The Outback Flexmax 60 maximum solar power point tracking charge controllers offers an efficient, safe, multi-stage recharging process that prolongs battery life and assures peak performance from a solar array. Each Outback Flexmax 60 charge controller allows customized battery recharging. The Outback Flexmax 60 charge controller is engineered to work with 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60VDC battery voltages. With backlit LCD display screen with 80 characters has a memory that will hold the last 128 days of operational data. Voltage step-down capability allowing a higher PV array voltage configuration with a manual and auto-equalize cycle for the batteries.
Each Outback Flexmax 60 Charge Controller also features Continuous Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), which seeks out the maximum power available from a solar array and uses it to recharge the batteries. Without this feature, the solar array does not operate at the ideal operating voltage and can only recharge at the level of the battery voltage itself. Each Charge Controller continuously tracks the array’s maximum operating power.
OutBack Power Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of reliable and durable power electronics products for renewable energy applications worldwide, introduced today the Flexmax™ 60, a new addition to the Flexmax family of Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) charge controllers, featuring continuous MPPT technology to optimize solar energy harvest and increase total power production by up to 30%.
The OutBack Power Flexmax 60 incorporates key features including an expanded 128 days of data logging with clear information and statistics on solar array performance for accurate usage and enhanced user experience, as well as full integration into Outback’s proprietary internal network for a complete OutBack Power System. The Outback Flexmax 60 durable aluminum construction and reliable functionality ensures consistent performance in extreme climates, delivering a full 60 amps of power output at 40oC. The familiar yet improved user interface offers easier installation and set up via both English and Spanish language menus. Flexmax 60 has a maximum NEC Recommended Solar Array STC Nameplate of 3,000 watts at the common battery voltage of 48VDC.
Outback Flexmax 60 charge controllers is solid-state electronic device that, when sized properly, can be used in nearly every solar and wind energy system that uses batteries. The Charge controllers Blue Pacific Solar sells employ the latest in power electronics to regulate the battery charge by controlling the charging voltage and current from a solar panel array. Charge controllers regulate the charge of the battery, but also prevent the battery from being over discharged which can damage the battery bank.
Outback Flexmax 60 charge controller uses multiple stages of control to regulate different voltage and current levels. The voltage and current of a battery varies over the different stages of battery charge. Though the amount can vary, the bulk charge usually is approximately 80%, the absorption charge is 10% with the float charge representing the balance of the battery charging process.
The bulk charging stage of the Outback Flexmax 60 charge controller process is the first stage to used to bring the battery depth of discharge (DOD) back to 100%. The bulk charge stage happens first in in the morning after the batteries DOD has drained down since sunset the previous day. The bulk charging stage pushes as many amps into the battery bank as possible from the solar panels and gets the voltage up in the process. The effect of a charge controller is not unlike trying to fill a glass of water from a faucet. You first turn the faucet on full while the glass if filling, then slowly taper off the pressure until the glass is full. When the battery bank reaches a predetermined level known as the bulk voltage set-point, the charge is then substantially slowed. Because the bulk voltage set point is determined by the type of battery you are using, many charge controllers have to be pre-set to the type of battery which will dictate the rate of charge.
The second state of charge the Outback Flexmax 60 charge controller employs is the absorption stage. After a battery system has been brought up to the bulk voltage set point, the charge controller slows down the charge rate because the battery bank cannot accept the same rapid charging pace without overheating and damaging the battery bank. At the absorption stage a battery bank is only about 80% full. The absorption charge is the function level in the process that tops off the battery bank. During the absorption stage, the charge controller holds the battery volts constant and reduces the amount of current sent into the battery. When the absorption stage is complete, the battery bank is fully charges.
The final step the Outback Flexmax 60 charge controller performs is the float charge. Typically a charge controller enters into a float charge state when the other charge levels of the battery bank has been achieved. When the number of peak sun hours is limited, a solar charge controller may not be able to get the battery bank back to the float stage before the next cycle begins.
Outback Power Systems continues to deliver quality grid tied and off-grid solar products you can count on everyday.