12K Manual
Table Of Contents
- Spec Sheet
- Wiring Diagrams
- GUI Screens
- Physical Installation
- Inverter Components
- Deciding Backup Circuits
- Single System Installs
- Mounting the Sol-Ark
- Integrating Batteries (Sol-Ark POWERED "OFF")
- E.M.P Systems Only
- Connecting Solar Panels
- Integrating a Generator
- Integrating Sensors and Accessory Placement
- Battery Temperature Sensor
- Limiter Sensors (CT Sensors)
- GEN Start Signal (Two-Wire)
- CANbus & RS485
- Wi-Fi Antenna (Dongle)
- Emergency Stop Signal & PV Rapid Shutdown Signal
- Misc. Hardware Recommendations
- Check the voltage on each PV input circuit
- Check Grid Input Voltage
- Check Battery Voltage
- Provide Power to Sol-Ark
- Indicator LED's
- Power Cycle Sequence
- Wi-Fi / Internet Connection
- Programming Guide
- Limiter Sensors (CT Sensors)
- Install Tips
- Batteries
- Parallel Systems
- Troubleshooting Guide
- LCD is not powering on
- Panels are connected, but DC Light is not on
- Panels are not producing
- Panels are not producing much power
- The system does not keep batteries charged
- Auto Gen-Start not working
- Normal LED isn't on
- The alarm light is on
- Grid HM value is negative when it should be positive (only applies in limited home mode)
- AC Overload Fault or Bus Unbalance Fault
- The system connects to grid and quickly disconnects
- DC Overload Fault
- System is beeping
- Battery cable sparks when connected
- Battery symbol on the home screen is red
- Battery symbol on the home screen is yellow
- Grid symbol on the home screen is yellow
- System has restarted
- Batteries were connected backward
- Why is the LCD screen still on when the power button is off?
- The Batt % meter is not reaching 100%
- Generator setup is reading 0Hz
- Color Touchscreen is Frozen
- Consant F18 Faults while powering loads within specification
- Troubleshooting Phasing Issues
- Sol-Ark 12K Error Codes
- Install Verification Checklist
- Sol-Ark 12K Limited Warranty
June 30
th
, 2022 42
Batteries
Battery Charging Information
4-Stage Charging
The MPPT has a 4-stage battery charging algorithm for rapid, efficient, and safe battery charging. The figure
below shows the stage sequence.
Bulk Charge Stage
In the Bulk Charge stage, the battery is not
at a 100% state of charge and has not yet
reached the Absorption voltage setpoint.
The controller will deliver 100% of available
solar power to recharge the battery.
Absorption Stage
When the battery has reached the
absorption voltage setpoint, we use
constant-voltage regulation to maintain
battery voltage at the absorption setpoint, preventing heating and excessive battery gassing. The battery is
allowed to come to a full state of charge at the absorption voltage setpoint. Absorption lasts until batteries
charge at 2% of the programmed Ah size.
Float Stage
After the Absorption stage charges the battery fully, the MPPT reduces the battery voltage to the float voltage
setpoint. If batts have 100% charge, there can be no more chemical reactions, and all the charging current
turns into heat and gassing. The float stage provides a meager rate of maintenance charging while reducing
the heating and gassing of a fully charged battery. The purpose of float is to protect the battery from long-term
overcharge.
Battery Charging Setpoint Examples (48V)
Battery
Type
Absorption
Stage
Float Stage
Equalize Stage
(every 30 days 3hr)
AGM / PCC
14.4v (57.6v)
13.5v (53.6v)
14.4v (57.6v)
Gel
14.1v (56.4v)
13.5v (54.0v)
Wet
14.7v (59.0v)
13.7v (55.0V)
14.7v (59.0v)
Lithium
14.1v (54.6v)
13.2v (54.3v)
14.1v (54.6v)
Calculating Battery Bank’s Amp-Hours (PCC 230)
Battery
Count
Voltage /
Battery
Amp Hours /
Battery
Total Amp
Hours @48V
Max Charge/
Discharge Amp
4
12V
230Ah
230Ah
100A
8
12V
230Ah
460Ah
185A
12
12V
230Ah
690Ah
185A
16
12V
230Ah
920Ah
185A
Default
• Batteries in series:
ADD VOLTAGES
• Batteries in parallel:
ADD AMP-HOURS
MPPT Charging Algorithm