Installation
24
900-0209-01-00 Rev A
Wiring the Rapid Shutdown Terminals
NEC 690.12 states "PV systems installed on or in buildings shall include a rapid shutdown function to
reduce shock hazard for emergency responders".
The Rapid Shutdown terminals can make connections to the RSI (Rapid Shutdown Initiator) product,
which is part of the OutBack ICS Plus system. A similar rapid-shutdown device may also be used.
A single wire is run from one of the yellow terminals (
1
or
2
). A second single wire is run from one of the
purple terminals (
3
or
4
). Terminals
1
and
3
are the most commonly used. On the OutBack RSI these
wires are connected to the
AUX
RSI
C
OMMAND
/S
TATUS
O
UTPUT
contacts. (See the ICS Plus
Owner’s
Manual
for more information.)
Note that for simplicity, Figure 17
and
Figure 18
do not show terminals
5
through
8
.
Figure 17
Charge Controller with Rapid Shutdown
In Figure 17, a wire has been run from terminal
1
to one of the RSI terminals. A wire has also been run
from terminal
3
to the other RSI terminal.
The terminals detect electrical continuity, which is present while the RSI contacts remain closed. If a
rapid shutdown event occurs (the RSI switch is thrown and the PV is disconnected), these contacts will
open and the circuit will detect the loss of continuity. When the controller senses loss of PV input (less
than 20 Vdc), it will shut down. All LED indicators will flash twice and then turn off. (See pages 30 and
55.) If the system display is present, it will deliver a
Fault Input Active
error message. (See page 38.)
Any device with normally-closed contacts can work with this function. If more than one device is used, all
contacts must be wired in series so that any one device will shut down the controller.
If a rapid-shutdown device is not installed, this function should be disabled. This is performed by directly
shorting terminals
1
and
3
with a small jumper wire.
IMPORTANT:
The FLEXmax 100 will not function unless either the disabling jumper, the OutBack RSI, or a
similar normally-closed device is installed. Initial power-up will result in a Rapid Shutdown
signal. (See page 55.)
NOTE
: System-specific wiring
is not shown.
PV Array
HUB
Charge Controller
DC
Disconnect
Panel
RSI
Battery Bank
CAT 5E
HUB
PV+ PV– BAT– BAT+
Ground Bus Bar
Shunt
T
ermin
al Bu
s
B
ar
(N
eg
at
ive)
Terminal Bus Bar
(Positive)
MATE3s
Ground
Control Wiring
Terminal Block
