Outback Power Systems FLEXmax 80 Owners Manual - Manual (Page 93)

900-0009-01-00 Rev C 91
Troubleshooting
IMPORTANT:
Be sure to check out the OutBack customer and user forum at
www.outbackpower.com/forum/ for more FLEXmax information.
Symptom Remedy
FLEXmax does not
boot/power-up
(blank LCD)
 Check the battery connection and polarity. Reverse polarity or an improper
connection will cause power-up issues.
 Check the battery disconnect or circuit breaker. Ensure all circuit breakers
are sized appropriately.
 Check the battery voltage at the FLEXmax terminals. A battery voltage
below 10.5 Vdc may not power up the FLEXmax. A poor connection may
not allow sufficient voltage to reach the FLEXmax.
FLEXmax not producing
expected power
 Check PV conditions. Clouds, partial shading, or dirty panels can cause
poor performance.
 Check settings. The lower current limit set point in the Charger menu will
yield a loss of power or poor performance symptoms. If the FLEXmax is in
U-Pick mode, it may not track at the maximum power point.
 Check battery conditions and charging stage. If the batteries are charged
(if the FLEXmax is in the Absorbing or Float stage), the FLEXmax will
produce only enough power to regulate the voltage at the Absorbing or
Float set point voltage. Less power is required during these stages.
 Determine the specified short-circuit current of the PV array. The MPP
current is related to this number. Use a multimeter to determine if the
short-circuit current is in the expected range. Array or wiring problems
may restrict the available power.
 Check the PV array temperature. At high temperatures, the maximum
power point voltage may be near or or lower than the battery voltage.
FLEXmax not equalizing
 Make certain the equalization cycle has been started.
~ In the EQ menu, press START to begin the process. When the
equalization cycle has been initiated, MPPT EQ will be displayed.
 The equalization cycle has been initiated, but the battery is not equalizing.
~ The cycle will begin when the target EQ set point voltage has been
reached. A small array or cloudy weather will delay the EQ cycle.
Running too many battery loads will also delay the cycle.
~ Check the PV array temperature. At high temperatures, the maximum
power point voltage may be near or lower than the battery voltage.
This can delay the cycle.