Outback Power Systems 80 user manual Standards and Requirements

OUTBACK FLEXmax 80 CHARGE CONTROLLER INSTALLATION GUIDELINES AND SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

This product is intended to be installed as part of a permanently grounded electrical system as shown in the system configuration sections (see pages 12-14) of this 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 The following important restrictions apply unless superseded by local or national codes: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 FLEXmax 80 should never be positive grounded (see page 60, Applications Notes).

• The FLEXmax 80 equipment ground is marked with this symbol:

•If damaged or malfunctioning, the FLEXmax 80 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 FLEXmax 80 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 NEC standards.

• Shut off all DC breakers before connecting any wiring.

•Torque all the FLEXmax 80’s wire lugs and ground terminals to 35 inch-pounds (4 Nm).

•All 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 FLEXmax 80 (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