Outback Power Systems FLEXmax 80 Owners Manual - Manual (Page 22)

Operation
20 900-0009-01-00 Rev C
Modes of Operation
The FLEXmax has 25 different modes that will display on the status screen. These messages will vary
with function. The FLEXmax modes consist of various charging stages, equalization, various reasons
for stopping charging, and certain specialized operating modes.
The amount of time required before starting operation is dependent on the module type, ambient
temperature, and the amount of sunlight directly on the PV array. Normally, the FLEXmax starts in the
morning within a few minutes of the PV array being exposed to direct sunlight.
The FLEXmax modes of operation will change occasionally during the day based on the PV array
output and the battery system state of charge. The FLEXmax operating modes are displayed at the
bottom right hand corner of the status screen. See Figure 11.
Figure 14 shows an example of the various stages of operation during battery charging and the
messages shown during each stage. Battery charging is described in detail on page 96.
Figure 14 FLEXmax Battery Charging and Modes
Absorbing
The FLEXmax is in the Absorbing stage of a three-stage cycle, regulating the battery voltage at the
Absorbing voltage set point. While the batteries are held at this voltage, the ChgT counter in the Misc
menu counts up from zero toward the user-defined Absorb Time Limit. (See pages 44 and 49.) The
charger will exit this stage and enter the Float stage if the ChgT timer reaches the time limit, or if the
Absorb End Amps setting is reached. (See page 49.)
If the battery voltage drops below the Absorbing voltage (see page 26), the FLEXmax reverts back to
the Bulk charge stage and displays MPPT Bulk as shown on page 22. The ChgT counter will begin
counting back toward zero. Lower voltages will cause the timer to subtract minutes at a faster rate, as
shown on
Table 1 on page 21.