GUIDELINES AND SAFETY
INSTRUCTIONS
The charge controller is intended to be installed as part of a permanently
grounded electrical system as described in the installation manual.
The following
important restrictions apply unless superseded by local or national
codes:
• The negative battery conductor should be bonded to the grounding
system at only one point in the
system. If a GFP is present, the battery negative and ground are
not bonded together directly but are
connected together by the GFP device when it is on. All negative
conductor connections must be
kept separate from the grounding conductor connections.
• With the exception of certain telcom applications, the Charge
Controller should never be positive
grounded (see page 61, Applications Notes).
• The Charge Controller equipment ground is marked with this
symbol:
• If damaged or malfunctioning, the Charge Controller should
only be disassembled and repaired by a
qualified service center. Please contact your renewable energy dealer/installer
for assistance.
Incorrect reassembly risks malfunction, electric shock or fire.
• The Charge Controller is designed for indoor installation
or installation inside a weatherproof enclosure. It
must not be exposed to rain and should be installed out of direct
sunlight.
For routine, user-approved maintenance:
• Turn off all circuit breakers, including those to the solar
modules, and related electrical connections
before cleaning the air vents.
Standards and Requirements
All installations must comply with national and local electrical
codes; professional installation
is recommended. NEC requires ground protection for all residential
PV installations.
DC and Battery-Related Installation Requirements:
• All DC cables must meet local and national codes.
• Shut off all DC breakers before connecting any wiring.
• Torque all the Charge Controller’s wire lugs and ground
terminals to 35 inch-pounds (4 Nm).
• Copper wiring must be rated at 75° C or higher.
• Use up to 2 AWG (33.6 mm2 ) to reduce losses and ensure high
performance of Charge Controller
(smaller cables can reduce performance and possibly damage the unit).
• Keep cables together (e.g., using a tie-wrap) as much as possible.
• Ensure both cables pass through the same knockout and conduit
fittings to allow the inductive
currents to cancel.
• DC battery over-current protection must be used as part of
the installation. OutBack offers both
breakers and fuses for overcurrent protection.
WARNING - WORKING IN THE VICINITY OF A LEAD ACID BATTERY IS DANGEROUS.
BATTERIES GENERATE EXPLOSIVE GASES DURING NORMAL OPERATION.
Design
the
battery enclosure to prevent accumulation and concentration of hydrogen
gas in “pockets” at the top
of the enclosure. Vent the battery compartment from the highest point
to the outside. A sloped lid can
also be used to direct the flow of hydrogen to the vent opening.
CAUTION - To reduce risk of injury, charge only deep-cycle lead acid,
lead antimony, lead calcium,
gel cell or absorbed glass mat type rechargeable batteries. Other
types of batteries may burst, causing
personal injury and damage. Never charge a frozen battery.
PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS DURING INSTALLATION
• Someone should be within range of your voice to come to your
aid if needed.
• Keep plenty of fresh water and soap nearby in case battery
acid contacts skin, clothing,
or eyes.
• Wear complete eye protection. Avoid touching eyes while working
near batteries. Wash your hands
with soap and warm water when done.
• If battery acid contacts skin or clothing, wash immediately
with soap and water. If acid enters an eye,
flood the eye with running cool water at once for at least 15 minutes
and get medical attention
immediately following.
• Baking soda neutralizes lead acid battery electrolyte. Keep
a supply on hand in the area of
the batteries.
• NEVER smoke or allow a spark or flame in vicinity of a battery
or generator.
• Be extra cautious to reduce the risk of dropping a metal tool
onto batteries. It could short-circuit the
batteries or other electrical parts that can result in fire or explosion.
• Remove personal metal items such as rings, bracelets, necklaces,
and watches when working with a
battery or other electrical current. A battery can produce a short
circuit current high enough to weld
a ring or the like to metal, causing severe burns. |
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