Installation Guide

9
WiththeMATE,ausercanknowthesystem’sactivityandconditionsatanygiventime.
Sometimes, aer careful observations, a user might want to change the conditions or set points
which cause an action to occur.
A set point is a condition, measurement, or baseline a user establishes in order for
somethingelsetohappen.Ahomethermostatoersasimpleexample.Whenpredetermined
temperatures and times are set for weekdays and weekends, the thermostat signals to a
heating/cooling system to turn on at one time until a certain temperature is reached, maintain
that temperature, and nally shut o at a later time, usually during sleep hours to conserve
energy. Otherwise, the user would have to manually control the system. An outdoor light
connectedtoatimerturnsonwhenitssetpoint—acertaintimeofthenight—occurs.Youcan
set various set points for your power system, such as when a generator turns on and shuts o,
using the MATE.
• DisplaysFXSeriesInverter/Chargerfunctionsandallowstheusertoestablishthe
conditions—timeofdayorthevoltageofthebattery,forinstance—thatinitiateorshuto
these functions.
• ShowsFXACcurrentandACandDCvoltage-relatedinformationincludingthesource
(ACinput,load,orbatteries),thevoltagelevelsofthebatteries,andrechargingvoltages.
• InstantlydisplaysanyFXorChargeControllererrorsaswellasthespeciccomponent
aected for easier troubleshooting.
• DisplaysChargeControllermodes,programstheFLEXmax60andFLEXmax80Charge
ControllersandallowscontrolovertheirAUXfunctions.
• UsingtheAGSfunction,theMATEwillstartatwo-wiregeneratoratpre-settimes,
including dierent settings for weekdays and weekends, as well as exercise periods for
generator maintenance.
• DisplaysallreadingsoftheFLEXnetDC.
e MATE allows a user to view, monitor, and establish all the pertinent settings and values
thatoccurwhilethesystemisrunning.Fromtimetotime,thesesettingsandvaluesmightbe
adjusted as components are added or upgraded, electrical loads increase, or patterns of usage
change. Making these adjustments using the MATE is similar to adjusting any number of
electronic devices we all use every day, such as a clock radio whose wake-up time and stations
are pre-set.
Programmingthestartandstoptimesfordierentsourcesofenergy(whentousegrid-
suppliedpower,storedbatterypower,orgenerator-suppliedpower)anddeterminingthe
frequencyanddurationofbatteryrechargingarehighlyrecommendedwithanyREsystem.
Manysettingsarebasedonbatteryvoltage.Certainvoltages,forexample,willtriggerbattery
recharging(alowvoltage,asrecommendedbythebatterymanufacturer)whileothersstop
recharging(ahighvoltagevalue,alsorecommendedbythebatterymanufacturer).e
OutBack MATE accommodates a wide range of time-based and voltage-level functions and
conditionsformaximumcontrolofyourpowersystemwhileworkingthroughtheFXSeries
Inverter/ChargersandOutBackChargeControllers.
Asyougothroughthemanual,startwiththesimplefunctions,suchassettingthesystem’s
clockandcalendar,tofamiliarizeyourselfwiththeOutBackMATE’sfeelandcapabilities.
While using your system, you might change settings from time to time depending on the
seasonoftheyearandthecostofgrid-suppliedpowerduringpeakando-peakhours.For
additional information and discussion on the OutBack MATE, please go to
www.outbackpower.com and join our forum discussions.
What is a set point?
Among other functions, the OutBack MATE: