Product Manual

24
TRISTAR OPERATION
25
MORNINGSTAR CORPORATION
3.03.0
down to 50A, which is equivalent to the heating from a normal 60A
solar input.
LOAD & LIGHTING CONTROL
Load overload:
(R/Y-G sequencing) If the load current exceeds 100% of the controller’s
rating, the controller will disconnect the load. The greater the overload,
the faster the controller will disconnect. A small overload could take a few
minutes to disconnect.
The TriStar will attempt to reconnect the load two times. Each attempt is at
least 10 seconds apart. If the overload remains after 2 attempts, the load will
remain disconnected. The overload must be corrected and the controller
restarted. The pushbutton can also be used to reconnect the load.
DIVERSION CHARGE CONTROL
Diversion overload:
(R/Y-G sequencing) If the current to the diversion load exceeds the TriStar
rating, the controller will attempt to reduce the load. If the overload is too
large, the TriStar will disconnect the diversion load. The controller will
continue attempts to reconnect the load.
If the overload LED’s are sequencing, the diversion load is too large for the
controller. The size of the load must be reduced.
Reversed polarity:
If the battery polarity is reversed, there will be no power to the controller and
no LED’s will light. If the solar is reversed, the controller detects nighttime
and there will be no LED indication and no charging. If the load is reversed,
loads with polarity will be damaged. Be very careful to connect loads to the
controller with correct polarity.
See Section 5.4 .
DIP switch fault:
(R-Y-G sequencing) If a DIP switch is changed while there is power to the
controller, the LED’s will begin sequencing and the FET switches will open.
The controller must be restarted to clear the fault.
Solar high temperature:
(R-Y sequencing) When the heatsink temperature limit is reached, the TriStar will
begin reducing the solar input current to prevent more heating. If the controller
continues heating to a higher temperature, the solar input will then be disconnec-
ted. The solar will be reconnected at the lower temperature
(see Section 11.0) .
LOAD & LIGHTING CONTROL
Load high temperature:
(R-Y sequencing) When the heatsink temperature limit is reached (90˚C /
194˚F), the TriStar will disconnect the load. The load will be reconnected
at the lower temperature setting (70˚C / 158˚F).
DIVERSION CHARGE CONTROL
Diversion high temperature:
(R-Y sequencing) When the heat sink temperature reaches 80˚C, the TriStar
will change to an on-off regulation mode to reduce the temperature. If the
temperature reaches 90˚C, the load will be disconnected. The load is
reconnected at 70˚C.
Solar high voltage disconnect (HVD):
(R-G sequencing) If the battery voltage continues increasing beyond normal
operating limits, the controller will disconnect the solar input (unless the FET
switches cannot open due to a failure).
See Section 11.0 for the disconnect and
reconnect values.
LOAD & LIGHTING CONTROL
Load HVD:
(R-G sequencing) In the Load Control mode, the HVD can only be enabled
using the PC software. At the battery voltage value selected in the soft-
ware, the TriStar will disconnect the load. At the selected lower voltage,
the load will be reconnected.
DIVERSION CHARGE CONTROL
Diversion HVD:
In the Diversion mode, an HVD condition will not be indicated with the
LEDs, and there is no disconnect. An HVD condition will be indicated on
the optional meter.
Battery removal voltage spike:
(no LED indication) Disconnecting the battery before the solar input is discon-
nected can cause a large solar open-circuit voltage spike to enter the system.
The TriStar protects against these voltage spikes, but it is best to disconnect
the solar input before the battery.
Very low battery voltage:
(LED’s are all off) Below 9 volts the controller will go into brownout. The
controller shuts down. When the battery voltage rises, the controller will
restart. In the Load Control mode, the TriStar will recover in the LVD state.
Remote temperature sensor (RTS) failure:
(R/Y-G/Y) If a fault in the RTS (such as a short circuit, open circuit, loose
terminal) occurs after the RTS has been working, the LED’s will indicate a failure and
the solar input is disconnected. However, if the controller is restarted with a failed