Alpha Group OutBack Power FLEXmax Extreme Series, Owner'S Manual

Page: 32 / 84

Operation
30
900-0150-01-00 Rev A
Charge Controller Soft Key
The MATE3 is equipped with a series of “soft” keys with varying functions. From the Home screen, the far left key
is designated as the Charge Controller soft key any time a charge controller is connected. Pressing it will enter
the Status menu for the charge controller. (See page 30.)
Status Screen
Figure 27 Charge Controller Soft Key Screens
NOTE : If the FLEXmax Extreme shuts down due to a fault condition, the MATE3 status messages do not indicate
the cause. The MATE3 will display the status as Silent . However, the Error screen (see page 32) will show the
cause if it is one of the defined errors on that screen. The MATE3 will show an Event in the appropriate menu.
(See the MATE3 manual for more information.).
See page 61 for additional information on troubleshooting Error conditions and faults.
Modes of Operation:

Bulk

Absorb

Float

EQ

Silent
See page 25 for a description of modes.
See page 71 for a description of battery
charging.
Soft Keys:
<Next> brings up a series of screens with
current statistics, totals, and other data. The
internal temperatures and any fault messages
are also displayed here. These screens are all
shown beginning on page 31.
<Graph> brings up a series of screens that
plot various charge controller information
over time. The graphs include inverter and
charger wattage, power imported from an AC
source, battery voltage, and others. These
screens are all shown beginning on page 34.
<Port> cycles through each device
connected to the network. If more than one
charge controller is installed in the system,
pressing the
<Port> soft key will cycle
through each controller.
<Back> returns to the previous screen.
Screen Items:
The upper left corner of the screen shows the FLEXmax charge
controller’s current mode of operation.
Bulk is shown in this
illustration.
In displays the present PV array operating voltage and the
current being harvested from the array.
VOC displays the open-circuit voltage available from the PV.
Out displays the present battery voltage and the current
being delivered from the charge controller(s) to charge the
battery bank. To the right, this line displays the number of
kilowatt-hours and amp-hours accumulated that day.
Operating displays the total hours the charger has operated
that day in any stage.
Float displays the amount of time the controller has been in
the Float stage.
Absorb displays the amount of time the controller has been in
the Absorbing stage. The maximum duration is the Absorb
time setting. (See pages 26, 36, and 71.)
Maximum displays the maximum amperage and wattage
harvested from the PV array that day, and the time both were
recorded.
The lower right corner shows the current status of the charge
controller’s Auxiliary (AUX) output. (See page 39.)