Xantrex C12 Charge/ Load / Lighting Controller Owner’s Manual
6
975-0130-01-01
6.
NEVER
smoke or allow a spark or flame in vicinity of a battery or
generator.
7. Be extra cautious to reduce the possibility of dropping a metal tool
onto batteries. It might spark or short-circuit batteries or other
electrical parts that may cause an explosion. Cover wrench
handles with plastic tape or vinyl dip coating material.
8. Remove personal metal items such as rings, bracelets, necklaces,
and watches while installing the system. A single battery can
produce short-circuit current high enough to weld a ring to a
battery terminal or like metal, causing severe burns.
Installation
Mounting
Although the C12 is designed for outdoor mounting, care should be
taken in selecting a location and when mounting the enclosure. Avoid
mounting the C12 in direct sunlight in order to reduce heating of the
enclosure and subsequent higher operating temperatures. The
enclosure should be mounted vertically on a wall or pole with the
provided mounting screws (#10 x 3/4” sheet metal screws). The
knockout must be located at the bottom. Either the provided strain-
relief clamp or conduit should be used to prevent damage to the circuit
board and terminal block from pulling on the wires. The cover should
be replaced and retained with the provided screw (#10 x 3/8” sheet
metal screw).
In severe environments additional consideration should be taken to
minimize exposure to wet environments. The use of conformal-coated
circuit boards, plated terminals, powder coated metal components,
and stainless steel fasteners improves tolerance to hostile
environments.
Caution: It is in your best interests to install the C12 in a dry,
protected location away from sources of high temperature and
moisture. Exposure to saltwater is particularly destructive.
Corrosion of the circuit board is not covered by the warranty.
Do
not
locate the C12 in a sealed compartment with the batteries.
Batteries can generate hydrogen sulfide gas, which is very corrosive to
electronics equipment and everything else. They also generate
hydrogen and oxygen. If accumulated, this mixture could be ignited by
an arc caused by the connection of a battery cables, or a loose
terminal, etc.
Installation inside of a ventilated enclosure with sealed batteries
is acceptable
.
Wiring
The wiring, overcurrent protection devices and installation methods
used should conform to all local electrical codes requirements.
The minimum recommended wire gauge is 14 AWG / 2.1mm
2
with a
75
°
C insulation rating. The terminals on the C12 will accept up to 10
AWG / 5.2 mm
2
wire. No crimp-on terminals or lugs are required.
Wiring should be protected from physical damage with 1/2” conduit or
the strain relief clamp provided. You should pull the temperature
sensor cable through the conduit first as the connector may not fit if
other wires have been pulled first.
Three 1/2” conduit openings are provided in the chassis. The back has
a knockout that can be removed if the wire will enter a wall or pole
from directly behind the controller.
As a minimum, a 20 amp DC rated fuse in an appropriate fuse holder
or disconnect switch should be provided near the battery for protection
from short circuits. Local electrical codes should be consulted for wire
sizing and any additional installation requirements.
Recommended Wire Size & Maximum One-Way Distance
(2% loss)
Size each wire individually: C12 to array, C12 to battery & C12 to load
Load/Array
Amps
2.5A
5.0A
7.5A
10.0A
12.5A
15.0A
#14 AWG
2.1mm
2
20 ft
6 m
10 ft
3 m
6.5 ft
2 m
5 ft
1.5 m
4 ft
1.2 m
3 ft
1 m
#12 AWG
3.3 mm
2
30 ft
9 m
15 ft
4.5 m
10 ft
3 m
7 ft
2 m
6 ft
1.8 m
5 ft
1.5 m
#10 AWG
5.2 mm
2
50 ft
15 m
25 ft
7.5 m
16 ft
5 m
12 ft
3.5 m
10 ft
3 m
8 ft
2.5 m
If between two values shown, round up to next larger wire size.
Grounding
The C12 is designed to work with both negative ground and
ungrounded electrical systems. The metal chassis of this charge/load
controller can be grounded by installing the included green screw into
the metal chassis in the hole to the right of the terminal block. This
must then be connected with a copper wire to a grounding electrode
such as a ground rod driven into the earth. If a negative ground
system is desired, connect the negative current carrying conductor to
the grounding system at one point in the system. Consult local
electrical codes for more information and any additional requirements.
Adjusting the C12
The operation of the C12 is fully adjustable via rotary potentiometer
controls. The knobs are removable to reduce the likeliness of a user
tampering with the settings. Calibrated scales are provided to allow
setting of the control without requiring the use of a digital voltmeter.
Visual adjustment allows an accuracy of +/- 0.1 volts.
Typical BULK and FLOAT Setpoints for Common Battery Types
Sealed Gel or AGM Lead Acid
battery
14.1 VDC
BULK
13.5 VDC
FLOAT
Maintenance-free RV/Marine Lead
Calcium battery
14.3 VDC
BULK
13.2 VDC
FLOAT
Deep-cycle, Liquid Electrolyte Lead
Antimony battery
14.6 VDC
BULK
13.4 VDC
FLOAT
NiCad or NiFe Alkaline battery*
(using 10 cells in series)
16.0 VDC
BULK
14.5 VDC
FLOAT
* For NiCad and NiFe battery you must clip R36 and add 2V to the
values for BULK and FLOAT shown on the circuit board. For example,
to set the BULK for 16.0V, adjust the BULK’s knob to 14.0V after
clipping R36. Values above are for batteries at room temperature.
Temperature Compensating the Setpoints
If a temperature compensation sensor is installed the charge
controlling process will be automatically adjusted for the battery
temperature. Set the BULK and FLOAT settings for a battery at normal
room temperature (23
°
C/74
°
F).
If no temperature compensation sensor is installed and the batteries
will be operating in very hot or very cold conditions, adjust the BULK
and FLOAT settings to allow for the battery temperature. The
recommended change is 0.030 volts per degree Celsius for lead acid
batteries and 0.020 volts per degree Celsius for NiCads. The setting
should be lowered for hot climates and raised for cool climates. If
significant seasonal variations are common, you will have to change
the settings several times a year to prevent battery damage and
ensure proper operation.