OutBack Power FM60-150VDC FLEXMax 60 Charge Controller
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Questions & Answers
The Outback Power FM60 allows you to customize all charging parameters of the output to the batteries to meet the charging recommendations of the battery manufacturer. More information, as well as the FM60 charge controller specifications and manuals, can be found on the Outback Power website.
Yes, it works with 12, 24, and 48 volts. The number of solar panels you can connect is determined by the battery voltage ML SOLAR you choose.
The Outback FM 60 can charge a battery bank with a nominal voltage of 12, 24, 36, 48, or 60 VDC with a maximum open circuit DC voltage input of 150 volts from a solar array. Additional information, as well as full owner and installation/operation manuals, can be found on the Outback Power website. All electrical wiring should be done by a qualified electrician and adhere to NEC and local code requirements.
Yes, the Outback Flexmax charge controllers can accept solar PV input with open circuit voltages up to 150VDC and charge battery banks with nominal voltages of 12 to 60 VDC. The Outback Power FM60 can be programmed to charge batteries in a variety of storage systems ranging from 12 to 60 VDC. All charge parameters can be programmed by the user to meet the needs of different types of cells, as recommended by the battery manufacturer. The manufacturer's Outback Power website has complete user manuals and specifications available for download.
Selected User Reviews For OutBack Power FM60-150VDC FLEXMax 60 Charge Controller
Because my FM80 had died, I had no choice but to buy this. For three months, I tried unsuccessfully to have it serviced. Because the wiring for this and the FM80 is the same, I bought it because it's the same size and could fit onto my panel and be set up quickly. Because I never added more panels, an FM80 was never required. The unit is functional, but given the poor customer service, I'll have to hope that nothing goes wrong.
This charge controller with a capacity of 60 amps can provide all of the power you require. Simply use 2 AWG cable from the combiner box to the terminals, and the unit will run like a well-oiled machine. If you have any questions about sizing or panels, don't hesitate to contact Outback. I had a couple of newbie questions that weren't related to how to use the charge controller, but they were extremely rude on the phone, so I decided not to call them again. The seller, on the other hand, was a pleasure to work with. Quickly and efficiently, as well as assisting me in my endeavors. br>My setupbr>6 290 watt panels (2 strings of 3)br>10 kw battery bankbr>24 volt system Two phase 6kw pure sine inverterbr>1 midnight combiner boxbr>2 15 amps DC breakersbr>1 80 amp outback dc breakerbr>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br> At 9 p. m. , I took that photograph. 00 am. 50% discharge from the night before battery almost full from 50% discharge from the night before battery almost full from As you can see, this baby charged that bank in just three hours and then slept the rest of the day away. FLOATING! I can't give it a ten-star rating because it's so bad!.
Before I had a system designed, I ordered components for my solar build. I had no idea what I was supposed to do. This outback is ideal for smaller projects. Battery and system voltage are automatically detected. In my system, I really like how the Outback works. It is well worth the money. After I finished building and installing my system, I realized there was a better way to get the most wattage out of the panels. The outback is still in use, but it can only handle 150 volts DC. Carry out a thorough investigation. Make your system as efficient as possible. Take your time and, if money allows, travel to the outback. It's ready to use right out of the box. It's very simple. It's a miracle I didn't blow it up with all the inventive ways I came up with to sabotage it! Following my installation, I needed assistance and called Outback. I was enraged by the tech expert! He had the audacity to call me a liar and say the problem was with my wiring! It turns out that he was correct! I discovered the flaw and corrected it. Since that time, there have been no problems.
The firmware can only be updated at a factory repair center, and the price of the separate mate controller with a web interface is exorbitant. That is to say, they simply work. br>br>A couple of times, one of mine got stuck in charged mode after finishing absorb mode, and I had to force it through the menus to get it to float mode. That's something I haven't looked into.
In terms of size and mounting holes, the FM60 controllers are nearly identical. The only minor drawback is that the FM60 lacks a knockout port on the right side, which means that if you have two FM60s, you won't be able to feed a Mate cable through to the other one. br>br>Contrary to one of the reviewers' assertions, this controller appears to have been manufactured recently, as evidenced by the presence of a Q/A sheet from only a month or two ago in the box. br>br>I connected it to my home PV system and it powered up immediately, just as I had hoped. It's a nice touch that the FM60 automatically adjusts the volume. Battery voltage is detected (though the suggested voltage can be overridden during setup).
Last week, I traveled to Haiti with an FM60 (latitude 20 degrees). It was extremely hot and humid outside. br>br>We used 8 x 190 watt 26 volt nom bulbs. (Connecting four solar panels in series, times two) br>br>The FM60 was simple to set up and began charging right away. We used a 24 volt battery system (8 x 6 volts, about 5 kwh). Because the batteries charged so quickly, we needed more. In addition, we have a 3. The batteries power a 5Kw 24v inverter. A 3/4 HP pressure booster pump, a Grundfos well pump, a large compound miter saw, and a large refrigerator were among the heavy loads we placed on it. There was never a moment when the FM60 wasn't playing music. On the status screen, the PV voltage is around 115 volts DC, and the FM60 is constantly tracking the power input and maximizing output power to the batteries. In other words, the input voltage multiplied by the current equals the output voltage multiplied by the current. As a result, the batteries have access to nearly all of the PV power (thanks to MPPT). The batteries were charged at a maximum power of around 0 watts. 5 kilowatts, or approximately 20 amps (with this configuration and heavy loads, I expect up to 60 amps). Due to the low light, I also saw the unit charging very early in the morning and late at night, even though the current to the batteries was only a few amps. br>br>One minor nit: one of the small soft rubber buttons that was pushed for setup popped up in transit, but we were able to quickly fix it with needle nose pliers. Also, when the cooling fan kicks in every now and then, it makes a bit of a racket. But, of course, that only ran during the day and in a very quiet location. Getting up to 30% boost easily saves the additional cost for MPPT in more power or less panels in large configs.
Except for the difficulty in locating the default password, everything else is a breeze, and the performance is flawless. This replaced a MORNINGSTAR TS MPPT 60 that had been in service for four years. What a difference in the grand scheme of things. I installed the system two months ago (off grid), and I'll keep you updated if any problems or observations arise. So far, everything seems to be going well.
It is well-made. All you . The unit is of excellent quality. It is well-made. All it takes is four years at MIT to get started! There are 126 pages in the instruction manual. It'll do a lot more than I need it to, but if I move it from my RV to my house, it might come in handy later. After waiting for 12 minutes, I was unable to contact a technician at customer service. You're familiar with the plot. I'd buy it again if I didn't have to hire another electronics tech to help me set it up.
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