800.261.3602
Revised 05/19
Charging Stage Descriptions Continued
Stage 4a – Lifeline Conditioning Charge
Lifeline batteries can be conditioned if the total Imp. from the solar panels is greater than 10 Amps.
The PVCM40D-MPT monitors the solar charge Amps during the Bulk charge stage, if 10+ Amps was
detected it sets the 10 Amp Flag. The controller also monitors the battery voltage over a 14 to 21 day
period, if the battery voltage drops below 12.1VDC three times in that period or fails to finish the
Absorption charge before end of day during that period it sets the conditioning flag. At the end of the 21
day period the controller must see
10+Amps of charge current during the Bulk charge and complete the full charge cycle before it begins a
conditioning cycle. If the panels don’t produce 10+Amps during the bulk charge the conditioning charge
is not activated that day and will try again during the next day’s charging cycle. Conditioning will only
occur once in a 21 - 28 day period.
Stage 5 - Float Charge
The batteries are fully charged at this point and are maintained at a safe voltage level. During the float
charge the controller is constantly adjusting its PWM control to adjust for varying solar charging
currents and trailer loads to maintain a float voltage of 13.5VDC for sealed/gel batteries and 13.7VDC for
lead acid & & AGM batteries.
Green: Charge mode.
Stage 6 – Auto Boost Charge
The auto boost feature is as follows: The controller is in float charge, the trailer loads become greater
than the solar charging current and the battery voltage is pulled below 13.0VDC for more than 5
minutes. The auto boost flag is set, when the loads are reduced to the point where the float charge
returns the battery voltage back to float voltage, the controller then performs a shortened
Bulk/Absorptions charge cycle restoring the battery(s) to 100% and then returns to the float charge.
Charge type LED will blink magenta when auto boost flag is set and will on continuously during the
charge cycle.
Stage 6a – Manual Boost Charge
The PVCM40D-MPT & SEDM6-40 provides the user, the ability to perform a manual boost charge, any
time the controller is in the float charge stage when a SEDM6-40 display is used with the MPT controller.
The Manual boost feature is not available when using either PVCM4 or SEDM4 displays. To perform a
manual boost charge, the charge controller must be in the float stage as indicated on the controller or
the display’s charge status LED is green. The operator uses the SEDM6-40 display’s select button to
scroll down to the charge status location, then presses and holds the select button until the green LED
turns Red. The PWM controller’s charge mode LED changes from green to red and the charge type LED
will light magenta in color. When the controller finishes the manual boost charge it returns to the float
Stage and the displays charge status LED will turn green.
11
