Specialty Concepts ASC-Plus - Manual (Page 12)

O P T I O N S
Options cannot be added to units after production.
OPTION A - Temperature Compensation:
DESCRIPTION: On units equipped with Option-A, a small sensor on a ten foot cable is wired
into the controller to adjust the charging thresholds according to battery temperature. The
rate of compensation is -5mv/
°
C per battery cell in series from 25
°
C. See Table 1 below.
WHEN NEEDED: Temperature compensation is recommended for stand-alone systems with
sealed batteries, or for systems that have no regular charging source other than PV AND
where prolonged temperature extremes will be experienced during periods of charging.
Temperature extremes would be when the battery will be exposed to average temperatures
below 50
°
F (10
°
C) or above 90
°
F (32
°
C) for weeks at a time. Systems with other sources
of charging, (alternators on RVs) or applications where the battery is on maintenance
charge, normally do not need this option.
CAUTION: SENSOR CABLE: If the sensor is damaged or the cable is cut, the controller will
no longer function.
INSTALLATION: Provision must be made to attach the sensor unit to the battery. This must
be done properly to insure that accurate temperature readings are made. It is important
that ambient temperature do not influence the sensor. To minimize this, attach the sensor
to the battery as follows:
1. RUN SENSOR TO BATTERIES: Run the sensor to the batteries. Care should be taken to
prevent damage to the actual sensor itself. When pulling the sensor through conduit, do not
pull on the plastic-coated sensor, but instead on the gray cable just behind the sensor. Do
not force the sensor. The sensor itself is made of glass, but it is encased in an aluminum
tube, then coated with plastic. If the tube should pull off of the glass sensor, and if the
sensor is not damaged, the tube can be slipped back over the sensor.
2. ATTACH SENSOR: Use the “Temp. Comp Pad” (included) to cover the sensor (the plastic
coated unit at the end of the cable) to the side of the battery approximately half-way up the
side of the battery. Choose a battery that is shielded from drafts or sunlight by other
batteries or by the battery shelter. DO NOT immerse the sensor directly in the battery's
electrolyte, it will be severely damaged. Temperature compensation of charging voltage is
now automatic.
Table 1 : Voltage set-points by temperature.
Temperature compensation coefficient is: -.03 volts /
°°
C from 25
°°
C (for 12 volt)
CONTROLLER TEMPERATURE
°°
C (
°°
F)
VOLTAGE 0 (32) 10 (50) 20 (68) 25 (77) 30 (86) 40 (104) 50 (122)
12 VOLT 15.05 14.75 14.45 14.30 14.15 13.85 13.55