Flexcharge NC25A-12, Manual

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Special Note
IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO USE THE CHARGE INDICATOR ON THE NC25A. THE
CONTROLLER'S OPERATION WILL NOT BE AFFECTED IN ANY WAY.
THE CHARGE INDICATOR IS CONNECTED SEPARATELY TO ACHIEVE THE ULTRA HIGH
CHARGING EFFICIENCY FOUND IN THE NC25A CHARGE CONTROLLER. THE
CONTROLLER USES 5mA WHEN USING THE INDICATOR, 2mA WITHOUT.
DESIGNING YOUR SYSTEM
There is nothing magic about solar electric power. If the system is designed and sized right, it will do the job with little attention
from the owner. A poor design will be a constant source of aggravation. It is generally best to have assistance from someone
familiar with designing an alternative energy system. The following is a brief introduction to the information that needs to be
considered to match a system to a job.
Year around or seasonal use? One sun hour is equal to one hour of sunlight, at high noon, on a clear day, in the summer. A
sun low in the sky is not going to equal one sun hour because it is shining through more atmosphere. Because the number of
sun hours is varies from day to day and season to season in many parts of the world, it is important to consider the time of year
the system is will be used, and design it for the worst conditions. Clear day full sun hours in the USA will vary from 1 hour to 6
hours depending on location and season. It is also necessary to compensate for cloudy days. Our practice is to double the
number of solar panels that the shortest "sun hour days" dictate.
The Load. Keeping the load as small a possible will keep the number of solar panels down to a minimum, and therefore the
cost down. Using high efficiency lighting in a system will reduce your system lighting power needs by 5 times. 1/5 of what
would be required for the equivalent incandescent lighting. The power requirements will need to be calculated in watt hours or
amp hours for power used on a daily basis, then multiply this number by 2. Next divide by the number of sun hours you will get
on the shortest days in your area. This will give you the size of your solar panel array. Using this conservative method you
should never be without power.
Batteries. The battery is the storage tank for your electricity. Too large a battery bank will always be in a state of discharge,
and have a reduced life, while too small a battery bank will not have enough reserve to carry the system through a group of
cloudy days. Three to four times your daily load is a good balance. The best value is the wet cell lead acid deep cycle type.
For portable systems the "gel cell" and AGM lead acid types are good. Wet "Ni-Cad" batteries are also good, but expensive
and need special considerations in the system design. When considering your overall system size you need to allow a 30%
overage for losses in the chemical processes taking place in the batteries.
Charge Controllers. A system that has the capacity to charge up a discharged system, also has the capacity to overcharge
the batteries. A charge controller will prevent overcharging and give your batteries a much longer life with less maintenanc e. It
needs to have an amp rating at or above the maximum amp rating of your charging system. It is often sized larger to give
additional capacity for adding more panels in the future.
Solar panels. Do not wire your solar panels in series for higher voltage output. Use the following voltages for best
performance. 12 volt systems . V peak power 15 VDC, 24 volt systems V peak power 30 VDC, 36 V systems V peak power
45 VDC, 48 V systems 60 VDC. You can be up to 5 volts higher with no affect but not lower. For example using a 100 watt
panel with a peak power voltage of 30 volts will only give you a charge rate of about 50 watts while a peak power voltage of 15
volts would give you the full 100 watts.
Flexcharge
TM USA PRODUCTS WARRANTY
Flexcharge USA products PV model controllers are warranted for a period of two years. Five years on NC series charge controllers, and
one year on lighting products , from the date of purchase, subject to the conditions set forth below. This warranty to the original purchaser,
warrants the products to be free from material and workmanship defects. During the warranty period, the product will be repaired or
replaced, at the option of
Flexcharge USA, free of charge. Shipping not included Products from other manufacturers that are incorporated
into Flexcharge USA products such as solar panels and batteries, are covered by warranties from those manufactures.
CONDITIONS
1. Proper delivery: The product must be packed to prevent damage and shipped to SES Flexcharge USA, 1217 State St.,
Charlevoix, MI 49720 USA, freight prepaid and including:
a. Proof of purchase. ( invoice showing product and date )
b. Description of problem.
2. Abuse, misuse, negligence, unauthorized repairs : The warranty is void if any defects are caused by abuse, misuse,
negligence, or unauthorized repairs. Damage caused by lightning is considered an act of God and is not warranted.
3. All liability for incidental or consequential damages is specifically excluded. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation
of incidental or consequential damages so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply.
Web Site www.flexcharge.com