Installation Manual

© 2014 Magnum Energy, Inc.
Page 105
Using a PT Controller: Setup
• 06D Max Charge Time – This setting is a safety feature that ensures abnormal conditions
will not cause the controller to hold batteries at a high voltage for a prolonged period of time.
This menu sets a maximum time the controller is allowed to operate in either the Bulk, Ab-
sorption, or Equalization charge modes. If the controller reaches the maximum charge time
setting, it will transition to the Float charge stage. The “OFF” selection can be used if there is
an application where 25.5 hrs is not long enough.
Default setting: 12.0 Hrs
Range: OFF, 0.1-25.5 Hrs
CAUTION: If using “OFF”, the batteries can be held at a high voltage for an extended
time. Monitor the batteries to ensure they are not overcharged.
Info: If the time the charger has been in Bulk, Absorption, or EQ charge modes exceeds
the Max Charge Time setting, the “PT Max Charge Time” scrolls across the LCD display.
Where should I set my Max Charge Time? To ensure a complete charge cycle is accomplished,
adjust the Max Charge Time setting to a time period that will normally be longer than the settings
in the following SETUP menu items: 06B Absorb Done Time/Amps/SOC. The Max Charge Time
setting has priority over these menus and will stop the charge cycle once that setting is satisfi ed.
Example: Max Charge Time set at 6 hours, but the Absorb Done Time is set at 8 hours. After 6
hours in the Absorption charge cycle, the charger then transitions to the Final Charge stage.
• 06E Bulk Start – The settings available from this menu allow the PT controller to automati-
cally start a Bulk charge cycle based on different conditions (i.e., daily at sunup, battery volt-
age, or battery SOC). One, two, or all three of these conditions can be enabled to determine
when a Bulk charge cycle begins.
◊ Daily/SunUp – This menu provides the option to set the PT controller to start the Bulk
charge cycle each new day at sun-up.
Note: A “new day” is defi ned as: for a networked PT = after midnight, for a standalone PT =
two hours of no sun.
Note: If the Daily/SunUp bulk start condition is set to No (disabled), on a new day the PT
controller stays in the same charge mode as the previous day.
Default setting: YES
Range: YES, NO
◊ Volts – This menu provides the option to set a DC voltage level that will start the Bulk
charge cycle when the battery voltage decreases to or below this setting continuously for at
least one minute. This one minute delay time is to prevent a Bulk charge cycle when a heavy
load causes the battery to momentarily dip.
Default setting: 12.0 VDC (12v), 24.0 (24v), 48.0 VDC (48v)
Range: OFF, 9.0-16.0 VDC (12v), 18.0-32.0 VDC (24v), 36.0-64.0 VDC (48v)
Note: If “CC/CV Controlled” displays on this menu’s screen, you will not be able to adjust the
settings as “CC/CV” has been selected as the battery type from the 06A Battery Type menu.
Where should I set Bulk Start – Volts? The Bulk Start voltage must be high enough to not
over-discharge the battery, but low enough to keep from starting the Bulk charge unnecessarily.
Typically, battery voltage SOC charts show approximately 12.2 VDC (for a 12-volt system) to be
approximately 50% of the battery capacity. However, these charts show the battery at “rest”,
meaning it has no load connected and has been at rest for a minimum of 30 minutes. While this
voltage is accurate under these at rest conditions, this same voltage with a load applied means
the battery is well above 50% SOC. Normally, the battery is loaded (inverter connected or DC
loads), so the voltage used to determine 50% battery capacity should be set much lower than what
is shown on typical battery voltage charts. A typical bulk start voltage setting would be between
11.0 VDC - 11.5 VDC (for a 12-volt system).
Info: The Bulk Start – Volts feature uses the DC voltage displayed from the METER:
07C Bat Volts-PT menu to determine when to start another Bulk cycle.