APEX MCS Microgrid Controller Installation Guide

APEX MCS Microgrid Controller Installation

Product Information

Specifications

• Product Name: Microgrid Controller
• Designed for : Managing power sources in a microgrid
• Applications: Medium and large commercial applications
• Compatible Equipment : grid-tied PV inverters, PCSs, and commercial batteries

Product Usage Instructions

Installation
Before starting the installation, ensure you have the necessary tools as listed in the manual. Plan the installation carefully based on the site requirements and follow the step-by-step installation guide provided.

Commissioning and Operation

• Powering Up: When powering up the Microgrid Controller for the first time, follow the startup sequence provided in the manual.
• Wifi and Network Configuration: Configure the network settings as per your requirements to ensure seamless connectivity.
• Configuring Slave Devices: If applicable, follow the instructions to configure slave devices for optimal performance.
• Cloud Monitoring Portal: Set up and access the cloud monitoring portal for remote monitoring and management.

Cleaning and Maintenance
Regular cleaning and maintenance of the Microgrid Controller are essential to ensure proper functioning. Follow the maintenance guidelines provided in the manual.

INTRODUCTION

The APEX Microgrid Control System (MCS) is designed to manage all available power sources in a microgrid according to the site requirements including operational requirements, utility requirements, grid and other conditions. It can optimize for backup today,
PV self consumption tomorrow and perform tariff arbitrage after that.

• Ideal for on or off -grid applications.
• Monitor and control your Apex MCS on any compatible browser.
• Manage power flow between diesel generators, grid-tied PV inverters, PCSs and commercial batteries

1. DEVICE DOCUMENTATION
   • Apex MCS documentation includes this manual, its datasheet and the warranty terms.
   • All latest version documents can be downloaded from: www.ApexSolar.Tech
2. ABOUT THIS MANUAL
   • This manual describes the correct use and features of the Apex MCS Microgrid Controller. It includes technical data as well as user instructions and specifications to provide information about its correct functioning.
   • This document is subject to regular updates.
   • The contents of this manual might change partially or completely, and it is the responsibility of the user to make sure that they are using the latest version which is available at: www.ApexSolar.Tech
   • Apex reserves the right to modify the manual without prior notice.

SAFETY WARNINGS

Please read and follow all the below safety instructions and precautions before installation and use of the Apex MCS.

1. SYMBOLS
   The following symbols are used in this manual to highlight and emphasize important information.
   The general meanings of the symbols used in the manual, and those present on the device, are as follows:

2. PURPOSE
   These safety instructions are intended to highlight risks and dangers of improper installation, commissioning and use of the Edge Device.

3. TRANSPORT DAMAGE CHECK
   Immediately after receiving the package, make sure that the packaging and the device have no signs of damage. If the packaging shows any sign of damage or impact, damage of the MCS should be suspected and it should not be installed. If this occurs, please contact Apex customer service.

4. STAFF
   This system should be installed, handled and replaced solely by qualified personnel.
   Qualification of the staff mentioned herein must meet all the safety-related standards, regulations, and legislation applicable to the installation and operation of this system in the country concerned.

5. GENERAL HAZARDS RESULTING FROM NON-COMPLIANCE WITH SAFETY STANDARDS
   The technology employed in the manufacturing of the Apex MCS ensures safe handling and operation.
   Nonetheless, the system might pose hazards if it is used by unqualified staff or handled in a way that is not specified in this user manual.
   Any person in charge of the installation, commissioning, maintenance, or replacement of an Apex MCS must first read and understand this user manual, especially the safety recommendations and shall be trained to do so.

6. SPECIAL HAZARDS
   The Apex MCS is designed to form part of a commercial electrical installation. Applicable safety measures must be observed, and any additional safety requirements should be specified by the company that has installed or configured the system.
   The responsibility to select qualified staff lies with the company that the staff work for. It is also the responsibility of the company to assess the ability of the worker to carry out any kind of work and ensure their safety. Staff must The responsibility to select qualified staff lies with the company that the staff work for. It is also the responsibility of the company to assess the ability of the worker to carry out any kind of work and ensure their safety. Staff must comply with workplace health and safety regulations. It is the responsibility of the company to provide their staff with the training necessary for handling electrical devices and to make sure that they familiarize themselves with the contents of this user manual. the training necessary for handling electrical devices and to make sure that they familiarize themselves with the contents of this user manual.
   Dangerous voltages may be present in the system and any physical contact could cause serious injury or death. Please ensure that all covers are securely fastened and that only qualified staff service the Apex MCS. Ensure that the system is switched off and disconnected during handling.

7. LEGAL / COMPLIANCE

8. ALTERATIONS
   It is strictly prohibited to carry out any alteration or modification to the Apex MCS or any of its accessories.

9. OPERATION
   The person in charge of handling the electrical device is responsible for the safety of persons and property.
   Insulate all the system’s power conducting components which could cause injuries while carrying out any work. Confirm that dangerous areas are clearly marked and access is restricted.
   Avoid accidental re-connection of the system using signs, isolating locks and closing or blocking the work site. Accidental reconnection may cause serious injuries or death.
   Determine conclusively, using a voltmeter, that there is no voltage in the system before commencing work. Check all the terminals to make sure that there is no voltage in the system.

10. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
    This device is exclusively designed to manage power flow between energy sources such as the grid, a solar array or a generator and storage via appropriate, approved PCSs and is to be installed in a commercial setting.
    The Apex MCS should only be used for this purpose. Apex is not liable for any damages caused by inappropriate installation, use or maintenance of the system.
    To ensure safe use, the Apex MCS must only be used in compliance with the instructions in this manual.
    Legal and safety regulations must also be adhered to, to ensure correct use.

DEVICE DESCRIPTION

• This device is exclusively designed to manage power flow between energy sources such as the grid, a solar array or a generator and storage via appropriate, approved PCSs and is to be installed in a commercial setting.
• The Apex MCS should only be used for this purpose. Apex is not liable for any damages caused by inappropriate installation, use or maintenance of the system.
• To ensure safe use, the Apex MCS must only be used in compliance with the instructions in this manual.
• Legal and safety regulations must also be adhered to, to ensure correct use.

Parameter Value

 |
Dimensions| 230 (L) x 170mm (W) x 50 (H)
Mounting Method| Panel Mounted
Ingress Protection| 20
Power Supply| 230Vac 50Hz

Signal Inputs

| 3 x Vac (330V AC Max.)
3 x Iac (5.8A AC Max.)
1 x 0 to 10V / 0 to 20 mA input
Digital Inputs| 5 Inputs

Digital Outputs

| 4 Relay Outputs

•               Rated switching current: 5A (NO) / 3A (NC)

•               Rated switching voltage: 250 Vac / 30 Vac

Comms

| TCIP over Ethernet/wifi
Modbus over RS485/UART-TTL

Local HMI

| Master: 7inch Touch Screen
Slave: LCD Display
Remote Monitoring & Control| Via MLT Portal

COMPATIBLE EQUIPMENT

Generator Controllers*

| Deepsea 8610
ComAp Inteligen

Battery Inverters (PCSs)*

| ATESS PCS series
WECO Hybo series

PV inverters*

| Huawei
Goodwe
Solis
SMA
Sungrow
Ingeteam
Schneider
Deye
Sunsynk

3rd Party controllers*

| Meteocontrol Bluelog
Solar-Log

Power meters*

| Lovato DMG110
Schneider PM3255
Socomec Diris A10
Janitza UMG104

OVERVIEW AND DESCRIPTION

The front of the Apex MCS has the following features:

• A touch-sensitive colour LCD display which displays various important parameters.
• An information packed user interface to help understand status of the Microgrid’s various components.

FUNCTIONALITY
The MCS is designed for management and control of hardware at site level. It provides the logic needed to optimise various elements of a microgrid and ensure safe and effective operation. Multiple modes of operation are available and you can discuss your site requirements with your Apex engineer.

The following table describes some of the primary features and functions

Grid and PV only

| Zero export
DNP3 communication to PUC
VPP participation

Grid, Grid tied PV and Diesel

| Zero export
DNP3 communication to PUC
PV integration with genset with minimum load presets
VPP participation

Grid, Grid tied PV, Diesel and Battery

| Zero export
DNP3 communication to PUC
PV integration with genset with min load presets
Battery use logic:

•               Optimise for backup

•               Energy Arbitrage (TOU tariffs)

•               Peak load shaving / Demand management

•               Fuel optimisation

•               PV self consumption

Load management
VPP participation

 INSTALLATION

CONTENTS OF THE BOX Inside the box you should find:

• 1x Apex MCS Microgrid controller
• 1x Connection diagram

1. TOOLS REQUIRED

   • Appropriate tool for your choice of fastener to secure the MCS to the selected surface.
   • Flat screwdriver no wider than 2mm.
   • Laptop and network cable for troubleshooting.

2. PLANNING THE INSTALLATION

   • LOCATION
     The Apex MCS may only be installed indoors and must be protected from moisture, excessive dust, corrosion and humidity. It should never be installed in any location where a potential water leak could occur.

   • MOUNTING THE MCS
     The MCS enclosure provides four mounting tabs with holes of 4mm diameter for your choice of mounting screws or bolts. The MCS should be fixed onto a firm surface.

   • WIRING OF THE MCS
     Each side of the MCS has a row of connectors. These are used for connecting both the measurement signals and the communications, as follows:

   •   METERING:
     A full onboard power meter is included. The meter can measure 3 currents using 5A secondary CTs and can measure 3 mains AC voltages.

   • DEVICE POWER:
     The MCS is powered from 230V via the “Voltage L1” and “Neutral” terminals on the right side of the device (see image above). Commonly available 1.5mm² is recommended.

   • CAN BUS:
     The device is fitted with 1 CAN interface and is designed to communicate with compatible sub components in the system via CAN bus. It can be terminated by bridging the CAN H and TERM pins.

   • NETWORK:
     The device can connect to a standard 100 base-T Ethernet network for communication with MODBUS TCP equipped slave devices and for remote system monitoring, using a standard RJ45 connector.
     For remote monitoring, the network requires transparent internet connectivity and a DHCP server.

   • RS485:
     For field equipment requiring Modbus RS485 communications, the MCS is equipped with 1 RS485 interface. This port is terminated using an onboard jumper, so the device should be installed at the end of the bus. If a different configuration cannot be avoided, please contact support to guide you through removal of the jumper.

   • I/O:
     Terminals on the left side of the device provide programmable I/O interfaces. These interfaces are used where binary input or output signals are required. 5 inputs and 4 volt-free relay contacts are provided as outputs.

   • COMMUNICATIONS WIRING:
     RS485 and CAN connections must be done with a high quality shielded twisted pair communications cable.

Please follow this diagram to ensure that your RS485 and CAN busses are correctly laid out and terminated.

COMMISSIONING AND OPERATION

• POWERING UP FOR THE FIRST TIME
  • Check your work.
  • Ensure the device is connected to internet via ethernet.
  • Check that all DIP switches are set to 0, except DIP switch 1 must be set to 1.
  • Apply power.

STARTUP SEQUENCE
On first start-up, you should see the following sequence on the MCS screen. Wait for it to complete. MLT logo appears.
The system logs in automatically.

UI loads.

The MCS requires our engineers to configure the device for you, once it has been connected into your site and has a transparent internet connection. With this in place, you may now proceed to commission with remote support from Rubicon. When ready, please contact the Rubicon engineer assigned to your project.

CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE

• Cleaning and maintenance should only be carried out with the Apex MCS disconnected from any supplies.
• Before taking any action, make sure that the system has been correctly isolated by opening the electrical isolators. To clean the MCS, wipe the exterior surface with a damp (not wet) soft, non-abrasive cloth. Pay attention to the cooling slots and any dust build-up thereon which may affect the ability of the MCS to dissipate heat generated.
• Do not try to repair the device yourself in case of any malfunction. If the need arises, contact Apex customer service. The system does not require any special maintenance, except for standard physical cleaning to ensure good air flow and the maintenance required by any electrical device connected with terminals that need to be tightened.

ORDERING INFORMATION

Part Number Description

FG-ED-00| APEX Edge Monitoring and Control Device
FG-ED-LT| APEX LTE add-on module
FG-MG-AA| APEX MCS Diesel / PV controller – any size
FG-MG-xx| APEX DNP3 add-on license for MCS
FG-MG-AB| APEX Diesel / PV / Battery – up to 250kw AC
FG-MG-AE| APEX Diesel / PV / Battery – 251kw AC and up
FG-MG-AC| APEX DNP3 controller
FG-MG-AF| APEX Diesel / PV controller “LITE” up to 250kw

WARRANTY

The Apex Edge Device is warranted to be free from defects for a period of 2 years from purchase, subject to Apex’s Warranty terms and conditions, a copy of which is available at: www.apexsolar.tech

SUPPORT
You can contact our support centre for technical assistance with this product or the associated services.

PRODUCT SUPPORT
When contacting Product Support via telephone or email please provide the following information for the fastest possible service:

• Type of Inverter
• Serial number
• Battery type
• Battery bank capacity
• Battery bank voltage
• Communications type used
• A description of the event or problem
• MCS serial number (available on product label)

CONTACT DETAILS

• Telephone : +27 (0) 80 782 4266
• Online : https://www.rubiconsa.com/pages/support
• Email : [email protected]
• Address : Rubicon SA 1B Hansen Close, Richmond Park, Cape Town, South Africa

You can reach technical support by telephone directly Monday to Friday between 08h00 and 17h00 (GMT +2 hours). Queries outside of these hours should be directed to [email protected] and will be answered at the earliest opportunity. When contacting technical support, please ensure that you have the above-listed information available

FAQ

Q: Where can I find the latest documentation for the Apex MCS Microgrid Controller?
A: You can download all latest version documents including manuals, datasheets, and warranty terms from www.ApexSolar.Tech.

Q: What should I do if I suspect transport damage to the MCS upon receiving the package?
A: If you notice any signs of damage to the packaging or the device upon receipt, do not proceed with the installation. Contact Apex customer service for further assistance.

Q: Who should handle the installation and replacement of the Microgrid Controller?
A: The system should only be installed, handled, and replaced by qualified personnel to ensure safety and proper functioning.

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