Specialty Concepts MARK-15 Installation And Operation Manual

Photovoltaic (solar) charge controller

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MARK

8954 Mason Ave. Chatsworth, CA 91311 USA

The Ideal Charge Controller for Home, RV & Marine Solar Systems.

The MARK/15 & MARK/20 (MARK/(15,20)) are highly reliable charge controllers that

are ideal for small to mid-sized photovoltaic systems. They will efficiently charge

your batteries and provide years of protection from over-charging. This protective

care will prolong your battery life and reduce maintenance requirements.

IDEAL SOLAR CHARGING

Compatible – Works with almost all

types of batteries and solar panels

Efficient – Over 99% efficiency when

charging

Full Charging – Ensures that the

Batteries are always topped off

Battery Safe – Charging method

maximizes battery life

Reduced Maintenance – from healthy

charging and reliable operation

OVER-CHARGE PROTECTION

High Voltage "Shut-off" - shuts off

only when battery is full

Robust Circuitry – Control function

100% solid state.

HIGH RELIABILITY

Simple, rugged electronics – low

component count and streamlined

design ensure long term reliability

No Minimum Voltage Required – Can

charge a dead battery

15 & MARK

Photovoltaic (Solar) Charge Controller

Installation & Operation Manual

SPECIALTY CONCEPTS, INC.

Web-site: www.specialtyconcepts.com

F E A T U R E S

FEATURES

Digital Voltage and Current – Accurate

readout for battery and solar panels

Status Lights – Colored Battery

condition bar-graph with "CHARGING"

and "CHARGED" lights

Adjustable Set-point – Easily adjusts to

higher or lower voltages

Reverse leakage protection – Prevents

power loss at night.

Over-current & Incorrect Wiring

Protection – Array and Battery fuse

Terminal Block – for sound and easy

wire connections.

Mounting Options – Can mount flush or

onto a wall (with accessory)

Environmental Protection – Front plate

and circuitry have moisture protection

SYSTEM COMPATIBILITY

Minimum RF Noise – Low switching

frequency minimizes electronic noise

Protection from External RF Noise –

Can operate with noisy inverters

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Summary of Contents for Specialty Concepts MARK-15

Page 1 MARK 15 & MARK Photovoltaic (Solar) Charge Controller Installation & Operation Manual SPECIALTY CONCEPTS, INC. 8954 Mason Ave. Chatsworth, CA 91311 USA Web-site: www.specialtyconcepts.com Copyright 12 / 2001 Specialty Concepts, Inc. The Ideal Charge Controller for Home, RV & Marine Solar Systems. The MARK/15 &...
Page 2 Specifications PARAMETERS UNITS MARK/15-12 MARK/20-12 Nominal Voltage Volts Array Voltage, Max (Voc) Volts Charging Current, Continuous (Isc) (MARK/15) Amps Charging Current, Max (60 seconds) (MARK/15) Amps Charging Current, Continuous (Isc) (MARK/20) Amps Charging Current, Max (60 seconds) (MARK/20) Amps Operating Voltage at Battery, Min Charge Control Volts LCD Metering...
Page 3 R E L A T E D S Y S T E M E Q U I P M E N T The MARK/(15,20) is an integral part of a solar electric power system that includes a solar panel, a battery and a load. SOLAR PANELS - (“photovoltaic (PV) array”, “solar modules”): The MARK/(15,20) is compatible with all makes and models of photovoltaic solar panels.
Page 4 I N S T A L L A T I O N WARNINGS WARNING: Electricity, even low voltage electricity, can be dangerous. Installation should be performed by a licensed electrical contractor or other qualified personnel only. The requirements of the U.S. National Electrical Code should be followed. WARNING: Follow all safety precautions of the battery manufacturer.
Page 5 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS: 1. MOUNTING CONSIDERATIONS: - The MARK/(15,20) is designed to be mounted flush against a wall. It can be mounted onto a wall by adding the optional knockout box (4x7 BOX). Flush mounting or wall mounting require different installation and mounting considerations.
Page 6 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS (continued) 5. PREPARE THE LOCATION PRIOR TO WIRING: FLUSH MOUNT: Use the template provided to position and mark the cutout and the four mounting holes. Make the cutout using a keyhole or saber saw. Start by drilling holes in the corners, and then saw between the holes.
Page 7 10. NOTE WIRE POLARITY: - Make sure to correctly mark the polarity of the wires using colored wires or tags. Incorrect polarity may blow a controller fuse or damage the MARK/(15,20). Be Careful… Some vehicles or solar kits use black and white wires for connection to the battery.
Page 8 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS (continued) 16. OPERATION: - Operation of the charge controller is now fully automatic. If the battery voltage is below the Full Charge Termination set-point (14.4 volts) and power is available from the array, the MARK/(15,20) should start up “CHARGING”. 17.
Page 9 FIGURE 1 MARK/(15,20) CHARGE CONTROLLER SOLAR PANEL ARRAY Batt (-) LOAD Array Array (+) Batt (+) FUSE RATINGS: A = Fuse / Disconnect switch Mark/15 = 20 amp, Mark/20 = 25 amp B = Rated for load BATTERY FIGURE 2 MARK/(15,20) - BACK VIEW Bar-graph selector : Fuses :...
Page 10 O P E R A T I O N The operation of the MARK/(15,20) is completely automatic. This controller will regulate the charging of batteries during conditions of heavy usage, or when left unattended for long periods of time. During operation, it is normal for the front plate to feel warm. CHARGING METHOD: Low Frequency Pulse Width Modulation: - The MARK/(15,20) provides pulses of charging current at varying durations to maintain the batteries at a full state of charge and insure the long-term health on the batteries.
Page 11 C H A R G E S E T - P O I N T A D J U S T M E N T CHARGE SET-POINT ADJUSTMENT SHOULD ONLY BE ATTEMPTED WITH CAUTION. IMPROPER CALIBRATION CAN RESULT IN BATTERY AND EQUIPMENT DAMAGE. CAUTION - The standard charging set-points of the MARK/(15,20) will be proper for a majority of the applications, however the MARK/(15,20) allows field adjustment of these set-points.
Page 12 M O N I T O R I N G The system operation can be monitored by the meters and the status lights. DIGITAL DISPLAY: The Digital display of the MARK/(15,20) provides metering of four parameters, selected by a front panel slide switch. POSITION - "BATTERY VOLTAGE": This displays the battery voltage.
Page 13 “BATTERY” CONDITION BAR-GRAPH: This bar-graph provides a general indication of the battery condition. The lights will rise and fall as the battery voltage goes up and down. During the day, the battery voltage can increase and decrease instantly as charging is turned on and off. When the battery is completely charged, the current will begin to pulse into the battery.
Page 14 T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G These sections can assist in the troubleshooting of a solar system. HELP NOTES: - lists some common problems with a solar system. MARK/(15,20) Problems: - If a problem is suspected based on the observations of the MARK/(15,20) controller, find the condition on the MARK/(15,20) PROBLEMS chart.
Page 15 PROBLEM CONDITIONS: 5. SYSTEM IS NOT SIZED CORRECTLY - The system batteries will tend to be under-charged if the solar array is too small, or if the battery bank is too small, or if the usage is too high. Some systems contain small hidden loads that can slowly draw down the battery.
Page 16 MARK/(15,20) PROBLEMS: - Refer to this chart and the MARK/(15,20) PROBLEM CASES (next page) to help diagnose problems based on the MARK/(15,20) readings. CASE BATTERY ARRAY YELLOW GREEN OTHER MARK/(15,20) VOLTAGE CURRENT CHARGING CHARGED NOTE READING READING LIGHT LIGHT (Below) Display blank Display blank See Note 1...
Page 17 MARK/(15,20) PROBLEM NOTES ( Continued ) MARK/(15,20) Note 5 - The “CHARGING” light on with 00.0 amps from the array may indicate… A condition exists of very low levels of light to the panels A system problem. This would be a panel, connection or wiring problem. Often, this happens when the negative connections from the array and battery are connected.
Page 18 Battery Fuse Removal Test - (checks operation) This test temporarily removes the battery connection to the MARK/(15,20). The new voltage display will indicate if the unit is working properly. Note: when the fuse is removed, it is normal for the front lights to both go on and to hear a faint buzzing.
Page 19 BATTERY PROBLEMS: - Refer to this section to help diagnose problems based on battery observations. CASE BATTERY SEE NOTE(S) Seems to be over-charging See Battery Note 1 Does not fully charge batteries (or) See Battery Note 2 Does not hold a charge Battery Note 1 - BATTERY OVER-CHARGING: If there is evidence that the batteries have been over- charging, consider the following…...
Page 20 LIMITED FIVE YEAR WARRANTY SPECIALTY CONCEPTS, INC. 1. Specialty Concepts, Inc. warrants all its products for a period of five (5) years from the date of shipment from its factory. This warranty is valid against defects in materials and workmanship for the five (5) year warranty period. It is not valid against defects resulting from, but not limited to: A.

This manual is also suitable for:

Mark/20