Flexnet User Manual

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Contact Information

About OutBack Power

OutBack Power is a leader in advanced energy conversion technology. OutBack Power products include true

sinewave inverter/chargers, maximum power point tracking charge controllers, and system communication

components, as well as circuit breakers, batteries, accessories, and assembled systems.

Contact Information

Mailing Address: 1628 – West Williams Drive

Phoenix, AZ 5027 USA

Web Site: www.outbackpower.com

Disclaimer

UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AGREED TO IN WRITING, OUTBACK POWER:

(a) MAKES NO WARRANTY AS TO THE ACCURACY, SUFFICIENCY OR SUITABILITY OF ANY TECHNICAL

OR OTHER INFORMATION PROVIDED IN ITS MANUALS OR OTHER DOCUMENTATION.

(b) ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE, WHETHER DIRECT,

NDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL, WHICH MIGHT ARISE OUT OF THE USE OF SUCH

INFORMATION. THE USE OF ANY SUCH INFORMATION WILL BE ENTIRELY AT THE USER’S RISK.

OutBack Power cannot be responsible for system failure, damages, or injury resulting from improper

installation of their products.

Notice of Copyright

Trademarks

Trademarks and logos are the property of OutBack Power Technologies, Inc. and its affiliates unless

otherwise noted. Subject to revisions without notice. E. & O.E. UL is a registered trademark of UL LLC.

IEEE is the registered trademark of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

Date and Revision

August 2020, Revision C

Part Number

900-0093-12-00 Rev C

FLEXnet DC Battery Monitor

Overview Guide

Contents

Speciﬁ cations 2

Installation 3

Wiring 4

Programming 6

Monitoring 8

Operation 12

Example Use Cases 16

Troubleshooting Guide 18

Calibration 19

Introduction

OutBack Power’s FLEXnet DC (FN-DC) is a battery monitoring

device that serves as a window to the battery bank. By

tracking battery voltage and the amount of incoming and

outgoing current, the FN-DC indicates the battery bank’s state of

charge (SOC) and enables users to precisely conﬁ gure charging

parameters to maximize battery performance and lifespan.

The FN-DC also provides an auxiliary relay that can activate a

ventilation fan, low-battery warning alarm, or other low-voltage

DC device. The MATE3s can use the FN-DC’s information to

stop all charging devices when the batteries are full.

Included

A: FLEXnet DC

B: 10-pin Wiring Block

C: 6' CAT5 cable for HUB connection

D: 10' Twisted-Pair (TP) cable for battery connection

E: Three 6' TP cables for shunt connections

F: Two #6 × ⅜" pan head machine screws (not pictured)

G: Colored labels (not pictured)

NOTES:

 For programming and full functionality, this product requires

the use of an OutBack Power system display such as the

MATE3s. It is intended to monitor systems with OutBack

Power inverters, charge controllers, and related products.

 This document assumes knowledge of features, functions,

and operation of other OutBack Power products. Consult

appropriate literature as necessary.

IMPORTANT:

This document provides instructions for installation, setup, and

operation of the product. These instructions are for use by

qualiﬁ ed personnel who meet all local and governmental code

requirements for licensing and training for the installation of

electrical power systems with AC and DC voltage up to 600 volts.

Failure to install or use this equipment as instructed in the

literature can result in damage to the equipment that may not

be covered under the limited warranty. This product is only

serviceable by qualiﬁ ed personnel.

Summary of content (10 pages)

PAGE 1
Contact Information About OutBack Power OutBack Power is a leader in advanced energy conversion technology. OutBack Power products include true sinewave inverter/chargers, maximum power point tracking charge controllers, and system communication components, as well as circuit breakers, batteries, accessories, and assembled systems. Contact Information Mailing Address: 1628 – West Williams Drive Phoenix, AZ 5027 USA Web Site: www.outbackpower.
PAGE 2
Specifications Installation 3.7" (9.4 cm) 0.7" (1.9 cm) Features Installing the FLEXnet DC A: State of Charge Indicator Lights The FLEXnet DC mounts in a ¾" DC circuit breaker slot installed inside an OutBack Power load center. B: Mounting Screws C: Hub Cable Port B D: Wiring Block C To mount the FLEXnet DC inside an OutBack Power enclosure: 1. Put the system into bypass mode. 2. Shut oﬀ all AC input to inverters. 3. Shut oﬀ all PV and DC breakers. 4. Disconnect the battery cables at the battery.
PAGE 3
Installation Wiring Connections Color-coded twisted pair #18 AWG connects the wiring block and shunt(s) or battery. The wiring must be installed with the proper polarity to avoid corrupting the data. Installation CAUTION: Equipment Damage ○ The wires connected to the wiring block should match the color-coded label where the wiring block inserts into the FLEXnet DC. Do not reverse the white and black wires (see step 1). This will damage both the FN-DC and the HUB Communications Manager.
PAGE 4
Programming Programming Initializing the FLEXnet DC The FN-DC assumes that the batteries are fully charged when it is initially turned on. Prior to turning on the FN-DC, make certain the battery bank is charged to capacity. Use the battery manufacturer’s instructions on how to commission and fully charge the battery bank to bring it to a full state of charge. This step may take several days depending on the system and the type of battery.
PAGE 5
Operation Operation A Viewing FN-DC Data LED Indicators (A and B): These indicate the approximate battery SOC “at-a-glance”. ○ MATE3s System Display (beginning with C): This shows key data such as the exact battery SOC and voltage. A full range of detailed data can be viewed in various screens. ○ MATE3s C Charge Controller A MATE3s Home Screen In the MATE3s, the soft key D opens the FLEXnet DC screen. This allows access to additional menus with status and historical data.
PAGE 6
Operation Operation Click DEVICE MAP Click Shunt A 1 Viewing Data on OPTICS RE OPTICS RE Dashboard 3 Battery Charging Charge Controller FN-DC data is accessible remotely through OPTICS RE, a secure web-based interface that allows authorized users to monitor and configure the system from anywhere with internet access (see https://opticsre.com for more details).
PAGE 7
Operation Operation Programming the Auxiliary Relay FLEXnet Relay Set Points The FLEXnet DC provides an auxiliary (Aඝච) relay to activate a DC accessory like a ventilation fan or light. The Aඝච relay is a "dry contact" that does not supply power. The contacts are rated at 5 amps @ 30 Vdc. The relay requires appropriate sized wiring and overcurrent protection. Note that damage due to unprotected relay devices is not covered by the warranty.
PAGE 8
Operation Operation Accessing Historical Data Three-Stage Charging Cycle The FN-DC keeps a data log containing the previous 128 days of data. The MATE3s can save this data to an SD card so that it can be viewed elsewhere on a spreadsheet. The daily log includes minimum SOC, number of amp hours and kilowatt hours put into and taken out of the battery bank, and the battery bank’s net gain or loss of amp hours and kilowatt hours. Data is logged each night at midnight.
PAGE 9
Example Use Cases Example Use Cases One Inverter, One Charge Controller One Inverter, Two Charge Controllers NOTE: Other configurations or systems are possible from what is depicted here. Other shunt designations are also possible, as any device may be placed on any shunt. The layouts shown on these pages may be diﬀerent than factory-built systems.
PAGE 10
Troubleshooting Common Problems FN-DC Field Calibration Symptom Possible Cause Possible Remedy This section outlines the procedure for calibrating a FLEXnet DC Battery Monitor that has already been installed in a system. Current readings are inaccurate or reversed. Shunt(s) miswired. Confirm correct wiring on all shunts. See page 5. Required Equipment Current reading is zero with current confirmed present. Shunt not enabled. Enable all shunts that are in use. See page 7.