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Xantrex C12 Charge/ Load / Lighting Controller Owner’s Manual 

 

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975-0130-01-01 

auto-reset once the charging process increases the voltage above the 
LVR setting, usually during the next day. No warning flash occurs 
before the lights are turned off when NITE-LITE mode is selected.  

Dusk-Dawn Operation 

If the NITE-LITE-TIME knob is turned fully clockwise to the area 
marked D-D, dawn to dusk operation will be selected. This allows the 
lights to operate all night, turning on at dusk and off at dawn.  
If the voltage falls below the LVD setting for more than 2 minutes, the 
lights will be turned off to prevent damage to the battery. The LVD will 
be reset once the charging process increases the voltage above the 
LVR setting, usually during the next day. No warning flash will occur 
before the lights are turned off when D-D mode is selected. In D-D 
mode the run time is limited to a maximum of 20 hours.  

Testing the Lights with the Reset Switch

  

Pressing the reset switch in NITE-LITE mode allows testing of the 
lights. They will be turned on even if it is daytime or if the controller 
has disconnected the lights due to a low voltage condition. This is 
intended to allow easier troubleshooting of systems in the field. 

Equalization Mode with NITE LITE Mode 

Manual equalization is not available when operating the controller in 
NITE-LITE mode. The reset switch is used to provide the test mode for 
checking the operation of the lights. Automatic equalization is allowed 
but can be disabled by removing the circuit board jumper. 
 

LED Mode Indicator 

A multi-color LED indicator is provided to indicate the operating status 
of the C12. A color-coded label is included on the cover of the C12 to 
explain LED operation.  

Important:

 The green and red color of the LED only indicates the 

particular operating mode and the battery voltage level. It does not 
indicate whether the charging source is functioning properly. 

 

 

 
The LED indicator can display the following conditions: 

 

Solid Green

—The battery has entered the FLOAT stage of the 

charging process. The LED will remain solid into the night unless the 
batteries drop below 12.6 volts. This allows the user to confirm that 
the system reached FLOAT during the charging process when 

checked at the end of the day. Reaching the FLOAT stage 
frequently is a good indication of proper system operation and will 
maximize battery life and performance. 

 

Blinking Green

The battery voltage is above 12.6 volts. As 

the battery voltage approaches the BULK setting, the LED will blink 
green several times (up to 5) and then pause. This indicates that the 
battery voltage is approaching the BULK voltage setting and 
provides an indication that the battery is almost full.  

 

Blinking Red

—The battery voltage is below 12.6 volts. As the 

battery voltage approaches the Low Voltage Disconnect (LVD) 
setting, the LED will blink red several times (up to 5) and then 
pause. This provides an indication that the battery is almost empty. 

 

Solid Red

—The battery has reached the Low Voltage Disconnect 

(LVD) setting. If manual reconnect mode was selected, the loads will 
be turned off momentarily (flashed) to warn the user that the battery 
is empty after a 2-minute delay. The loads will then be disconnected 
after an additional 5-minute delay unless the user reduces the loads 
to a point that the battery voltage exceeds the LVD setting. If auto 
reconnect mode was selected, the loads will be turned off after a 2-
minute delay without any warning flash. 

 

Slow Blinking Orange

—The C12 has disconnected the loads 

due to reaching the LVD setting. The user can press the reset switch 
for a one time 10-minute “grace” period or can wait until the voltage 
rises above the LVR setting to allow a manual or automatic reset to 
occur. If manual reconnect was selected, the loads will not resume 
operation until the reset switch has been pressed. 

 

Fast Blinking Orange

—The C12 has detected a short circuit 

and has disconnected the loads. The C12 will try to automatically 
restart the loads after a 12-second delay. If the loads will not restart, 
turn off all loads and press the reset switch. If the C12 then restarts, 
the loads may be too large. Up to a 12 second delay may occur 
before the C12 attempts to restart after pressing the reset switch. 

 

Alternating Red and Green

—The C12 is in equalize mode. 

It will automatically stop the equalization process after accumulating 
two hours of operation at a voltage above the BULK setting. The 
user can stop the equalization process at any time by pressing the 
reset switch until the LED stops alternating red and green. 

 

Batteries

 

Batteries come in different sizes, types, amp hours, voltages and 
chemistries. There are nearly as many descriptions of exactly how 
batteries should be charged, as there are people willing to offer 
explanations. It is not possible here to discuss all aspects in detail. 
However, here are some basic guidelines that will help in battery 
selection and ensure that the batteries used are far better maintained 
than the majority. The best source of the most appropriate settings for 
the C12 will be from the manufacturer or supplier of the batteries. 

Automotive Batteries 

Automotive and truck batteries are designed for high cranking power, 
but not deep cycling. Don't use them unless no other battery type is 
available. They simply will not last long in a cycling application. 

Maintenance-Free Batteries 

This type of battery is often sold as a RV or marine battery, but is 
rarely appropriate for use with a PV system. This battery typically has 
an additional reserve of liquid electrolyte in each cell to minimize the 
need to add electrolyte. This is not the same as a sealed battery. 

Deep Cycle Batteries  

This is the type of battery best suited for use with PV systems. They 
are designed to have the majority of their capacity used before being 
recharged. They are available in many sizes and types. The most 
common type is the non-sealed liquid electrolyte battery. 
Non-sealed types have battery caps. The caps should be removed 
periodically to check the level of electrolyte. When a cell is low, 
distilled water should be added 

after the battery is fully charged

. If 

the level is extremely low, add only enough distilled water to cover the 
plates before recharging. The electrolyte volume increases during the 

Содержание C12

Страница 1: ...er s Manual t 1 800 670 0707 toll free in North America 1 360 925 5097 direct f 1 800 994 7828 toll free in North America 1 360 925 5143 direct e customerservice xantrex com www xantrex com March 2004...

Страница 2: ...e battery minimizing watering requirements and ensuring the complete recharge of the battery Automatic PV Array Night Disconnection Each night the PV array is automatically disconnected from the batte...

Страница 3: ...3v per C for lead acid type batteries and 0 02v per C for NiCad type batteries If the temperature sensor is not installed the setpoints should be adjusted to account for the temperature of the battery...

Страница 4: ...nnect mode was selected the loads will be turned off momentarily flashed to warn the user that the battery is empty after a 2 minute delay The loads will then be disconnected after an additional 5 min...

Страница 5: ...antrex Technology model number C12 charge load controller for use in Residential and Commercial photovoltaic applications The C12 has been certified by ETL to UL specification UL Standard 1741 draft P...

Страница 6: ...r 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...

Страница 7: ...T PV ARRAY UP TO 15 AMPS SHORT CIRCUIT RATING XANTREX C12 DEEP CYCLE 12V BATTERY FUSE FUSE 12VDC 120VAC INVERTER 12VDC LOAD DISTRIBUTION DC LOADS LIGHTS DC LOADS RADIO TV POS NEG POS NEG POS NEG POS N...

Страница 8: ...UCT Exclusions If this product is a consumer product federal law does not allow an exclusion of implied warranties To the extent you are entitled to implied warranties under federal law to the extent...

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