Installation – Outback Power Systems FLEXmax Extreme Owners Manual User Manual

Page 21

Installation

900-0150-01-00 Rev A

The terminals detect electrical continuity. These contacts remain closed as long as the GFDI bonding switch
remains closed. If a ground-fault event occurs, both the GFDI switch and the GFDI contacts will open. The
External Fault circuit will detect the loss of continuity and will shut down the charge controller.

If multiple charge controllers are in use, they can be paralleled so that all controllers use a common GFDI.

Terminals

and

are a parallel set of connections to terminals

and

In the first controller, terminals

and

should have a parallel set of wires which connect to terminals

and

on the second controller. This allows the second controller to sense the same conditions as the first so

that it will react accordingly. If a third controller is present, its terminals

and

should have wires

connecting to terminals

and

on the second

controller, and so on. (See Figure 17.) Additional controllers

can be added as needed.

If the terminals are not in use, this function should be disabled. This is performed by directly shorting terminals

and

with a small jumper wire.

IMPORTANT:

The FLEXmax Extreme will not function unless either the OutBack GFDI or the
disabling jumper is installed. Initial power-up will result in an External Fault
signal. (See page 61.)

Figure 16

Charge Controller with PV Array Ground Fault Protection

In Figure 16, a wire has been run from terminal

to one of the dedicated GFDI terminals. A wire has also been

run from terminal

to the other side of the GFDI. As long as the GFDI remains closed, that pole of the GFDI

will read as electrically continuous to the External Fault circuit.

In the event of a ground fault or any other condition which trips the GFDI, these terminals will register loss of