PFC-20, PFC-30 &PFC-40 Charger

Owner’s Manual
Rev 3.1©2013 Manzanita Micro LLC

The information date is: 06/07/2013

Manzanita Micro reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice, and is not
responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

1

CONTENTS
IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNINGS.. 3
IMPORTANT BATTERY SAFETY INFORMATION 4
GENERAL OVERVIEW 5
KEY FEATURES LIST. 6
DIMENSIONS AND SPECIFICATIONS 7
CHARGER OPERATION. 8- Photo of Charger Face With Callouts. 8- Volts Trim ~ Adjusting the Peak Charging Voltage Limit.. 9-10
- Volts Trim using optional Digipot Push-Button Adjuster.. 10-11- Reg Bus ~ Basic Info.......... 12- Descriptions of Panel LED Indicators.....12-13- Dip Switches.. 14
WIRING YOUR MANZANITA MICRO CHARGER.. 15- Connecting the Charger to the Battery Pack 15- Connecting the Charger to the Wall 16- PFC20 Wiring. 17- PFC30 Wiring. 17- PFC40 Wiring. 18- Running Your PFC Charger on DC instead of AC... 18- 120V Standard Adapter Drawing for PFC20 & PFC30. 19- 120V Standard Adapter Drawing for PFC40.. 20- Reg Bus Wiring & Pin-out Info.. 21- Reg Bus Cable Construction.....22-24- New 8A Control Board Additional Features...24-25- AC Line Power Meter Options....26- Optional Rear Control Port for Current Control or J1772...27- Remote Current Knob............................................................27-29- Older Charger Sheet Metal Front Image...............................29- Auto Restart Set Point Adjustment ..................................30-32
CONTACTING MANZANITA MICRO.......................32

2

READ THIS FIRST!
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND PRODUCT MANUALS AVAILABLE AT: www.manzanitamicro.com

CAUTION: Your PFC-Charger uses High Voltage DC and AC electricity.
The chargers have been designed to be adaptable for use with many different battery types andvoltages. It is the responsibility of the end user to properly set up the charger making necessary
adjustments so that it can work with their unique system. With such flexibility, the charger is intended
to be able to be configured for use in various experimental applications and Manzanita Micro LLC and
its employees, contractors and affiliates cannot be responsible for any damages due to any Manzanita
Micro product that has been set up by the end user. There are too many variables out of Manzanita
Micro's control. It is entirely the responsibility of the end user to make sure that they are competent towork with potentially lethal voltages and that they have a solid understanding of how to safely integrate
the Manzanita Micro product(s) into their application.
The information contained in this warning and in the product manuals is intended to be used as a guideto better familiarize oneself with the product(s) but Manzanita Micro has no control over how the
information will be used or not used and cannot possibly foresee all possible configurations that a user
may come up with.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Do not work on the PFC-Charger or attempt to use one if you are not qualified
Observe the owner’s manual procedures and cautions
Avoid working on an electric vehicle while it’s charging
ALWAYS assume that high voltage is present
Use electrical tape or another suitable insulators to cover all exposed high voltage connection
points. Use properly insulated tools to reduce the likelihood of the tool completing a current path
6. DO NOT USE A CONDUCTIVE METAL SCREW DRIVER TO ADJUST THE VOLTS TRIM ON YOURCHARGER!
7. When using a Manzanita Micro BMS with older charger models the regbus GND return line is NOTISOLATED FROM MAIN BATTERY PACK NEGATIVE! Never touch or create a path from the regbus
conductors to any battery in the pack or serious shock could occur!
8. Disconnect all other non-isolated chargers from the battery pack and from line current
9. Make sure there is NO PATH TO GROUND or the vehicle chassis from any portion of the mainbattery pack.
10. Make sure the polarity is correct BEFORE you hook the battery pack to the charger cable.
11. Make sure the area around and above the workplace is clean and dry
12. Do not compress or set heavy objects on the charger. Deforming the case can result in shorting theinternal circuit boards to the case.
13. DO NOT operate this charger unloaded! A battery pack must always be plugged in to the DC output
plug from the charger if it is turned on!
FAILURE TO HEED THESE WARNINGS AS WELL AS THE BATTERY WARNINGS ON THE BACK OF THISSHEET MAY RESULT IN PHYSICAL INJURY, DEATH, OR DAMAGE TO YOUR CHARGER, BMS OR
OTHER EQUIPMENT WHICH WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER YOUR WARRANTY.
IT IS RISKY TO PLUG ANY BATTERY CHARGER INCLUDING MANZANITA MICRO CHARGERS INTO
GENERATORS. MANY GENERATORS ESPECIALLY THE LESS EXPENSIVE GENSETS DO NOT HAVE A
CLEAN, WELL REGULATED, PREDICTABLE OUTPUT AND THEY CAN CREATE HIGH VOLTAGE SPIKES
WHICH CAN DAMAGE COMPONENTS IN THE CHARGER. SOME CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD SUCCESSWITH HIGH END PURE SINE WAVE COMPUTER GRADE GENERATORS BUT MANZANITA MICROCANNOT RECOMMEND A SPECIFIC MODEL AT THIS TIME AND CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY
DAMAGE DUE TO GENERATORS OR OTHER POWER SOURCE PROBLEMS.

3

BATTERY NOTES!
CAUTION: Your PFC-Charger can output over 400 volts DC and many thousands of watts of electrical
power! It is imperative that the end user have a clear understanding of how to safely charge their
particular battery!
Manzanita Micro sells very flexible charging systems that can be used with almost any type of battery.
Manzanita Micro chargers are used in all sorts of applications. Manzanita Micro LLC cannot be held
responsible for any problems arising from the improper use of the charger or BMS with a battery packor other storage device.
FAILURE TO OPERATE BATTERIES OR OTHER ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES WITHIN THEIR SAFEDESIGN PARAMETERS CAN RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC FAILURES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
FIRE, EXPLOSION, TOXIC FUMES, EXCESSIVE HEAT, THE RELEASE OF CAUSTIC OR POISONOUS
MATERIALS, PHYSICAL DEFORMATION AND VARIOUS OTHER POTENTIALLY LETHAL SITUATIONS.
ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION AND OTHER PROPER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WHEN
WORKING AROUND BATTERIES. UNDERSTAND THE SAFE HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS AND
IMPORTANT SPECIFICATIONS OF YOUR PARTICULAR BATTERY PACK OR ENERGY STORAGE
DEVICE! IF EVER IN DOUBT, CONTACT THE BATTERY MANUFACTURER!
NEVER ALLOW MORE THAN ONE PERSON TO WORK ON THE SAME HIGH VOLTAGE SYSTEM ORBATTERY PACK AT THE SAME TIME. IF TWO OR MORE PEOPLE ARE TOUCHING PARTS OF THE
SYSTEM IT IS EASIER TO COMPLETE A CIRCUIT AND CAUSE ELECTROCUTION. WHILE MULTIPLE
PEOPLE SHOULD NEVER WORK ON THE SAME SYSTEM, IT IS ADVISABLE TO HAVE MORE THAN ONEPERSON NEAR BY WHENEVER ONE PERSON IS WORKING WITH HIGH VOLTAGE.
NEVER TOUCH ANYBODY WHILE THEY ARE WORKING ON A HIGH VOLTAGE SYSTEM OR BATTERYPACK! IF SOMEONE IS GETTING SHOCKED AND CANNOT LET GO OF THE ELECTRICAL SOURCE, THE
EXTRA PERSON CAN SAFELY DISCONNECT THE ELECTRICAL SUPPLY AND/OR GET HELP. IF IT IS
NOT POSSIBLE TO DISCONNECT THE SUPPLY, AND IF PROPERLY INSULATED EQUIPMENT IS
AVAILABLE THEN THE EXTRA PERSON MAY USE A DEVICE SUCH AS AN INSULATED HUMAN HOOK
TO PULL THE PERSON BEING SHOCKED AWAY FROM THE ELECTRICITY. NEVER EVER TOUCH
SOMEONE WHO IS BEING SHOCKED!
Manzanita Micro chargers are very powerful. Do not exceed the safe charging rates as specified by yourparticular battery manufacturer!
Manzanita Micro chargers are capable of outputting any charging voltage from 12 to 450 volts DC. It is
up to the end user to understand the safe voltage range for their particular battery, cell, battery pack orother energy storage device. Do not exceed the peak charging voltage given by the battery
manufacturer. Carefully read the Manzanita Micro Owner’s Manual(s) for your particular product(s). For
chargers, it is essential to understand how to properly set the peak charging limit using the volts trim
potentiometer or optional digipot. For BMS (Battery Management Systems) it is imperative that the user
makes sure that the BMS is properly set to match the safe and appropriate parameters for their
particular make and model of battery and that the BMS can communicate with the charger.
Ask the battery manufacturer for all parameters on how to safely charge their batteries and do not use
any charger or BMS if you cannot properly tune the equipment to meet those specifications.

4

PFC-20/30/40 SERIESBATTERY CHARGERMANUALREV 3.1

General Overview
The Manzanita Micro PFC chargers are a unique group of powerful, efficient battery
chargers. The chargers will operate on any voltage from 100 up to 240 volts AC.
The chargers can be set to run automatically when plugged in, yet they also have far
more user adjustable functions than other electric vehicle chargers. Every model isuser adjustable to charge batteries from 12 to 450 Volts DC. All the chargers are
power factor corrected and are available with enhanced options such as AC input
power displays. With so much flexibility and models from 20 to 75amps, your PFC
charger may be the last charger you ever need to buy.
Speed and Efficiency
The essential ingredient for fast recharge times is to deliver as much power to thebattery as practical. The key to polite opportunity charging is to be able to shareoutlets with other equipment and make efficient use of limited current. The
Manzanita Micro PFC line of chargers has an adjustable current throttle knob toallow the chargers to be turned down to operate on very limited power sources.
Efficiency is usually well over 90% and power factor is typically better than 0.9.
What does the PFC mean?
PFC stands for Power Factor Corrected. The Manzanita Micro PFC chargers havespecial circuitry to make sure the voltage and current are drawn in unity, so that theapparent power (Volt-amps) is very close to the real power (Watts). This ratio of
apparent power to real power is the power factor and it is expressed as a number
5between 0 and 1. The closer to 1 the better. Manzanita Micro PFC chargers
generally have a very high power factor number which means less wasted energy.

PFC-20/30/40 SERIESCHARGER FEATURES•Power Factor Corrected•Every charger easily runs on 110/120V and 220/240V•Easy ‘Amps’ adjustment knob allows users to quick-tune the charger to pullmaximum amps from the incoming power source•Optional current control port for remote amperage control or J1772 control•User adjustable peak charge voltage allows users to adapt charger to any
battery voltage from 12 to 450 volts•Up to 9,600 watts of power from a unit that weighs less than 20 lbs (9kg) and isabout the size of a shoe box•Reg bus port for easy integration with Manzanita Micro BMS (also compatible
with other Battery Management Systems)•Self regulating thermal protection•Active variable speed fan cooling•Water cooling option•Input line voltage, line current, wattage and power factor meter option•Adjustable absorption phase (end of charge) timer function•Ability to enable auto restart mode
•Ability to enable timed charging mode
•Standard PFC-20 and PFC40HM (PHEV) models can run on both AC or DC
voltage (* Buck enhanced models can also run on DC if modified)•Now with a latched timer mode
•Float charge option possible with new 8A control board

6•Chargers with 8A or newer control board have 2 additional peak voltage set
points and one additional amperage set point which can be enabled via the
4pin RJ connection on the blue face plate
Dimensions, Specifications and Mounting

The PFC-20, PFC-30 and PFC-40 chargers weigh approximately 18 pounds (8.2 kg)
The maximum outermost dimensions including foot flanges and protrusions areapproximately: 14” L x 10.5” W x 5.75” H (358mm x 264mm x 145mm)
Input Voltage Range :100 to 240VAC 40-80Hz computer grade pure sine wave.
Output Voltage Range : 12 to 450VDC ( +/- 1 volt )Operating Temp Range : -20° F to +120° F ( -28.8° C to +48.8° C )Power Consumption : Up to 9.6kW ~ PFC40 / 7.2kW ~ PFC30 / 4.8kW ~ PFC20
The 20, 30 or 40 nomenclature is indicative of how many amps that charger is rated
to draw from the AC input power line. Unlike some other chargers, this is the rated
continuous load and all units are thoroughly tested to their rated limits before leaving
Manzanita Micro. An optional multifunction panel mount meter is available whichdisplays the amount of current (amps) that the charger is drawing off the AC line aswell as the AC Line voltage, total wattage and power factor. This information allows
for fine tuning to get maximum power from wall outlets without tripping breakers andit also provides a way to estimate charging time based on the watts being used.
The charger can be mounted in any orientation as long as it has adequate airflow
and is protected from sucking in moisture and debris. All chargers are designed toautomatically cut back current when they exceed their temperature limits. If the7yellow limits light starts blinking and the charger's current cuts back, it is likely more
airflow is needed. The fans push the air out through the front of the charger,
therefore, mounting the unit such that the control face is pointing upward is probably
the most efficient since heat rises.
Charger Operation

figure 02. Charger Layout Since November 2012(see final section for older chargers)
Turning the Charger On and Off
There is an ON/OFF Breaker to the right of the front exhaust port (or coolant fittingson liquid cooled models). This breaker is the main switch to turn the charger on oroff. If ever there is a concern while charging first shut off this breaker switch.
NOTICE! DO NOT unplug the gray SB-50 Anderson connectors (DC line) fromyour charger while it is charging! If the battery pack is disconnected while thecharger is putting out power the charger can be damaged. Failure to heed thesewarnings may result in significant internal damage to the charger which is notcovered under your warranty!

8

User Control Panel
The user interface panel is the long blue panel with white or yellow text near the topof the PFC charger. It is important to familiarize yourself with the LED indicators,
the VOLTS TRIM potentiometer (if so equipped) and the adjustable AMPS knob.
Below are explanations of each feature in order from left to right. Refer to figure 02
or the 8A Control Board section (figure 13) for specific locations.
“VOLTS TRIM”
This critical adjustment potentiometer controls the peak DC voltage ceiling that the
charger will allow the batteries to reach before limiting the current. Unless specified
otherwise, the DC output voltage limit is specifically calibrated and set by Manzanita
Micro to 48 volts. In the event that adjustment is desired, please follow the
instructions below. Starting in 2010, a special insulated screw driver for adjusting thevolts trim is shipped with each new Manzanita PFC charger.
ATTENTION! If your charger has an optional Digipot push-button device for peakvoltage adjustment please see the section immediately after this one titled: Optional
Digipot Peak Voltage Adjustment.
NOTICE! Always use an appropriately sized insulated screw driver when adjusting
the voltage trim potentiometer. Suitable drivers are available for purchase from
Manzanita Micro or other electronics components manufacturers. (Mouser part #:594-8T000, Vishay/Spectrol Adjust Tool, www.mouser.com)

figure 03. Adjustment Tool # 008T000
NOTE: If the battery pack is not heated for any reason such as outdoors in a cold
climate, the peak charging voltage threshold may need to be raised in order toassure a complete charge. This is especially true for lead acid batteries. Many users
turn the volts trim to the absolute maximum safe level for the batteries during thewinter and then back down to normal during the summer months. Always consult
your battery manufacturer for information on the peak “fully charged” voltage
specifications and how they might change based on temperature.
NOTE: The peak voltage regulation set point on a Manzanita Micro charger isaccurate to within 5 volts or less. Follow the “Volts Trim Calibration” instructions on
the next page and make the initial adjustment with the amps knob completely down
so that no current is flowing. Gradually turn up the amps knob and nudge the volts
trim potentiometer up accordingly. Use caution on the first charge cycle and makesure to check that the point at which the charger volts trim (peak voltage) limit isreached is really the correct voltage for your specific batteries.
VOLTS TRIM CALIBRATION WITH ORIGINAL ROTARY POTENTIOMETER:
9

Final tuning is best accomplished when the battery pack is fully charged. The lower
the state of charge, the more the user will need to monitor and adjust the unit during
the first charge cycle.
1.

Turn the amps knob all the way down (full counterclockwise).

2.

Make sure the charger is plugged into the battery pack and that there are no open breakers oropen fuses in the DC battery circuit.

3.

With the charger’s AC breaker switch in the OFF position, plug the charger into the AC power
outlet.

4.

Now turn ON the charger’s AC breaker switch. The fans should come on.

5.

Using an appropriate insulated screw driver, stick it into the VOLTS TRIM access hole (seefigure 04) and turn the internal adjustment potentiometer until you find the threshold where theyellow LIMITS LED changes state. If the yellow LED is off, turn the trim pot counterclockwise
to get it to turn on. If the yellow LED is on, turn the trim pot clockwise to get it to go off. Once
you find the threshold where the LED changes states, the cutoff voltage is set to the actual
battery voltage and the charger will not charge the pack above this voltage. Therefore, when
you are ready to charge you will need to turn the trim pot clockwise to raise this voltage
ceiling. Turn the AMPS knob up until you can put the amount of amps you want into thebattery pack while not letting the batteries go over their peak voltage limit according to thebattery manufacturer’s data. (Note: This pot can be turned many times)

When the battery pack voltage hits the peak limit the yellow LIMITS LED will comeon along with the flashing blue TIMER LED and the charger cuts back.

figure 04. VOLTS TRIM Adjustment
OPTIONAL DIGIPOT PEAK VOLTAGE ADJUSTMENT
10

This critical push-button potentiometer controls the peak DC voltage ceiling that the
charger will allow the batteries to reach before limiting the current. Unless specified
otherwise, the voltage limit is set by Manzanita Micro to 48 volts. In the event that
adjustment is desired, please refer to Figure 05 and follow the instructions on thenext page. When the battery pack voltage hits the peak limit the yellow LIMITS LED
will come on along with the flashing blue TIMER LED and the charger cuts back.

Figure 05 : Optional Digipot Peak Voltage Adjustment

IMPORTANT WARNING!
It is not recommended to change the digipot when the charger is moving power. Simply pressing even one of
the buttons on the digipot can drastically and immediately change the charger's peak output voltage! It is the full
responsibility of the end-user to make sure that the digipot is set to a value that is safe for the energy sourcethat the charger's output power is connected to! Furthermore, the numbers on the digipot may not be exactly
accurate down to the volt so users should check at the end of the first charge with a calibrated voltmeter tomake sure the yellow limits light comes on and the PFC charger is not exceeding the maximum safe voltage
level for the customer's given scenario.
The optional digipot makes it very easy to adjust the peak voltage set point, therefore it is up to the user tocheck and make sure that no person or thing changed the voltage setting to a level inappropriate for the battery
pack being charged. The digipot displays the approximate peak voltage set point level reading from left to right.
So in Figure 05, the example photo shows the digipot set at 190 meaning that the charger's maximum output
voltage should be about 190 volts DC.
The digipot display is similar to an odometer in a vehicle. Pressing the “+” button above a numeric digit will
increase that digit by one whole number until the number “9” is reached at which point if it is pressed again it will
drop back to “0”Pressing the “-” button below a numeric digit will decrease that digit by one whole number until “0” (zero) isreached at which point if it is pressed again, it will jump up to “9”.
WARNING! Be very careful especially with the left-most digipot buttons that it never get's accidentally set to ahigh number like “9” because that would make the charger try and output maximum voltage up to 900+ volts
which could damage the battery pack! The internal limit on the charger should be set at 450VDC and so even if
it doesn't put out 900 volts, setting the digipot to display any number greater than 450 should make it
automatically output at least up to 450VDC!

11

When the battery pack voltage hits the peak limit the yellow LIMITS LED will come on along with the flashingblue TIMER LED and the charger will cut back.
NOTE: If the battery pack is not heated for any reason such as outdoors in a cold climate, the peak charging
voltage threshold will likely need to be raised in order to assure a complete charge. This is especially true forlead acid batteries. Many users turn the volts trim to the absolute maximum safe level for the batteries during
the winter and then back down to normal during the summer months. Always consult your battery manufacturer
for information on the peak “fully charged” voltage specifications and how they change based on temperature.
Use caution on the first charge cycle and make sure to check that the point at which the charger volts trim limit
is reached is really the correct voltage for your specific batteries.

“REG BUS”
This is the 6 pin RJ jack where the BMS communication line plugs into the charger.
This port allows the individual battery regulators to communicate with the charger.
For more information on the specific reg bus pins refer to the “Reg Bus Wiring”
section later in this manual.
NOTICE! If your vehicle is equipped with a Manzanita Micro Battery Management
System, ensure that the reg bus data cable is fully plugged into the charger
whenever the vehicle is charging. The communication data cables are hooked to theregulators in a daisy chain fashion. Make sure that each of the smaller data cables
are all plugged in where they should be before charging. If there is an unplugged
portion of the reg bus, the charger cannot communicate with the regs and this
could cause overcharging and potential fire! The RJ connectors are similar tophone cord connectors and they are designed to snap into place and stayconnected. If a cable is disconnected insure that it is fully reconnected. An audible*click* should be heard when the RJ plug is fully inserted and it should not be able tobe pulled out without first pinching the small plastic tab underneath the plug. For
more information on reg bus cables refer to the “Reg Bus Wiring” section later in thismanual.
“POWER” - Green LED
The bright green POWER LED indicates when the charger is on. Input power isbeing supplied to the unit and the main breaker is in the ON position.
“WARN” - Red LED
The red WARN LED should blink briefly when the charger is first powered up andthen remain off for the duration of the charge. If this indicator stays on, turn down
the AMPS knob immediately, turn off the charger’s breaker switch and consult
Manzanita Micro or a qualified service technician. This LED could indicate an overvoltage or over temperature condition. It could also be indicative of an open circuit
condition in the pack. Turn down the AMPS knob and check to make sure there is
no open circuit condition in the battery pack. Check the gray SB-50 Anderson
connector to insure that it is tightly connected and look for other disconnectedbattery cables. If the charger will not work and the circuit is complete, contact
Manzanita Micro.
NOTICE! DO NOT let the charger try to put current into the battery pack if there isan open circuit condition anywhere in the circuit. Never unplug the gray SB-50
12

Anderson connectors (DC line) from your charger while it is charging! If the battery
pack is disconnected while the charger is putting out power the charger can bedamaged. Failure to heed these warnings may result in significant internal
damage to the charger which is not covered under your warranty!

“AMPS” Knob
The AMPS knob allows the user to adjust how much current the charger will move.
If the vehicle is always plugged in to the same circuit this shouldn’t need any
adjusting but if the user were to have it set at 35 amps and then plug into a 15 amp
110V outlet it will quickly open a circuit breaker or fuse on the AC line. The vehicle
operator may wish to adjust this knob when the charger is plugged in to a public
outlet especially if there is no easy access to the electrical panel for that circuit.
Additionally, the user might need to turn down the charger if there are other loads on
the branch circuit (example: A stereo and a computer are running on the same 15
amp circuit). If using a charger equipped with the panel mount meter, the user cancheck the digital current meter on the front of the PFC unit and see exactly how
many amps the charger is drawing off of the AC line.
“LIMITS” - Yellow LED
The yellow LIMITS LED indicates that the charger has reached its peak voltage limit.
This should happen only at the end of the charge cycle when all the batteries are
fully charged. The LIMITS indicator should be accompanied by the blinking blue
TIMER LED which indicates that the charger is in current cutback mode and thetimer is counting down to the end of charge.
If the yellow LIMITS LED is blinking, then it is indicating that there is an overtemperature condition and the charger is in thermal cutback mode.
NOTE: When using regulators, the blue TIMER LED will often come on before the
LIMITS LED because the battery regulators let the charger know when the batteries
are getting full before the voltage limit is reached. If the LIMITS light is coming on
frequently or before most of the regs are blinking, this could be indicative of a few
batteries whose voltages are getting too high. It could also mean that someone has
improperly adjusted the VOLTS TRIM. Consult your battery regulator user’s manualor recalibrate the VOLTS TRIM setting on the charger.
“TIMER” - Blue LED
The blue TIMER LED indicates that the charge is complete or near completion. If it
is flashing it means that charging is almost finished and the charger is backing off
the current and counting down the timeout timer. When the blue LED is steady, itmeans that the timeout timer has ended and the charger has finished charging thepack. At this point the charger should be putting out no power and drawing less thanan amp off the input line.
13

“TIMER ADJ”
This stands for timer adjustment. This is a small 16 position rotary switch whichallows the user to adjust the amount of time that the charger takes in constantvoltage mode, while cutting back current at the end of a charge cycle before it shuts
off completely. If the switch is at ‘0’ then the timer will time out instantly - do not use
this setting. (‘0’ is the 3-o-clock position when viewed from the front). If the switch isat ‘3:00’ it will go for 15 minutes before completely cutting back power. Each
additional tick after ‘1’ adds 10 more minutes to the charge cutback time. Turning
the switch clockwise all the way around to the 2:30 position will give the maximum
amount of time.
To reset the timer after it has started turn off thepower to the charger and then turn the power on
again.
“DIP SWITCHES”
The red and white dip switch module is on the upper right end of the charger. This isa bank of 8 switches and they are numbered starting with #1 on the far right.
NOTICE! Adjusting these switches can cause the charger to perform in an
undesirable manner! Please be sure you understand these switch features beforechanging them. Pull switches down to turn them on. The image above shows thefactory preset positions. NEVER CHANGE DIP SWITCH #4! IT MUST REMAIN ON!
Dip Switch Guide:1.

Engages timer at peak voltage limit set point. This switch should be ON.
If the pack drops below the peak voltage limit, the timer will turn off again.

2.

Starts timer as soon as the charger is turned on. This can be used for timed
charging. This switch should be OFF.

3.

Starts timer when the reg bus commands. This switch should be ON.
If the reg bus stops sending the signal, the timer will turn off again.

4.

Future feature switch. THIS SWITCH MUST ALWAYS BE ON!

5.

Future low battery detection feature. This switch should be OFF.

6.

AGM battery equalization. When using Mk2 series battery regulators, this willallow the batteries to climb to a slightly higher voltage for equalization at the endof charge. It also commands the yellow LEDs on each reg to turn on. This
switch should be OFF.

7.

When the high voltage limit is set the charger stops moving power immediately.
The timer is not used at all when in this mode. This should be OFF.

8.

Auto restart function. This allows the charger to restart charging when the battery
pack reaches the low voltage set point. This switch should be OFF unless using

14

the auto restart feature which is set by VR6 behind the front faceplate (see figure
13).

NOTE: Dip switch #6 can be useful if you have a Manzanita Micro BMS because
you can momentarily switch it on and the yellow lights on all the regs should comeon. If any do not illuminate, you can use this feature to narrow down which regs are
not communicating with the charger or find bad reg bus communication cables.
NOTE: In mid 2010, a new 4 pin RJ receptacle was added to the front of the charger
allowing for activation of various extra preset voltage and current levels. For more
information please refer to the 8A Control Board section at the end of this manual.
Wiring your Manzanita Micro Charger
Your PFC-20, 30 or 40 charger has two main power cables coming out of the rear of
the case (see final section for older models) The lower cable is for the incoming
power (usually AC from a wall outlet) and the top cable is the charger’s DC output.
Connecting the Charger to the Battery Pack
The DC output cable has a gray SB-50 Anderson connector on it. This SB-50 isquite common on EV battery chargers and we recommend that you leave this plugon the cord. The SB-50 connector has clearly marked positive and negative sides.
Of the three DC wires coming out of the charger white is positive, black is negativeand green is an optional vehicle chassis ground connection. Measure the distancefrom your most positive battery terminal to your PFC charger’s SB-50 connector. Cut
a #6 AWG or thicker cable to the appropriate length and solder or crimp theappropriate size SB-50 contact onto one end of the cable. It is recommended thatyou use bright orange cable with a good insulation and voltage rating in excess of
your fully charged pack voltage. (Bright orange Carol brand Super Vu-Tron welding
cable is an excellent solution.) Place red heat shrink or red electrical tape aroundthe cable near each end to clearly designate it as the positive cable and then using
a matching gray SB-50 connector, push the SB-50 contact end of the positive cable
into the positive side of the SB-50 until it clicks and locks in place.
Measure the distance from your most negative battery terminal to your PFC
charger’s SB-50 connector. Follow the same procedure as for the positive side only
use black heat shrink or black electrical tape around the cable near each end toclearly designate this as the negative cable. Push the SB-50 pin end of this negative
cable into the negative side of the SB-50 until it clicks and locks in place.

15

figure 07: DC Battery Side User-Built Example Power Cable
Now you should have a gray SB-50 connector with a positive and negative wirecoming out. (See figure 07) Use the appropriate lug or connector for your battery
terminal and connect it onto the other end of each cable. Connect the positive cableto the most positive terminal of the battery pack. Connect the negative cable to themost negative terminal of the battery pack. Double check that the polarity is correct
and then plug the battery pack SB-50 into the DC output SB-50 coming from the
PFC charger (see figure 08). Now the charger is connected to the pack and you areready to hook up the charger’s input power.

16

figure 08
Connecting the Charger to the Wall
Looking at the charger chassis where the big black cables are attached you will see
the letters AC printed next to one of the cables and this is for the incoming power forthe charger. A great feature of the Manzanita Micro PFC line of chargers is thatthey are capable of operating easily from 110,120, 208, 220, 230 or 240 volts ofsingle phase AC power. In fact some models can even be run from DC but mostusers are plugging them into an AC wall outlet of some sort. Standard PFC-30,
PFC-40 and other buck enhanced chargers must be modified to run off DC, see the“Running Your PFC Charger on DC instead of AC” section later in this manual.
NOTE: The brass stud in the rear of newer chargers should be connected to thevehicle chassis to ensure a solid ground connection. This stud can be seen in figure
15 which is toward the end of this manual.
Ohm’s law states that Volts x Amps = Watts of power and there are a certain
number of “Watt Hours” stored in your battery pack and available to power yourelectric vehicle. Based on the V*A=Watts equation it is easy to see that more voltsor amps (or both) equates to more total watts which means more electrical power
moving, and thus faster charging.
Your Manzanita Micro PFC charger can be powered by any input voltage within the
100-240V range and there are no input voltage adjustment switches to move whenchanging between outlets of different voltages. The only thing which may need17

adjustment on the charger is the big “Amps” knob on the front. Turn this knob up or
down depending on the amperage available from the outlet. With the “Amps” knob
in the most clockwise position a PFC-20 can draw up to 20 amps, a PFC-30 candraw up to 30A and a PFC-40 can draw up to 40A.
EXAMPLE: A PFC-40 plugged into a standard 120V outlet at 15 amps would be
able to draw about 1,800 watts (120x15 = 1,800). The same PFC-40 plugged into a
240V outlet at 50 amps could draw up to 40A so that would be about 9,600 watts,
meaning a charge time that is over 5 times faster than in the 120V scenario.
PFC-20 Wiring
The PFC-20 is shipped with no connector on the 3-wire AC input cable. To attach
the PFC-20’s input cable to a common 110/120V three prong 5-15 or 5-20 plug run
the green (GND) wire to the ground prong, the white wire to the silver screw terminalof one of the straight prongs and the black (line) wire to the brass screw terminal of
the other straight prong. If you want to connect your PFC-20’s input cable to a
220/240V three prong plug like a NEMA 10-30, run the green wire to the groundprong and then the white and black wires to either of the two hot prongs.
PFC-30 Wiring
The PFC-30 is shipped with a NEMA 14-30 on the 4-wire AC input cable. Pleaseleave this attached and make adapter cords if you intend to change what it plugs
into. To attach the PFC-30’s input cable to a common 110/120V three prong 5-15 or
5-20 plug, purchase a 14-30 receptacle and make an adapter exactly as shown infigure 09. If you wish to make an adapter cord to connect your PFC-30’s input cable
to a 220/240V three prong plug (like a NEMA 10-30, 10-40 or 6-50), use a 14-30
receptacle and simply disregard the white wire and the angled neutral prong. Run
the green wire to the ground prong and then the red and black wires to either of thetwo hot prongs. Since there is no neutral in the older 3 prong 220/240V plugs simply
disregard the fact that your PFC charger has a 4 prong plug on it.
The PFC-30 and PFC-40 chargers come with a 4 wire AC input cable but do notever use the white neutral wire for anything. Even though there is a 4-wire plug on
the unit, the white wire should never be connected to anything.

PFC-40 Wiring
The PFC-40 is shipped with a NEMA 14-50 on the 4-wire AC input cable. Pleaseleave this attached and make adapter cords if you intend to change what it plugs in
to. The 14-50 outlet is very common for electric ovens in homes, at RV parks with
50A service and even at some public charging stations.
To attach the PFC-40’s input cable to a common 110/120V three prong 5-15 or 5-20
plug purchase a 14-50 receptacle and make an adapter exactly as shown in figure1810. If you wish to make an adapter cord to connect your PFC-40’s input cable to a
220/240V three prong plug (like a NEMA 10-30, 10-40 or 6-50), use a 14-50
receptacle and simply disregard the white wire and the middle straight neutral prong.
Run the green wire to the ground prong and then the red and black wires to either of
the two hot prongs.
The PFC-30 and PFC-40 chargers come with a 4 wire AC input cable but do notever use the White neutral wire for anything. Even though there is a 4-wire plug on
the unit, the white wire should never be connected to anything.
Note: Any Manzanita Micro PFC-20, 30 or 40 charger can be plugged into a NEMA
14-50 outlet. The 50 amp rating is just what the outlet is capable of and the charger
will only draw as much as it is designed to use.
Running Your PFC Charger on DC instead of AC
You may have heard that Manzanita Micro chargers can run from both AC and DC
power. This is true under the right circumstances.
NOTICE! The Manzanita Micro chargers were primarily designed to run from an AC
power source. If you are planning to run one on DC power and it is damaged, repair
work will likely NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY! It should be noted thatthe primary on/off circuit breaker on the charger is only AC rated. For thisreason, we recommend installing an appropriate DC rated breaker or fuse on
the input side when powering any Manzanita charger with DC.
There are two Manzanita Micro PFC charger models which can be run from DC
power without having to make any internal adjustments to the unit. These uniquemodels are the standard PFC-20 and the PFC-40HM. Some pre-2011 standard
PFC-50 chargers may work as well but check with Manzanita Micro to be sure.
If you are running a charger on DC power, it is advisable to keep the input voltage
between 100 and 390VDC. The lowest voltage that will get the charger to turn on isabout 60VDC. The absolute highest acceptable DC input voltage is 400V. NEVER
EVER EXCEED THE 400VDC MAXIMUM INPUT VOLTAGE!!
NOTE: The buck enhanced chargers including the PFC-20B, the standard PFC-30
and PFC-40 and the PFC-50B and PFC-75 chargers can be modified to run on DC
by disconnecting the buck sensor unit and adding a jumper over two pins on thecontrol board. Contact Manzanita Micro for more information if you if you are really
determined to run a buck enhanced charger from a DC power source.

19

figure 09. PFC-20/30 Adapter Wiring

20

figure 10. PFC-40 Adapter Wiring
21

Reg Bus Wiring
The Reg Bus Interface:
The REG BUS communicates to the charger when any BMS regulators are
regulating and also if any regs are too hot. The charger uses this information todetermine when to turn down the charge current and when to turn off the charger.
The interface contains six wires connected with their respective pins as follows:
1. WHITE : Power supply (+5 volt DC)
2. BLACK : Reg over voltage condition (reg ON or reg hot) +5V will activate thisline and tell the charger to stop charging
3. RED : Under voltage condition – 0V on this line means under voltage active
4. GREEN : Power supply return (GND) – Refers to charger’s Batt Neg line
CAUTION: The GND return is NOT isolated on older charger models!
5. YELLOW : Rudman bus negative
6. BLUE : Rudman bus positive
Note: On the PFC Chargers the RJ plug is upside down so the pin count reads fromright to left as if backwards. Refer to figure 13 for a visual view. Also, if viewed fromthe bottom of the printed circuit board, pin #1 is the square pin.
The +5 and GND power comes from a 100 mA current limited power supply whichshould NOT be used to power any other non Manzanita Micro devices! All
measurements are made relative to the GND wire. It is important to verify all six ofthe wires are continuous throughout the system and pin-to-pin. AGAIN, DO NOTUSE THE REGBUS 5V POWER TO POWER ANYTHING ELSE!
NOTICE! On older models the Ground (GND) on the reg bus is also battery
negative on a PFC charger!
The primary functions of the REG BUS are:1. Supply power to the charger side of regs.
2. Support analog data exchange from regs to charger and analog control ofcharger by the regulators (or other BMS).
3. Support digital data transfer and control of regs via the Rudman Bus (modified
EVILbus).
Optimally, the charger will run at full current until the first battery regulator can nolonger keep up. Then the charger will cut back as necessary but continue movingsome current into the battery pack until every regulator or individual BMS cellchannel has come up to the fully charged voltage level. With new batteries, it may
first take several hours for the pack to go from the first one to top off until the last
one tops off. As the batteries become more synchronized with regular use, the timeshould be greatly reduced and ideally all of the batteries top off at the same time. At
the end of a battery pack's life, the time to equalize often gets longer again.
22

How hot to run the BMS regulators during the final absorption phase of charging is afunction of the ambient temperature and how fast the vehicle needs to get back into
service. Higher heat sink temperatures will make the absorption phase take lesstime but is more risky to the regulators. When the upper thermal threshold on aregulator has been reached, the reg will pull the hot reg line to +5 volts. This will tell
the charger to stop charging until the temperature of the heat sink drops below thethermal limit. Adding airflow across the regulators will dramatically help cooling theregs and speed up charge equalization by allowing more dissipation.
NOTICE! Manzanita Micro strongly advises air cooling of the BMS regulators for
maximum dissipation capability and longevity of the reg. For more information on
regulator cooling see the appropriate Manzanita Micro regulator manual for yourBMS.
Reg Bus Cable Construction;
The 6-wire RJ cable which is used to connect the regulators is a common datatransfer cable and is available at most any electronics store. The 6-pin connector
plugs are usually clear and it is easy to crimp them using an appropriate crimping
tool with a 6-pin die. These are also readily available.
NOTICE! RJ cable is quite rugged but take care not to cut or sharply bend (and/or
fatigue) the cable in order to avoid errors from broken internal wires. Additionally,follow the proper cable construction techniques listed below and make sure that all
the wires are installed in the correct orientation. (See figure 11.)
Proper Reg bus cable construction is not difficult but it requires keen attention todetail on the part of the person installing the plug ends onto the RJ cable. The
following steps tell how to correctly make a reg bus cable suitable for use with any 6Pin Manzanita Micro product.
Step 1:
Cut the RJ cable to the desired length. It is advisable to err on the longside because each of the cable’s ends will be pushed to the back of their respective
RJ receptacles.
Step 2:
Strip about a quarter inch of the thick “flat” outer jacket off of each endof the cable in order to expose the 6 colored wires inside. Most RJ crimping tools will
have a special wire stripping section with a guide which will allow you to quickly strip
the correct length of cable jacket off.
Step 3:
Hold the flat RJ cable in front of you in your left hand with one end
pointing towards you and one away from you.
Step 4:
Looking down at the cable in your hand make sure that the end facing
away from your body has the blue wire to the right side.
Step 5:
Now take an un-crimped plug-end in your right hand and with the tangoriented on the bottom side, slide the outward facing end of the flat RJ cable into theslot in the un-crimped plug. Make sure it is not crooked and push it all the way into
the un-crimped plug. (see figure 11.)23

figure 11. Correct RJ Cable Orientation
Step 6:
Double check that the blue wire is to the right side with the tangdown and then take the RJ crimping tool in your right hand. With your left hand push
the cable with un-crimped plug into the 6-pin die on the crimping tool.
Step 7:
While using your left hand to make sure that the RJ cable is firmly held
all the way into the connector, squeeze the crimping tool all the way with your righthand to complete the crimp.
If you have a clear plug-end, you can look in and make sure that each of the 6 metal
pins sank all the way down into their respective wires. Give the connector a slight
tug to make sure that it is adequately fastened and now you have created a proper
reg bus RJ cable end.
Follow the same steps on the other end of the cable and you are done. NOTE!
When crimping the second end of the cable, notice that you’ll have to flip it over inorder to again orient the blue wire to the right when the connector tang isfacing down. (see figure 12. )24

figure 12. Side View of Proper RJ Cable
New 8A Control Board Additional Features
Manzanita Micro improved the original charger control interface board and began
integration into production models in mid 2010. If your charger is equipped with the
new control board it will be evident by the new front faceplate which has an extra 4
pin RJ port in between the ‘POWER’ and ‘WARN’ indicators.
Behind the blue face plate panel there are now 3 additional potentiometers which
can be adjusted to allow for two extra peak voltage settings and one extra amperage
setting. Old chargers only had the one “VOLTS TRIM” potentiometer which adjusts
the main default peak charging voltage channel “A”. The new functions attached to
the new 4 pin RJ connection can be controlled as follows:
1. Pin 1 is for voltage channel “B”. If +12 volts is applied to pin 1 using pin 4 as theground, then the charger will accept the peak voltage setting of the RV7 pot.
2. Pin 2 is for voltage channel “C”. If +12 volts is applied to pin 2 using pin 4 as theground, then the charger will accept the peak voltage setting of the RV8 pot.
3. Pin 3 is for the optional amperage channel. If +12 volts is applied to pin 3 using
pin 4 as the ground, then the charger’s main “AMPS” knob will be overridden andamperage setting of the RV9 pot will be substituted.
4. Pin 4 is the ground return line and is the leftmost pin when viewing the front of thecharger head-on. For more details, refer to figure 13 and the table below it.
25

NOTE: If an attempt is made to activate more than one of the voltage channels at
the same time, the pin that was first activated will be the only channel that is active.
NOTE: Because the 4 pin RJ port is mounted to the bottom of the control board thepin count reads from right to left as if backwards (see figure 13 below).

figure 13. New 8A Control Board Exposed View
VR1
RV4
J2
VR6

RV7
RV8
J6

VR3
RV9

REG BUS ADJUSTMENT THRESHOLD
MAIN VOLTS TRIM CHANNEL A (PEAK CHARGING VOLTAGE)
ORIGINAL REG BUS PORT FOR MANZANITA MICRO BMSAUTO RESTART THRESHOLD ADJUSTMENT (SEE THE “AUTORESTART SET POINT ADJUSTMENT” SECTION FOR MORE
SPECIFIC INFORMATION)OPTIONAL VOLTS TRIM CHANNEL B
OPTIONAL VOLTS TRIM CHANNEL CREMOTE CONTROL PORT FOR OPTIONAL POTENTIOMETERS
PIN 1 : VOLTS TRIM B (+12V to activate)
PIN 2 : VOLTS TRIM C (+12V to activate)
PIN 3 : OPTIONAL AMPS ADJUSTMENT (+12V to activate)
PIN 4 : GROUND / RETURN LINE
MAIN AMPS ADJUSTMENT POTENTIOMETEROPTIONAL AMPS ADJUSTMENT POTENTIOMETER

NOTE: A four pin RJ plug must be used instead of the regular six pin that is used forthe reg bus. The four conductor wire is fairly easy to find as it is used for telephonecord. If using pre-made cords carefully observe the wiring colors to make sure thatthe cable is pin-to-pin where the wires are always oriented in the same way in bothcable ends similarly to the explanation in the six pin Regbus cable instructions.
Manzanita recommends Tang Down BLACK to the Right for the 4-wire cable.
AC Line Power Meter Options
As of January 1, 2011 Manzanita Micro includes a regular AC current meter built
into the front of all PFC-30, PFC-40, PFC-50 and PFC-75 chargers. This standard
display allows the user to see in real time exactly how many amps the Manzanita
Micro charger is drawing from the AC power source that it is plugged into. This26

makes it very easy to adjust the big amps knob to safely get the maximum numberof amps out of whatever you're plugged into.
There is now also a new and improved Multifunction Meter available as an upgrade
for any PFC charger model (see figure 14 below). The new Multifunction Meter candisplay input voltage, input current, total power being consumed (in kilowatts), andthe real-time Power Factor. Below the main display are 4 round LEDs which indicate
which function is being displayed. Press the blue "SEL" button momentarily to cycle
through which information is displayed. Holding the select button down will initiate acycling mode where the display will cycle through each display function
automatically.
This advanced meter provides very useful information for gauging power usage andefficiency levels under various charging circumstances. It also gives users an idea of
how good the power source is that they are plugged into.
The Power Factor (PF) function provides an idea of system efficiency. Best casewould be a PF of 1.00. Manzanita Micro chargers will display a higher power factor
when they are running at full power. The PF rating also will tend to be at its bestwhen charging a battery pack which is greater than or equal to the AC input line
voltage.

figure 14. New AC Multifunction Meter
Optional Rear Control Port For Current Control or SAE J1772
Since the end of 2012, Manzanita Micro PFC-20/30/40 series chargers haveincluded a new control port on the rear of the charger chassis.
This control port enables the charger's current level to be adjusted remotely either
27

by Manzanita Micro's special remote current knob (RCK) unit or by the Manzanita
Micro Smart Box. The Smart Box, accepts and interprets the SAE J1772
communication signal from external EVSE devices such as those found in modern
public charging stations. When the communication cable is plugged into this special
rear control port, then if the Smart Box is receiving a proper J1772 pilot signal, it willautomatically adjust the Manzanita Micro PFC charger to the appropriate maximum
amperage level that the J1772 EVSE can provide.

figure 15. Rear Optional Control Port above brass grounding
stud on PFC Chargers produced since the end of 2012
Remote Current Knob (RCK)Manzanita Micro chargers have always been famous for the easily adjustable
amperage control knob on the front of the charger. By being able to adjust the
charger's input amperage, the user can quickly turn the charger down when plugging
into a standard 15A 120V wall outlet and then easily turn it up to pull maximum
power from an RV outlet or Level 2 public charging station. The optional Manzanita
Micro Remote Current Knob or RCK now enables users to bury the charger deep inthe vehicle and adjust the current from a remote location.
The RCK is a simple box with an LED, a toggle switch and a knob. There are twoholes for easy mounting and a cable which connects to a special port on the rear of
the Gen 3 PFC battery chargers (see figure 15). This port can also be installed onany earlier model of charger if the user sends the charger back to the factory for themodification.
The main RCK box is only about 1.5" x 3" on its mounting face and less than an inch
deep (excluding protrusions). The RCK box was designed to be able to panel mount28

to a mostly flat surface such as a vehicle instrument panel or dashboard. Pleaserefer to figure 16 for hole sizes and locations.
The operation of the RCK is very simple. Make sure the RCK cable is plugged in to
the rear port on the Manzanita Micro PFC charger (the white arrow on the cableconnector should line up with the white triangle on the charger's connector).Whenlooking at the RCK's main control face, the toggle switch is on the left below thegreen LED and the amperage control knob is to the right. When the toggle switch isin the OFF position, it is pointing toward the knob and the LED is also off. In the OFF
state, the PFC Charger's own current control knob will provide the means foramperage adjustment. When the toggle switch is in the ON position, it is pointing
away from the knob and the green LED is illuminated. While in the ON state, theRCK will provide the means for amperage adjustment. Full counter clockwise is no
current and full clockwise is full current. When the RCK is enabled, the PFC
charger's own front face plate amps knob will not function.
WARNING! It is good practice to always turn the remote current knob down to its fullcounter clockwise position before and after every use. That way, if the RCK toggle
switch is accidentally enabled it won't suddenly command the charger to draw alarge amount of power.

figure 16: RCK Case Dimensions and Mounting Hole Relationships

29

figure 17 : Remote Current Knob
Older Charger Front Image

figure 18. Older Charger Layout Prior To November 2012

Auto Restart Set Point Adjustment
Manzanita Micro PFC chargers both new and old have an auto restart function built
in which can be activated and adjusted by the user. Because of the possibility ofthermal runaway from a battery pack, module or cell that is over-charged, Manzanita
Micro does not ship PFC chargers with the Auto Restart Switch enabled. If the end
user wishes to use this feature, they take full responsibility for any consequences
resulting from a charger which keeps re-starting.
Normally, a Manzanita Micro PFC charger will put out constant current until thebattery pack which it is connected to reaches the peak voltage set point which isdetermined by the main “Volts Trim” pot or newer optional “digipot”. When the peakvoltage limit is reached, the yellow limits light will illuminate and the charger time-out
timer will activate and the blue timer LED will blink. If all of the dip switches on thefront of the charger are set as per the factory default settings, the charger will cutback it's current so as not to exceed the peak voltage set point but it will keep
moving power until the blue timer LED locks on solid indicating that the time is up. At
this point the charger will stop moving current and will normally only ever re-start if
the input power to the charger is cycled off and back on. Because of this feature it isconceivable that someone could leave their vehicle unattended but plugged in for avery lengthy period of time and the attached battery pack could get to a dangerously
low level or even go to zero volts. The auto restart feature allows the charger toautomatically resume charging even after a full time-out if the connected battery
pack reaches a certain voltage set point. To enable the auto restart feature dip
switch # 8 must be in the ON position (which is down when looking at the front of thecharger head on). Please refer to the “Dip Switches” section earlier in this manual to
make sure you understand which dip switches are which and how they work.
The auto restart voltage set point is controlled by a special potentiometer just to theright of the main REGBUS port when looking at the front of the charger. In order toaccess this special potentiometer, the blue faceplate must be removed by loosening
the set screw on the “Amps” knob and removing the black plastic knob and the jam
nut on the front of the potentiometer shaft. Then the four Phillips head screws canbe removed and the blue faceplate can be pulled straight away from the charger toallow access to the auto restart potentiometer (VR6). This potentiometer is clearlypointed out in figure 14 in the “8A Control Board” section of this manual. The VR6
potentiometer is actually present in the same location even on older control boards.
IMPORTANT! The auto restart set point is based off of a percentage of the main
volts trim set point and therefore MUST ONLY BE ADJUSTED AFTER FIRSTPROPERLY ADJUSTING THE VOLTS TRIM POTENTIOMETER OR DIGIPOT as
explained in the “Volts Trim” section earlier in this manual.

Steps For Setting The Auto Restart Set Point
1. Unplug anything connected to either of the RJ data ports on the front of thecharger. (This includes unplugging even any Manzanita Micro BMS from thereg bus port.
2. SET THE MAIN VOLTS TRIM TO YOUR PEAK OUTPUT LEVEL FIRST!!!
3. Remove the blue faceplate from the front of the charger as described earlier
in this section.
4. Ensure that dip switch 8 is moved to the ON (down) position to enable theauto restart feature.
5. With the peak volts trim set properly, allow your charger to fully charge thepack until it times out and the blue timer LED remains on solid.
6. Turn the charger's main “Amps” knob all the way down (counterclockwise)
7. Without interrupting the input power to the charger wait for the battery packvoltage level to settle down to a specific low voltage threshold that you would
like the charger to restart at. Note: this could potentially take many days toreach so adding a load to the battery pack such as turning on the vehicle's
heater can accelerate this process or temporarily moving the charger's
battery pack connection to a lower voltage point in the battery pack, (THIS IS
WHY THE CURRENT KNOB MUST BE TURNED ALL THE WAY DOWN SO
THERE IS NO CURRENT FLOWING WHEN THE DC OUTPUT ISDISCONNECTED!)
8. Double check that the battery pack is properly connected to the charger andthat the pack is at the desired voltage level for the auto restart to initiate.
9. Slowly turn the auto restart potentiometer VR6 clockwise to increase thevoltage limit level at which the charger will auto restart. Keep watching thecharger's blue timer LED as you turn up the VR6 potentiometer. As soon as
the blue timer LED turns off the auto restart threshold has been reach and if it
is left there then the charger should restart whenever the pack reaches thatvoltage level.
10. With the blue timer LED now off and the battery pack connected, you canturn up the charger's “Amps” knob and verify that it will move current for
charging the battery pack.
11. NOTICE! IF YOU CHANGED ANY BATTERY PACK CABLES TO MAKE
THE CHARGER SEE A LOWER VOLTAGE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO
MOVE THOSE CABLES BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL POSITIONS SO THAT
THE CHARGER DOES NOT EXCEED THE SAFE PEAK CHARGINGVOLTAGE FOR ANY GROUP OF CELLS!
12. Turn the charger off and re-attach the blue front face plate
13. If a BMS was plugged into the charger's reg bus port, it can now bereconnected.
It would be wise to test out the auto restart feature by charging the pack to full andthen leaving the charger turned on but purposely letting the pack get down to a low

voltage and this time leaving the charger's “Amps” knob turned up and watching to
make sure the charger restarts charging again when the pack gets down to thedesired restart voltage level.
NOTE: A new charger's auto restart level is usually set to somewhere around 130
VDC before shipping from Manzanita Micro. If certain rates are desired, these may
be communicated to Manzanita Micro prior to order completion. Manzanita Microcan easily tune to specific levels for large orders of multiple units.
Additionally, if the end user's battery pack is below 130V, then the auto restartpotentiometer (VR6) will have to first be turned down low enough to allow the
aforementioned auto restart setup procedure.

For more information visit: www.manzanitamicro.com
Or for technical questions or other inquiries:
Manzanita Micro
Rich Rudman
PO Box 1774
Kingston, WA 98346
Phone: 360-297-1660