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Installation & Programming Manual FX & VFX “E” Series Inverte r/Charge r Sy ste m Copyright 2003 OutBack Power Systems, Inc.
19009 62
nd
Ave NE, Arlington WA 98223 USA
Page 42 Rev 7.0 07/02/04 Tel 360 435 6030 Fax 360 435 6019
MATE - SETUP / SEARCH
The OutBack FX includes a SETUP menu to allow limited adjustment of some of the settings which may need to be accessed by the
system user.
The
SEARCH mode is an automatic system which reduces the power consumption of the FX during periods of no power demand. It is
primarily used for off-grid applications where the power is being generated by solar panels or other renewable energy sources and the
system user is concerned about conserving every possible watt of power. Properly setup and operated, SEARCH mode can save
considerable amounts of power compared to keeping an inverter in the ON mode 24 hours a day.
The FX includes a load detection method that is called “search mode” in which the inverter produces a pulsed AC output to detect the
magnitude of the AC load which is connected to the inverter AC output. Once a large enough load has been turned on, the inverter
resumes normal operation providing continuous AC power. If the AC load is reduced to a level below the SEARCH SENSITIVITY
setting, then the inverter turns off and the pulsed AC output (search mode) is resumed. The power saved by using the SEARCH
pulsing method comes both from the reduced consumption of the inverter itself and from the elimination of the power consumed by
“phantom” AC loads – appliances which consume power even though they are not operating. The SEARCH SENSITIVITY setting can
be adjusted to ignore small AC loads such as a VCR display, etc. Use of the search mode requires some tuning of the settings for the
particular loads connected and may not work well with some loads such as fluorescent lights with magnetic ballasts.
MAIN----------------
6:54:42P
SUM STATUS SETUP ADV
↓
SETUP---------------
choose product:
FX MATE
↓
SETUP/FX------------
choose category:
SRCH INPUT MAIN
↓
SETUP/FX/SEARCH—-P00
search 6
sensitivity
DOWN INC DEC PORT
↓
SETUP/FX/SEARCH—-P00
search 8 cycles
pulse length
DOWN INC DEC PORT
↓
SETUP/FX/SEARCH—-P00
search 60 cycles
pulse spacing
DOWN INC DEC PORT
↓
SETUP/FX/SEARCH-----
search setup
completed
TOP SETUP MAIN
The MAIN screen is where the menu system starts. The four words in the bottom line of the
display correspond to the four buttons located below the display. The word in
BOLD on the bottom
line indicates the selection used to advance the display to the next screen. Pressing the left two
buttons simultaneously from anywhere in the menu will return you to this screen.
Allows selection of the product type:
<FX> FX inverter/charger system
MATE MATE system display and user interface
The categories are then displayed for the settings which can be adjusted in the setup menu.
<SRCH> Allows adjustment of the settings for the Search mode.
INPUT Allows selection of the AC INPUT and current limit adjustment.
MAIN Returns the display to the MAIN screen.
The SE ARCH SENSITIVITY setting determines how much AC load (watts) is required to make the
FX switch from the ‘search’ mode to the normal inverter ‘on’ mode. Increasing the number (INC)
decreases the sensitivity (more watts must be turned ‘on’ to bring the FX out of ‘search’) while
decreasing the number (DEC) increases the sensitivity (less watts must be turned ‘on’ to bring the
FX out of ‘search’). Adjusting this setting to zero will effectively disable the search mode operation.
The
SEARCH PULSE LENGTH setting determines the number of pulses produced by the inverter
in quick succession (actually AC cycles) which are used to detect the level of the AC load
connected. Some AC loads do not draw much power from a single AC pulse – setting this value to
8 or more pulses may allow the AC load to be detected more reliably. This setting has a range
between 4 cycles and 20 cycles in 1 cycle increments.
The
SEARCH PULSE SPACING is the amount of time (in number of AC cycles) that the inverter
waits before producing additional AC pulses to sense a load. The larger this ‘search pulse spacing’
number is, the lower the power consumption of the FX, but the more noticeable the delay between
when the AC load is turned ‘on’ and when it actually comes ‘on’. This setting has a range between
4 cycles and 120 cycles (2 seconds) in 1 cycle increments.
Selecting TOP returns the user to the top of the SETUP/FX/SEARCH menu section. Selecting
SETUP returns you to the setup screen to allow selection of another product connected to the
MATE. Selecting MAIN returns the display to the MAIN screen.