Concens C4-MKII User manual

GB
USER MANUAL
C4-MKII
Actuator controller for
up to 4 actuators
USER MANUAL |C4-MKII v662 |January 2022 |1
C4-MKII
Check for updates at www.concens.com
Contents
Introduction 1
Technical data and model designation 1
Preparation 2
Normal operation 3
Tips 5
Controller status indications 4
Troubleshooting 5
Software Guide 6
Declarations and warnings 9
Contact information 9
Introduction
The Concens C4 series is a range of battery-based actuator controllers developed especially for mobile applications.
The controller can manage up to 4 actuators with a wired handset and it is supplied by either a NiMH Li-Ion-battery.
The controller may be configured using PC software which may be ordered separately from Concens. This allows
patterns of operation, stroke length, speed, etc. for the connected actuators to be adjusted.
Symbols used:
Attention: Consult accompanying documents
Technical data and model designation
Input voltage: 24VDC
Operating temperature: 5°C to 40°C
Relative humidity: 20% to 70%
Atmospheric pressure: 1atm
Max. operating attitude: 2000m
Battery technology: NiMH or Li-Ion
Model designation and label:
C4-CON-1W-000-000000: Controller for one actuator
C4-CON-2W-000-000000: Controller for two actuators
C4-CON-3W-000-000000: Controller for three actuators
C4-CON-4W-000-000000: Controller for four actuators

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Preparation
Before the system may be used, the battery must be charged using the accompanying charger.
It takes 5-8 hours to fully charge a battery.
Battery mounted in charger Battery mounted in the
controller – ready for use
Battery, controller and handset
The yellow LED lights up when the charger is connected to power. Place the battery in the charger by sliding it in and
rotating it until it is pulled into place by the magnets. The green LED will flash at approx. 1 second intervals while the
battery is being charged. Once charging is complete the green LED remains permanently lit. Remove the battery by
rotating it 90 degrees. It will then be ejected and be ready for use.
Once the battery is fully charged, insert it into the controller. Follow the same procedure as for the charger. If
everything is OK, the controller will simply sound a beep (one second) once the battery is in place. If the system has
any faults, the beep will be followed by an error indication according to table 1 below.
When the battery requires recharging, transfer it to the charger as described above. It is recommended that you keep
an extra battery on hand to avoid disruption to operation.
Always wait at least two seconds after the last actuator has stopped moving before removing the battery. Otherwise
the controller may not have time to store the position and it may be necessary to perform 0-point calibration as
described in section 5.

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Normal operation
During normal operation the actuator is driven in an out using the appropriate buttons on the remote control. Situations
may arise which require a particular action. These situations are described below.
Low battery level
If the battery level goes below a warning level while operating the actuators, three short buzzer tones are sounded.
This means that the battery requires recharging, and the actuators can therefore only be driven in one direction
(normally in).
Flat battery
If the battery level goes below a minimum level while operating the actuators, one short buzzer tone is sounded. The
actuators will stop immediately and the controller will shut down. The battery must be charged. You must wait at least
one minute before inserting a new battery into the controller. If you are using actuators with position feedback (hall
effect), you will need to perform 0-point calibration. See below.
Extreme battery load
The battery may become too hot if it is subject to extreme load due to repeated operations in rapid succession, thereby
activating the battery's safety thermostat. The controller will shut down and the battery must be allowed to cool for
at least half an hour before being used again. You must wait at least one minute before inserting a different battery
into the controller. If you are using actuators with position feedback (hall effect), you will need to perform 0-point
calibration. See below.
0-point calibration
If you use actuators with position feedback (hall effect), you will need to perform 0-point calibration on the controller
so that the innermost position of the actuators can be recorded. This must be done for all actuators which use position
feedback. The controller will sound two short buzzer tones following the beep when the battery is inserted if 0-point
calibration is required.
It is also possible to initiate manual 0-point calibration by holding in the relevant ‘in’ buttons for 10 seconds. The
controller sounds a beep followed by 2 long buzzer tones and 0-point calibration can be performed by pressing the ‘in’
button and holding it so that the given actuator(s) is/are driven in. Hold down the button until the actuators have been
driven fully in. The controller has now been 0-point calibrated and the system may be used normally. The actuators can
only be driven in during 0-point calibration.

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Controller status indications
Name Description Conditions Buzzer Red
LED Green LED Handset LED Comments
Startup Conrm battery OK Battery voltage
>Level3 1 med 1 med 1 med 1 med OK
Low Battery
Shutdown Shutdown Battery voltage <Level1  No operation
Low Battery
Warning
Min. level during
operation
Battery Voltage
<Level 2 3 short 3 short 3 short Stops, can only drive in
Low Battery
Warning
Low battery during
standby
Battery Voltage
<Level2 1 short 1 short 1 short
Only repeated
for every 30
seconds
Low Battery
Warning Low battery at startup Battery Voltage <Level3 5 short 5 short 5 short Not possible
Current limiter
activated
Current limit exceed
for one output
Current limit
exceeded for 10ms? 1 long 1 long
Channel
number:
1-4 short
1 long
Relevant
output
disabled
Hall Pulse Lost Hall pulse missing
from one sensor
No pulse from hall
sensor for 1 sec. 2 long 2 long
Channel
number:
1-4 short
2 long
Relevant
output
disabled
Calibration
Required
Synchronized outputs
need to be calibrated
Initially and after
power failure 2 short 2 short 2 short 2 short
Synchronized
outputs can
only drive in
Calibration OK Calibration procedure
completed
Calibration
procedure completed 1 long
Calibration
Failed
Calibration procedure
failed
Calibration
procedure failed 2 long 1 short 1 short
1 short
Max Total
Current
Max total current for
controller achieved
Current for
output 1+2+3+4 >
TotalMaxCurrent
3 long 3 long 3 long 3 long No operation
Sleep Mode1 short
Table 1 below shows all of the C4 controller’s status indications:
All signals are repeated for every 10 seconds as long as the conditions are fulfilled unless specified otherwise
Battery alarms are reset after power recycle
Timing of signals: Short = 0,2 sec; Med = 1 sec; Long = 2 secs.

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Tips
It is recommended to follow the tips below to achieve the best results and avoid problems in daily operation.
General
Always wait at least two seconds after the last actuator has stopped before removing the battery from the
controller. Otherwise controllers using position feedback may not have time to store the position, and the controller
will have to be 0-point calibrated again.
If the battery's safety thermostat is activated due to overload, the battery must be allowed to cool for at least half
an hour before being used again. A new battery may be inserted into the controller after one minute.
If two or more actuators which operate in parallel become misaligned, the controller will automatically shut them
down. It will then be necessary to perform 0-point calibration again as described in section 5.
Batteries
Always use batteries which are in good condition and fully charged when inserted into the controller.
You can extend the lifetime of the battery by occasionally recharging it even though it is not fully discharged.
If the battery level drops below the critical level and the system shuts down, you must wait at least one minute
before inserting a different battery and using the system again.
If the system is not to be used for an extended period (several days or weeks), the battery should be removed from
the controller to avoid deep discharge, which can cause lasting damage to it.
Handling
Avoid getting metal shavings or other magnetic objects on the battery poles or in the controller.
Troubleshooting
If problems or irregularities arise you should go through the points below (in consultation with a technician where
appropriate).
Check that all connectors are correctly attached to the controller.
Check that the controller sounds a beep when the battery is inserted.
If the actuators cannot be operated, perform a 0-point calibration as explained in section 5.
If none of the above resolves the problem, please contact the supplier.

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Software Guide
Our software guide how to programme the C4 controller
1. “File” gives access to drop down menu for reopening and saving parameter files, and to close the program.

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2. “Setting” gives access to drop down menu for unticking all alarms or return to default settings. When an alarm is
unticked, the system is still protected but you get no beeping- or blinking signal from the LED on the controller or
the handset. The functionality is still there but it is now silent.
3. “Communication” (=COMM) opens drop down menu with several functions. When connecting the controller with
the program you must click on the chosen COM-port (the program finds the COM-port automatically), then press
COMM and “Connect.”
The next step is to upload the parameters from the controller to the software. You do that by pressing COMM and
then “read”.
“Read” also refresh values position current etc.

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Furthermore, you have a “Program” button for downloading the parameter settings to the controller
once you have finished your adjustments.
“Disconnect” button disconnects the controller from the software.
“Monitor” reveals information about internal communication.
“Live” enables real time current measuring.
“Reset C4” restarts controller and disables real time current measuring.
4. Embedded bootloader. Used for firmware update.
5. Maximum total current for all channels running simultaneously.
6. Adjustment for maximum deviation for motor in the same group.
7. Values that refer to the voltage level of the battery alarms. These are not thought as adjustable.
8. Operation delay.
9. Selectable PWM frequency.
10. Selectable alarms. As default all alarms are active. When unticked, safety is still maintained but
you will not get any beep- or LED blinking signals.
11. Select number of the button for normal travel.
12. Select number of the button for sub-group. Sub-group is used for running all channels
simultaneously. Not the same as a calibration.
13. Setting of start and stop ramps.
14. Adjustment of travel speed in either direction.
15. Adjustment of maximum current or I-trip in either direction. 100 = 1 A
16. Adjustable stop or limitation of stroke length in either end of the stroke.
17. Adjustable calibration speed and current.
18. Choice of group. No group = blank, Group 1 = 1, Group 2 = 2
19. Enable or disable hall. Blank = actuator with no hall. Ticked = actuator with hall.
20. Copy parameters to next or previous channel.

C4-MKII
Concens A/S
Oddesundvej 1
DK-6715 Esbjerg N
Denmark
T+45 70 11 11 31
E[email protected]
VAT DK10132266
www.concens.com
- excellent electric actuators
USER MANUAL
Contact information
For further information or a product demonstration, do not hesitate to contact our Partner near you or us directly if
there is no local presence in your country.
Find your local partner here - Concens contacts
Contact us directly - [email protected]
Or give us a call: [phone]
Disclaimer
Concens products are continuously developed, built and tested for highest requirements and reliability but it is always the
responsibility of the customer to validate and test the suitability of our products in a given application and environment.
Concens products must not be used in safety critical applications.
We do our utmost to provide accurate and up-to-date information at all times. In spite of that, Concens cannot be held
responsible for any errors in the documentation. Specifications are subject to change without prior notice.
For more information, please visit our website at www.concens.com
Recommendations and warnings
If power is cut while actuators are travelling, the new position is not memorized. Hence calibration or learning must be performed
to bring system back on track.
To secure long lifetime of both NiMH and Li-ion batteries, we strongly recommend to recharge the batteries at least every 3 months.