Table of Contents
Advertisement
Installation and OPERATION MANUAL
for the
A U T O M A T I C S E Q U E N C I N G C H A R G E R
Photovoltaic (Solar) Charge Controller
The ASC is a highly reliable charge controller ideal for small to
mid-sized photovoltaic systems. It will efficiently charge your
Batteries and provide years of protection from over-charging.
Units with the low-voltage disconnect (LVD) option will provide
additional protection from low-voltage. This protective care
will prolong your battery life and reduce maintenance
requirements.
S
C
I
P E C I A L T Y
O N C E P T S ,
N C .
8954 Mason Ave.
Chatsworth, CA 91311, USA
Advertisement
Table of Contents
Troubleshooting
Summary of Contents for Specialty Concepts ASC Series
- Page 1 INSTALLATION and OPERATION MANUAL for the A U T O M A T I C S E Q U E N C I N G C H A R G E R Photovoltaic (Solar) Charge Controller The ASC is a highly reliable charge controller ideal for small to mid-sized photovoltaic systems.
- Page 2 Web-site: www.specialtyconcepts.com ASC - Specifications 12 / 2001 PARAMETERS UNITS NOMINAL VOLTAGES 12 v 24 v 36 v 48 v Charge Current, Short Circuit, Continuous Refer to Serial Number Tag (available in 1 – 20 amps) Charge Current, Short Circuit, Max.(60 sec) 1.30% of rated charge current Load Current, Continuous (1)(2)
- Page 3 F E A T U R E S IDEAL SOLAR CHARGING HIGH RELIABILITY • Efficient – Over 99% efficiency when • Simple, rugged electronics – low charging component count and streamlined design ensure long term reliability • Full Charging – Ensures that the batteries •...
- Page 4 R E L A T E D S Y S T E M E Q U I P M E N T The ASC is an integral part of a solar electric power system that includes a photovoltaic (PV) solar array and a battery. SOLAR ARRAY PANELS: The ASC is compatible with all makes and models of PV panels, provided the open circuit voltage and short circuit current do not exceed the Array (Voc) Max.
- Page 5 I N S T A L L A T I O N WARNINGS WARNING: Electricity, even low voltage electricity, can be dangerous. Installation should be performed by a licensed electrical contractor or other qualified personnel only. The requirements of the U.S. National Electrical Code should be followed. WARNING: Follow all safety precautions of the battery manufacturer.
-
Page 6: Installation Instructions
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS: 1. LOCATION / MOUNTING: - The ASC may be mounted in almost any indoor or outdoor location. The unit should be mounted as close as possible to the batteries to avoid errors in battery voltage reading. The ASC may be mounted on the rear of the solar panels using outdoor-type double-stick foam tape. - Page 7 FIGURE 1 ASC Controller SOLAR PANEL ARRAY BATT (-) ARRAY (-) ARRAY (+) LOAD BATT FUSE RATINGS: A = Rated for ASC B = Rated for load Temp.Sensor (Optional) BATTERY FIGURE 2 ASC Controller with Option-E (LVD) SOLAR PANEL ARRAY BATT (-) ARRAY (-) ARRAY (+)
- Page 8 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS (continued) : 4. COMPLETE THE INSTALLATION OF ARRAY, BATTERIES AND LOAD: - Follow the manufacturer's instructions for mounting and wiring the solar panel, batteries and the load. Install with the correct series-parallel configuration to insure proper system voltage and current 5.
- Page 9 13. OPERATION: - Operation of the ASC is now fully automatic. If the battery voltage is below the Full Charge Termination set-point (about 14.3 volts on 12 volt units)* and power is available from the array, the ASC should start up in the “CHARGING”...
- Page 10 O P T I O N S Options cannot be added to units after production. OPTION A - Temperature Compensation: DESCRIPTION: On units equipped with Option-A, a small sensor on a 10 foot (3m) cable is connected to the controller to adjust the charging thresholds according to battery temperature. The rate of compensation is -5mv/ °...
- Page 11 OPTION E - Low Voltage Disconnect (LVD): Units with Option-E can prevent deep-discharge damage to the batteries. These units feature a relay that can disconnect the load when the battery voltage is low. The “ACTIVATION” light will light to indicate the relay activation (loads disconnected). This option provides the common (“COM”), the normally open (“N/O”), and the normally closed (“N/C”) voltage-free contacts of the relay.
- Page 12 M O N I T O R I N G “CHARGING” LIGHT: - The "CHARGING" light will be on when the battery is charging. When charging, virtually all the power available from the solar array will pass through to the battery. The “CHARGING”...
- Page 13 ” Q U I C K ” T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G IF THE CONTROLLER IS NEWLY INSTALLED, CHECK THESE THINGS FIRST: 1) Re-check system wiring to assure proper installation and polarity . 2) Check all system fuses and circuit breakers.
- Page 14 T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G The following section can assist in troubleshooting a solar system. Review the section below titled “HELP NOTES” that lists some common problems with a solar system. •...
- Page 15 HELP NOTES: (continued) PROBLEM CONDITIONS : 5. SYSTEM IS NOT SIZED CORRECTLY - The system batteries will tend to be under-charged if the solar array is too small, or if the battery bank is too small, or if the usage is too high. Some systems contain small hidden loads that can slowly draw down the battery.
- Page 16 ASC PROBLEM CHART Refer to this chart and the ASC PROBLEM DESCRIPTIONS (next page), to help diagnose potential problems based on the observations of the ASC and actual battery voltage. Use an accurate volt-meter and measure the voltage directly at the battery terminals. Problems with charging CASE BATTERY VOLTAGE CHARGE...
- Page 17 ASC PROBLEM DESCRIPTIONS (from the ASC PROBLEM CHART) ASC Note 1 - A continuous low-voltage condition with good charging during the day would indicate that the controller is functional but one of the following problems exists: • A system sizing problem. See SYSTEM IS NOT SIZED CORRECTLY (Help Note #5) •...
- Page 18 ASC Note 5 - A high voltage condition (over 14.5 volts*) with the solar charging terminated during the day would indicate the controller is functional but the batteries are being over-charged by a second charging source. Other charging sources should feature their own charge regulation. ASC Note 6 - The "CHARGING"...
- Page 19 ASC Note 10 - A low-voltage condition where the loads are on indicates one of the following: • The battery voltage has not yet dipped down below the Load Disconnect set-point (about 11.5 volts*) • • The ASC has a bad battery connection. A poor connection could cause a voltage drop and result in the controller sensing a higher battery voltage than what actually exists.
- Page 20 BATTERY PROBLEMS - Refer to this section to help diagnose potential problems based on battery observations. CASE BATTERY SEE NOTE(S) 1 → Battery voltage low or does not hold a charge See Battery Note 1 2 → Battery seems to be over-charging See Battery Note 2 Battery Note 1 - BATTERY UNDER-CHARGED: If the batteries are always low and not able to be charged sufficiently, consider the following:...
- Page 21 A S C – B E N C H T E S T P R O C E D U R E Determine if an ASC is operational. A power supply and an accurate multi-meter is required STEP 1: Preparation 1) Power supply requirements: current limited, variable voltage power supply.
- Page 22 A S C – F I E L D T E S T P R O C E D U R E You can determine if an ASC is operational. An active solar panel is required. An accurate digital volt- meter is recommended although a simple analog volt-meter may also be sufficient.
- Page 23 SPECIALTY CONCEPTS, INC. 1. Specialty Concepts, Inc. warrants all its products for a period of five (5) years from the date of shipment from its factory. This warranty is valid against defects in materials and workmanship for the five (5) year warranty period.
- Page 24 SPECIALTY CONCEPTS, INC. REPAIR INFORMATION FORM All Specialty Concepts, Inc. products carry a 5 year limited warranty. ASC’s can not be repaired but will be replaced for all warranty failures. Directions for returning units needing in warranty servicing. 1. Fill in this form completely 2.
Need help?
Do you have a question about the ASC Series and is the answer not in the manual?
Questions and answers