load from the batteries when it reaches the LVD setting There will be a 1 minute delay after the voltage drops below the Low Voltage Disconnect LVD setting before the controller actually disconnects the load 1 12 5 Low voltage reconnect It can also provide automatic reconnection of the loads at the low voltage reconnect LVR setting Reconnection of the load is allowed once the battery voltage has exceeded the low voltage reconnect LVR setting Loads are either automatically when battery voltage exceeds the low voltage reconnect LVR setting for 1 minutes Figure 1 3 Load controller 12 Important When using the Solar Charge Controller load control Do not temperature compensate these settings Do not install the optional
40. ttery temperature sensor BTS 1 Install the BTS on the side of the battery below the electrolyte level It is best to place the sensor between batteries and place the batteries in an insulated box to reduce the influence of the ambient temperature outside the battery enclosure 2 Insert the RJ 11 plug on the other end of the BTS into the BTS Port on the Solar Charge Controller charge controller Figure 1 12 Install BTS RJ 11 Port Accept BTS to the side of the battery 2 13 Reinstalling the Faceplate To reinstall the faceplace on the Solar Charge Controller charge controller 1 Align topcover so that two screw holes in the corners line up 2 Insert the screws into the screw holes and tighten 23 Figure 1 13 Reinstalling the faceplate Align these screw holes Replace the screws to secure the topcover 24 3 Operation Chapter 3 contains information about the operation of a Solar Charge Controller charge controller 3 1 Basic Operation The Solar Charge Controller charge controller has one blue and multicolor LED status indicator one battery type selector Figure 1 14 LED status indicator Single color LED indicator Multicolor LED indicator 3 2 LED Status Indicator The Solar Charge Controller has one multicolor LED and one green LED to indicate the operating status of the controller The green LED indicates whether the charging source is functioning properly when it display solid green or
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