blackmax – user manual · 2 days ago · blackmax – user manual. re_prod_0006 version 1 page 3...

BlackMax – User Manual

RE_PROD_0006 Version 1 of 19 Issue Date 28/07/2020

BlackMax Shed Power – Off-grid

Alino TL with Lithium batteries

User Manual



WARNING: Working on the inside of the BlackMax system is restricted to qualified personnel.

In Australia this is typically qualified electricians with CEC accreditation for Solar and Battery.

WARNING: Lithium Battery Hazard

Many of the procedures covered in the Installation manual have inherent risks. Whilst the BlackMax is designed to be electrically safe, including residual current device and double insulated cables, the voltages connected or generated by the equipment are hazardous and potentially fatal.

Shutdown and safety procedures

The BlackMax must only be commissioned by suitably qualified personnel. It is the responsibility of the installer to ensure the operation and all the wiring is carried out according to all safety standards that are applicable to the installation. The wiring diagrams and installation instructions are given as a guide only and compliance to appropriate standards is the responsibility of the installer.

Damaged battery

Do not use a damaged battery. Batteries should only be disposed of at an appropriate recycling centre. Please contact RedEarth for advice.

Fire

In the event of fire evacuate the area and call emergency services. A dry agent fire extinguisher should be readily available and used. DO NOT use water. Evacuate the area and call emergency services. Toxic gas may be produced if the battery catches fire.

Note: MSDS document is provided with the system and also can be found at www.redearth.energy



RedEarth’s BlackMax battery system is a all in one, ready-to-run energy storage system for off-grid applications. It consists of a Alino TL 5kVA hybrid inverter and up to two (2) self-managed lithium batteries (8kWh total). It is fully assembled, factory tested and requires no programming.

It is ready to connect a PV Solar array and a generator (either auto or manual start)

The BlackMax system is designed to be installed either inside or outside, ideally on a flat surface and in a shaded area against a wall.

RedEarth Energy Storage can also provide an opptional remote monitoring service to ensure ongoing operation of the BlackMax battery system.

A typical complete installation of the BlackMax with solar panels, will require the electrical connection of:

• The customers load – via external GPO.

• The array of PV solar panels – via MC4 conectors on the side of the unit.

• Generator – via external GPO.

In addition, the installer may need to verify that the internet/monitoring is operational; assuming remote monitoring is requested. In this case, RedEarth can provide a SIM-card based monitoring solution if the customer does not have internet and the installation site has mobile coverage.

Note: The BlackMax is not designed to act as a main switch board for the premises, as it does not include space for additional main & customer circuit breakers or RCDs. The MEN link and Earth connection need to be in place at the premises as required.

About BlackMax



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Dimension & Clearance

BlackMax Weight: 154kg with 2x Lithium batteries (42kg per battery) Dimensions with door and lid closed: 940 H x 700 W x 420 D [mm]

BlackMax Minimum Clearance According to AS/NZS 5139

BlackMax Fully Open 1310 H x 705 W x 990 D [mm]



The BlackMax can be divided into four areas. The AC, the DC, the inverter, and the battery area. With two access points available, use the lid for the batteries and the front door for the switches and electronic equipment. Below is explained how to access and what to expect in each area.

The Top:

A clear weather proof cover on the lid allows viewing of the display, if interaction is needed, the cover can be easily lifted by releasing the two screws and the clip tab from the front and held in a vertical position with the help of rear hinges. For a full shutdown procedure, access to the batteries is required. This is also done via the lid as it can pivot on the rear hinges and sit in a vertical position. Note: Refer to the Installation Manual for more information on how to lift the lid. Once the lid is open, clear and direct access is available to the batteries

The Door:

The second access is made by the front door. To open it, the two key locks must be turned clockwise with the help of the key. These items are shown in the picture to the right.

The AC Side:

Looking at the AC side of the BlackMax (left-hand side), you will find the items shown in the picture to the right.

• 15A INLET power point for the generator (a 15 Amp lead is required)

• 15A OUTLET power point (a standard 10A lead will also fit)

• Magnetic hook & key

Overview



Directly below you will find a small window. By releasing the two screws and the clip tab, this window will lift and allow access to the Generator Input Breaker (MCB), the Power Usage Meter (AC), the Power Point (RCBO) and Power Out (MCB).

The DC Side:

Looking at the DC side of the BlackMax (right-hand side) you will find the items shown in the picture to the right.

Just like the AC side, by releasing the two screws and the clips on the bottom of the window, you will have access to the Main Battery Isolator as well as the Battery Status Monitor.

The screen will display the instantaneous current, voltage, power and energy delivered from the batteries.

NOTE: When the batteries are charging, the current reading will be zero (0) as the meter is unidirectional.

Next to the window are standard 5V USB and 12V power ports.

Below these are the Solar PV Isolator and the Solar connectors for PV panels for easy isolation and connection/disconnection of your solar panel array.

The Base:

With its R2D2-like “feet”, the BlackMax allows the ventilation inlet to be in the base of the unit.

Overview

Air Flow



Alino TL - Inverter

The Alino TL by Outback Power offers a complete inverter and a solar charge controller in one attractive, compact package. This inverter is certified to IEC62109-1 and -2 and carries the CE mark.

It is listed on the Clean Energy Council (CEC) list which means that when solar panels are installed by a CEC certified installer, the government rebates can be claimed.

Emergency Power Feature: The Alino TL will generate power from the solar panels even if the battery is flat/not connected. This means that power is available ONLY if the sun is shining on the solar panels. If a cloud should come over, the power will drop out.

Lithium Battery

Batteries are a critical part of the Off-Grid system as they store energy generated from the solar panels and fuel powered Generators. This power can then be utilised at times when solar energy is not available. The battery bank has been sized to meet your requirements according to your Load Profile and energy assessment. The self managed LFP battery with internal BMS offers you a safe lithium option for any solution that requires reliability, ease of use and a product that outperforms others.

Built to the highest quality standards, incorporating components of exceptional reliability and durability, our Australian manufactured LiFe Series are engineered to outperform and outlast its competitors.

What is in my BlackMax



Temperature Sensor

A temperature activated relay is positioned on the top left-hand side of the rear panel as shown in the picture. This relay is connected to the fan also on the rear and will turn them on once the set temperature is reached. In factory, the dial is set to activate between the temperatures of 35⁰ and 40⁰ Celsius.

Fan

To help keep the inside of the BlackMax at an adequate temperature, a 230V fan – activated by the temperature sensor – will push out the hot air and fresh air will come in through the vents on the base.

Generator (External)

Because the BlackMax is an off-grid system, it is highly recommended to purchase the unit with one of our recommended generators e.g. Honda EU22i. However, if purchasing separately, inverter-generators are recommended for use with BlackMax due to their better power quality. If voltage, frequency, or current waveforms of the generator are not of a high enough quality, then it will be rejected by the inverter.

NOTE: Some low-cost generators do not provide sufficient power quality to be accepted by the BlackMax and therefore not charge the batteries. Generators that produce poor power quality will damaged devices over time.

Refer to the Installation Manual for minimum generator specification.

What is in my BlackMax



To turn on the unit you must follow the steps below:

NOTE: The “Quick Start Guide” label on the lid of the unit can also be referenced.

1 Switch on the battery breakers on the top of each LiFe lithium battery. The LED light on each battery will come on.

2 Switch ON the Main Battery Isolator, found on the RHS of the unit;

3 Switch on the PV Array Isolator, found on the RHS of the unit;

4 Press the “On/Off” button on the display, found on the lid of the unit;

5 Turn ON all AC circuit breakers, found on the LHS of the unit;

The shutdown procedure is the reverse of the “turn on” procedure and is shown below.

1 Turn OFF all AC circuit breakers, found on the LHS of the unit; 2 Press the “On/off” button on the display, found on the lid of the unit; 3 Switch on the PV Array Isolator, found on the RHS of the unit; 4 Switch on the Main Battery Isolator, found on the RHS of the unit;

Long Term Storage: The battery breaker on top of each battery does not have to be turned off if the main battery breaker is already off. However, we do recommend turning off each battery breaker for long term storage (up to 6 months).

Batteries should be charged every 6 months.

How to Turn ON / Shutdown my BlackMax



The BlackMax is setup to provide power in the most efficient way possible.

The priorities set on this system are to power the loads from the PV (solar) first, then the Generator and finally the battery.

To understand this, imagine if in the middle of the day, the generator is turned on and some appliances are running (loads). The PV will provide power to the loads. If that is not enough, the generator (if available) will provide the rest. If that is still not enough, the battery will provide the rest.

As an off-grid system it is very important to get the maximum amount of “free” energy into the batteries before the sun goes down. Batteries are only charged with the “excess” power. This means that all the solar (and generator) power produced will go to the loads first and only the excess will go into the batteries.

NOTE: If required to charge the batteries as quick as possible, switch off the Power Point and Power OUT breakers (this will turn off all appliances connected to the BlackMax), turn on the generator and the PV. This will take all the power from the generator and PV, and “push” it all into the batteries.

How BlackMax Operates

PRIORITY – (SUB)

Solar – Utility (Generator) – Battery



As mentioned in the Turn on/Shutdown procedure, the BlackMax has a few breakers (RCB and RCBO) that must be operated correctly in order to provide power.

Following the same steps as the Turn ON procedure, the individual and main battery breakers have printed on the handle a “I” or a “O” which can be interpreted as “ON” and “OFF” respectively.

The Solar PV Isolator is a rotary switch that can be turned ON by turning the red handle clockwise to the horizontal position. Or OFF, counter-clockwise to the vertical position.

The AC breakers also have a “I” and “O” on the handle to identify if the breaker is on or off.

For the generator’s power to reach the inverter, the “Generator Input” breaker must be turned on.

If the generator is to overload the inverter, there is an internal tripping mechanism that will protect itself. If this happens, a button on the bottom side of the inverter must be pressed to allow power from the generator.

There are 2 breakers related to providing power to the loads. The first is the “POWER OUTPUT plug” that will turn the Power Output plug on or off. And the second is the “Power out” that acts as a main switch or in situation where the loads have been hardwired to the system, they will be controlled by this breaker.

How to Operate



Maintenance Schedule

Weekly

Check component operating lights are normal

Monthly

Clean inside the enclosure of dust, vermin or obstructions Ensure safety labels/instructions remain visible Clean air filter with vacuum or soft brush Clean outside of enclosure soft brush or damp cloth

Bi-annually

Clean solar panel surfaces to ensure optimal performance

Annually

Visually inspect for loose cables or connections near inverter Clear any vegetation or overgrowth over the solar panels Inspect conditions of solar panels, cables, array frame for damage or corrosion

End of Life Recycling

Please contact RedEarth Energy Storage to arrange recycling of your battery.

Maintenance and End of Life



OPTION 1- On the Display:

The Alino TL display in the lid is designed to be as user-frendly as possible. With icons repesenting different stages of the power and arrows to indicate the direction of power flow. Below you will find a few pictures illustrating some of the most common situations. A detailed explanation of the display icons can be found in the Outback Alino TL Quick Start Guide included with your system.

Day Time – Solar power charging battery and powering the loads

Day Time – Solar power helping the battery to power the loads

Night Time – Battery powering the loads Night Time – Generator powering the loads

and charging battery

OPTION 2 – Remote monitoring via RedEarth’s Portal

The BlackMax can be monitored online through the SwitchDin platform. If this option is available, follow the steps below to register and sign-in to your account.

Registering

How to Monitor my BlackMax

1. If you haven’t received this email from us, please email [email protected] with the following information: 1. full name, address, unit’s serial number with subject: Setup online monitoring

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1. During testing and commissioning, RedEarth will setup an account for the end user and send

out the following invitation. 2. Click on the link to create an account.

3. In a web browser, visit https://app.switchdin.com/accounts/sign-in?profile=redearth and log in to view your system.

Monitoring

Once signed in, you will see the following page.


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Overview Tab

LIVE DATA - Illustrates the movement of PV production, battery power, generator and load all in Real Time.

WEATHER - Displays the current weather at the location of the system, time of day when solar is available, wind speed and humidity.

SYSTEM STATUS - Shows the last time data was collected from the BlackMax system and updated to this profile.

SOC - This graph shows the State Of Charge (SOC)of the battery for today as a percentage value.

SO FAR TODAY – This section has three charts. Two of these are doughnut charts and relate to Production (PV) and Consumption (Loads). The third shows power values from solar, load, generator and battery over time.

In this example the solar PV is producing 0.77kW of power, there is 0.05kW of load and solar PV is charging the battery with 0.54kW. The battery is providing 0kW to the loads.

In the example above, 0.75kWh energy was produced from solar. 0.05kWh of it was “exported” to the Loads and 0.71kWh was stored in the battery. Of the 0.05kWh “exported” (consumption), 0.05kWh came from the PV and 0kWh came from the battery.




Performance Tab

The performance tab can be customised to see several historical data about the system.

If the “Battery Power” is a positive value (above the zero line) then it is in a charging state. If this is a negative value (below zero the line), then it is discharging.

Live Tab

The Live Tab displays all the live readings of data in numerical form from the connected devices.

Users Tab

This tab shows the users who can view this system. This will include you, the customer, and the RedEarth team involved in monitoring your system.

Alert Tab

The alert tab shows any errors or warnings received about the system. You will also receive an email if an alert occurs.

Further Questions

For further questions, feel free to email us at [email protected] or call us on 1800 733 637.


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1. “I lost power!” What should I do?

R: The most likely reason for this is that the battery has reached the low SOC limit and has stopped inverting (producing 230V). In this situation, turn the system off, start the generator, turn your BlackMax on again as recommended in the “Shutdown and Start-up” procedure in this manual. HOWEVER, be sure to leave the Power OUT breaker turned off. This will allow all the power generated to go directly to the battery and not to the load. Let the batteries charge for 15 minutes and then turn on the main breaker.

NOTE: You can turn the main breaker on again but be careful not to use more than is being produced. This will lead to draining the batteries even more and possibly damaging them.

If you do not have a generator, then wait until there is PV power available. The inverter will automatically recharge the battery and turn back on once the battery is at a safe level.

2. What happens if my batteries go flat (no lights on the battery itself)?

R: This will happen if the BlackMax is re-started and the battery not immediately charged. Contact RedEarth’s technical support on 1800 733 637.

NOTE: This system will still work in Emergency Power Mode – meaning that limited power will be available when the solar panel are in sunlight.

3. My Generator is not charging the batteries. What does this mean?

R: The first and most obvious thing to check in this situation is that the Power IN breaker is turned on. If so, the power produced by the generator might not be within the inverter’s acceptable range. Look at the generator requirements in Attachment C of the installation manual. Some cheap generators do not produce power of sufficient quality to charge the batteries, even though they can still run simple loads like fans and heaters. Another possibility is that the generator is supplying power to the loads and there is not enough to recharge the batteries. Try turning off the Power OUT breaker for a while and see if the batteries are now taking charge.

4. How do I know if the battery is full/empty?

Because the LiFe batteries don’t interact/communicate with the inverter, the SOC is a calculation based on voltage parameters. What this means is that the SOC might not always be accurate.

The best way of estimating the SOC of the batteries is by analysing the Voltage. In the example on the right, if the battery has about 53V, the SOC is neat to 100% (blue arrow). Or, if at 48V, the SOC is below 6% (red arrow).

With a range between 64 and 45 Volts, identify the SOC according to Attachment A in this manual.

FAQ’s



RedEarth can provide several options for the BlackMax; • Membership of the RedEarth Customer Community • Additional batteries for system expansion • Remote and ongoing monitoring option • Miscellaneous spare parts (including indicator lights for Generator start) • BlackMax Power Kit: PV panels, racking and pre-terminated PV cables • Generator with 2-wire auto start • Generator backup kit (for on-grid applications)

RedEarth Energy Storage Ltd 15 Fienta Place Darra – QLD 4076 Australia Tel: 1800 733 637 Email: [email protected] Web: www.redearth.energy

Services and options available for your BlackMax

RedEarth’s Monitoring and Customer Community Monitoring Visit us in Brisbane

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.redearth.energy/



Battery curves:

Attachment - A

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