Outback Power Systems FLEXmax 80 Owners Manual - Manual (Page 9)

900-0009-01-00 Rev C 7
Installation
Standards and Requirements
All installations must comply with national and local electrical codes; professional installation is
recommended.
IMPORTANT:
The charge controller is designed for indoor installation or installation inside a
weatherproof enclosure. It must not be exposed to rain and should be installed out of
direct sunlight.
Grounding
This product is intended to be installed as part of a permanently grounded electrical system as shown
in the wiring diagrams shown in Figure 6, Figure 7, and Figure 8.
 The FLEXmax equipment ground is marked with this symbol:
The following important restrictions apply unless superseded by local or national codes:
 The negative battery conductor should be bonded to the grounding system at only one point in the system.
If a GFDI is present, the battery negative and ground are not bonded together directly but are connected
together by the GFDI device when it is on. All negative conductor connections must be kept separate from
the grounding conductor connections.
 The FLEXmax controller is not intended to be wired into a positive-ground configuration. However, certain
telecom applications may require this configuration. If it is necessary to build a positive-ground system with
OutBack products, contact OutBack Technical Support at +1.360.618.4363 before proceeding.
Additionally, consult the online forum at www.outbackpower.com/forum/, where this subject has been
discussed extensively.
 If damaged or malfunctioning, the FLEXmax should only be disassembled and repaired by a qualified service
center. Please contact the local renewable energy dealer/installer for assistance. Incorrect reassembly risks
malfunction, electric shock or fire.
DC and Battery-Related Installation Requirements
 Shut off all DC circuit breakers before connecting any wiring.
 Torque all the FLEXmax wire lugs and ground terminals to 4 Nm (35 in-lb).
 Copper wiring must be rated at 75°C or higher.
 Use up to 35 mm
2 (2 AWG) to reduce losses and ensure highest performance of the FLEXmax (smaller cables
can reduce performance and possibly damage the unit).
 Run positive and negative cables side by side.
~ Keep cables together (e.g., using a tie-wrap) as much as possible to allow the inductive currents
to cancel.
~ Ensure paired cables pass through the same knockout and conduit fittings.
 DC battery overcurrent protection must be used as part of the installation. OutBack offers both circuit
breakers and fuses for overcurrent protection.