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1. Primary Functions and Features The Controller provides three primary functions: 1. The Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) function ensures that the Controller is able to extract the maximum power available from the PV panel under varying solar and shade conditions. 2. The 12V or 24V, 3-stage battery charge function provides: Bulk charge at the maximum current from that available from the PV panel (up to the rated current of the Controller) until the battery reaches the set voltage of 14.6V. Topping charge at 14.6V for 1 hour Float charge at 13.8V. 3. Load output can be optionally used. The relay control can be manual or automatic with overload protection. 2. Other Features and Functions IP68 rated enclosure (dust and water proof). Aluminium case is resilient to corrosion and suited for use in outdoor environments. Automatic identification of 12V and 24V battery voltage. LED status indicators, single button control of the output load relay with digital display makes operation simple and convenient. Load output can be controlled manually or automatically via light operation with various periods. Load relay settings are stored. No need for repeated setting after power disconnection. External temperature sensor provides adjustment of charging voltage versus temperature. Protection against over-charge, over-discharges and overload, protection against short circuit and reverse connection* (refer to Safety section for 24V battery). Transient Voltage Suppressor (TVS) Lightning protection Page 1 of 9 Revision 1, 02 June 2014
3. Safety If the 12V battery connections are reversed, the controller will not be damaged, however, there may be output of negative voltage at the load end which may damage your load equipment. In a 24V battery system, if the battery or solar PV panel is connected in reverse, controller will very likely be damaged. Avoid touching the controller when in operation or when it is exposed to sunlight as the surface temperature may be high enough to burn skin. Do not immerse the controller in corrosive liquid otherwise the controller may be damaged and harmful gas may be generated. There is a great deal of energy stored in the battery. Therefore, short circuit of the battery terminals must be prevented. A fuse is included in the controller battery cable to assist with safety. A battery may generate combustible gas and therefore should be isolated from ignition sources. Please make sure that children are kept away from the storage battery and the controller. Please follow the safety suggestions given by the battery manufacturer. 4. Installing the Controller Controller Cable connections The controller has 3 pairs of wires corresponding to 1. the PV panel, 2. the battery, and 3. the load, as indicated on the graphic on the front of the controller. Controller Location The controller must be located or installed in a shaded and ventilated area, ideally in the same environment as the battery for the following reasons: The controller will become hot during running The controller can operate at up to 65 C ambient temperature. The controller has an external temperature sensor which monitors the ambient temperature to reduce the charging voltage at higher temperatures. Page 2 of 9 Revision 1, 02 June 2014
Important Warning: Direct sunlight on a black surface such as the controller can raise the surface temperature to 85 C which exceeds the controller s temperature rating. Surface temperatures above 44 C will, dependent on length of contact, burn skin. Refer to the safety section. Installation Sequence Important Notes: The battery must be connected before the PV Panel so that the controller sets the correct system voltage. The PV Panel must be closed while it is being connected to the controller otherwise an electric arc may form which can melt and seriously damage contact materials, resulting in high resistance and subsequent overheating. Note: This controller is sold separately as well as being included in our portable, foldable PV panel pack. If you have purchased the portable panel pack the connectors are pre-attached and you only need to plug them together. Step 1: Connect the controller to the battery The cable between the controller and battery should be appropriately sized for the distance to the battery. Increasing the length increases losses and increases the charging time. Connect the red, positive wire to the battery positive terminal Connect the black, negative wire to the battery negative terminal The battery, middle, LED will illuminate red for approximately 6 seconds after which it illuminates pale green. This indicates that the controller has detected the battery and set the system voltage according to the battery. The Load LED will also illuminate green 1, indicating that the load switch is. By momentarily pressing the load relay button the load relay setting can be observed on the load relay mode digital display. The factory default setting is 7.. In this mode the controller will switch the load relay when the PV panel is not connected or in darkness. 1 This is the default factory setting which may be changed by the user changes the load switch setting Page 3 of 9 Revision 1, 02 June 2014
STEP 2: Connect the controller to the PV panel: Connect the red, positive wire to the PV panel positive terminal Connect the black, negative wire to the PV panel negative terminal Open up the PV panel fully. If there is sufficient sunlight the PV Panel, left, LED will illuminate green indicating that the PV panel voltage has been detected. Optional STEP 3: Connect the controller to the load: Connect the red, positive wire to the load positive terminal Connect the black, negative wire to the load negative terminal Current should not exceed the rated current of controller. The operation of the load relay is described in section 6. 1. Grounding: The controller is designed for positive grounding in systems that require grounding The foldable portable panels are isolated and therefore no grounding is required. 5. Controls and Status Indicators Controls: Load Relay Mode Button: This controls the operation of the Load Relay Mode as described in section 6 Status Indicators: PV Panel LED Battery LED Load Relay LED 7-segment Digital Display The description of the LED indicators is given below: Page 4 of 9 Revision 1, 02 June 2014
LED Lamp Status Functions Problem Solving PV Panel LED Battery LED Load LED OFF Fast Flash 6 seconds when battery connected OFF Fast Flash OFF Slow Flash Fast Flash All three LEDs Flash weakly Voltage on PV Panel No Voltage on PV Panel PV panel voltage too high Controller is automatically detecting battery voltage (red) Battery connected (pale green can be difficult to see in bright sunlight) Battery not connected Battery voltage too low or too high Output to Load is Output to Load is OFF Overload Detected (Output to Load is OFF) Short Circuit Detected (Output to Load is OFF) Insufficient sunlight, or check PV Panel, polarity, cables & connectors Use PV Panels within the specification of the controller Check battery, polarity, cables, connections, and fuse. Ensure there is a direct connection to the battery (not via other relays in the system) Check battery voltage Load Relay is operated in accordance with section 6. Check cables, connections, fuses and relays in the load circuit. Load Relay is operated in accordance with section 6. Check cables, connections, fuses and relays in the load circuit. The load exceeds rated power. Reduce the load and reset by pressing the button until reset complete. Load Relay is operated in accordance with section 6. Check cables, connections, fuses and relays in the load circuit. The load exceeds rated power. Reduce the load and reset by pressing the button until reset complete. Short circuit detected on the load. Repair circuit and reset by pressing the button until reset complete. Battery disconnected, but PV Panel connected in sunlight. Check battery. Page 5 of 9 Revision 1, 02 June 2014
6. Load Relay Control This section describes how the load relay internal to the controller can be used to switch and OFF the output to the load connections on the controller. The Controller has 18 Load Relay Modes that are indicated on the 7-segment digital display. The first 10 modes display as 0 to 9, whilst the remaining 8 modes display as 0. to 7. respectively. NB: the. period discriminates the upper the 8 modes. NB: Load Switch Mode 7. is the default setting from the factory. A brief press of the button will illuminate the digital display and show the current load relay mode for 20 seconds. Load Relay Mode Setting Instructions # Instruction Response 1 Press the button for about 5 seconds until the digital display starts to flash. 2 Keep pressing the button momentarily until the Load Relay Mode is set to the desired mode. For example, if changing to manual mode 6., press the button momentarily until the display flashes 5., then press and hold down until 6. stops flashing. The digital display will start to flash with the current load relay mode setting The digital display will change according to the Load Relay Mode selected via the button Page 6 of 9 Revision 1, 02 June 2014
Digital Display Perman ently Manual Switch /OFF Load Relay /OFF Control Low Light with Timer Low Light Low Light with delay 0 Description The load will be switched when the input from the PV Panel falls to the factory set level plus a delay of 10 minutes. The load will be switched OFF when the light intensity increases to the factory set level plus a delay of 10 minutes. The starting process is the same as Mode 0. The load will remain for the set number of hours. Digital Display Set Time (Hours) 1-9 & 0. to 4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0. 1. 2. 3. 4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5. The load output is permanently switched. 6. The user can manually switch and OFF the load. 7. This is similar to Mode 0, except there is no 10 minute delay. Page 7 of 9 Revision 1, 02 June 2014
7. Specification Model no. Battery voltage Maximum charge / load current No-load loss Solar PV Panel input voltage Overvoltage protection Bulk (constant current) charging Topping (constant voltage ) charging Float charging voltage Return voltage for over-discharging Over-discharge voltage Charging Temperature compensation Light control voltage (to operate load relay) Light control judgment time Overload and short-circuit protection Grounding Working temperature Maximum above sea level Dimensions (L*W*H) MPPT-10A / MPPT-20A 12V / 24V Auto Recognition 10A / 20A < 5 ma < 55V 17.0V / 34.0V (25 C) 10A / 20A 14.6V / 29.2 (25 C), Duration; 1 Hour 13.8V / 27.6V (25 C) 12.2V / 24.4V (25 C) 10.8V / 21.6V (25 C) -4mV/ C Light-controller open 5V; light-controller close 6V 10 minutes 1.25 times of rated current : 30s; 1.5 times rated current: 5s overload protection activity; 3 times of rated current: short circuit protection Positive grounding possible -35 to +65 C 4,000 m above sea level 104 x 80 x 28mm Page 8 of 9 Revision 1, 02 June 2014
Mounting hole diameter Weight Ingress Protection (IP) grade 3.5mm 450g IP68 8. Problem Solving Fault status indicators and remedies are provided in section 6. Page 9 of 9 Revision 1, 02 June 2014