Installation manual

The 3-pole HRC fuse holders can serve a multi-purpose of providing

current protection for each battery string (maybe required by

regulation in some jurisdictions), act as a combiner for multiple

strings and act a busbar termination point for other connections

needed in the system.

The picture on the right shows a HRC 3-pole fuse holder with a top

combiner link and busbar for 3 battery strings.

Where 1-2 battery strings are used the spare position in the 3-pole

HRC fuse holder can be employed to break the incoming hydro

cable connection and replace SB2 or DB2. This then provides a

single point of system shutdown, which is regarded as best practice.

Label

“In emergency pull this handle for complete system shut down”

There is another possible option for 1 battery string, in this case the battery + and battery –

fuses are in the same 3-pole HRC holder. The spare 3rd fuse position (normally the middle

position) can be used for the incoming hydro generation.

6.8.1. Important note when MPPT controllers are not used

Over the years we have seen the electronics of many systems killed by incorrect

connection of the hydro turbine. If you wire your PowerSpout turbine directly to

your battery system (no MPPT between) and do not follow our advice below, then

it is important to reiterate that you do not want the main battery fuse to blow or

be removed with the turbine running, because the battery is the primary protection against

over-voltage in the system. The hydro turbine's open circuit voltage will likely destroy all of

your electronics in the event of the fuse blowing.

PowerSpout turbines PLT/TRG 14/28/56 (non-MPPT turbines). The positive wire should be

wired to its own HRC battery fuse, as shown in the diagram. If the HRC fuse is opened

(while the turbine is still running) then the turbine will produce a higher voltage but it will be

isolated from the electronics. It is not possible to wire each battery string to its own fuse in

this situation, but it is more important to separate the turbine from the electronics when the

battery isolator is operated.

6.8.2. Important note on cable sizing

If a breaker is omitted then the cable is still protected by the battery fuse, but this is often too

large. Any unprotected cables must be sufficiently large to safely handle the full short circuit

current if breakers are omitted. We do not advise that you omit breakers.

Cable sizes need to be adequate for the circuit protection in each case.