SMA Sunny Island SIC50-MPT User manual

SIC50-IA-en-11 | Version 1.1
EN
Charge controller
SUNNY ISLAND CHARGER
Installation Guide

SMA Solar Technology AG Table of Contents
Installation Guide SIC50-IA-en-11 3
Table of Contents
1 Notes on this Manual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.1 Validity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.2 Target Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.3 Storage of the Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.4 Symbols Used . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2 Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.1 Appropriate Usage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.2 General Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3 Unpacking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.1 Scope of Delivery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.2 Check for Transport Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.3 Identifying the Charge Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
4 Battery Management and Charge Control . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.1 SMA Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.2 Stand-Alone Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5 Assembly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.1 Selecting the Mounting Location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.1.1 Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.1.2 Ambient Conditions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5.1.3 Safety Clearances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5.1.4 Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
5.2 Mounting Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
6 Electrical Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
6.1 Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
6.2 Overview of the Connection Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
6.3 Grounding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

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4 SIC50-IA-en-11 Installation Guide
6.3.1 Grounding the Charge Controller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
6.3.2 Grounding the Battery and the PV Plant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
6.4 PV Array Connection (DC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
6.5 Battery Connection (DC). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.6 Communication. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
6.6.1 Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
6.6.2 Connection to PC Serial Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
6.6.3 SMA Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
6.6.4 Stand-alone Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.7 Additional Connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
6.7.1 Signaling Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
6.7.2 Battery Temperature Sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
7 (First) Commissioning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
7.1 Configuring the Charge Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
7.1.1 Operating Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
7.1.2 Battery System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
7.1.3 Device Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
7.1.4 Battery Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
7.2 Commissioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
8 Opening and Closing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
8.1 Opening the Charge Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
8.2 Closing the Charge Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
9 Maintenance and Cleaning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
9.1 Replacing the Thermal Fuses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
9.2 Cleaning the Cooling Fins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
10 Meaning of the Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) . . . . . . . . . . 39
10.1 Multicolored LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
10.2 Internal LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

SMA Solar Technology AG Table of Contents
Installation Guide SIC50-IA-en-11 5
11 Failure Search. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
11.1 SMA Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
11.2 Stand-alone Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
12 Decommissioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
12.1 Disassembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
12.2 Packaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
12.3 Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
12.4 Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
13 Technical Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
14 Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Table of Contents SMA Solar Technology AG
6 SIC50-IA-en-11 Installation Guide

SMA Solar Technology AG Notes on this Manual
Installation Guide SIC50-IA-en-11 7
1 Notes on this Manual
This manual describes how to install, commission and service the Sunny Island Charger.
1.1 Validity
This manual applies to the following Sunny Island Charger type:
• SIC50-MPT
1.2 Target Group
This manual is intended for the installer and the operator.
1.3 Storage of the Manual
All manuals for the device and for the installed components must be stored in the immediate vicinity
of the charge controller and must be accessible at all times.

Notes on this Manual SMA Solar Technology AG
8 SIC50-IA-en-11 Installation Guide
1.4 Symbols Used
The following types of safety messages and general information appear in this document:
DANGER!
DANGER indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death or
serious injury.
WARNING!
WARNING indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or
serious injury.
CAUTION!
CAUTION indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in minor or
moderate injury.
NOTICE!
NOTICE indicates a situation that can result in property damage if not avoided!
Information
Information provides tips that are valuable for the optimal installation and operation of
your product.

SMA Solar Technology AG Safety Instructions
Installation Guide SIC50-IA-en-11 9
2 Safety Instructions
2.1 Appropriate Usage
The charge controller is a DC/DC converter that reduces the direct current of the PV array to the direct
current of a battery in order to charge it. The SIC50-MPT replaces the SIC40-MPT.
The charge controller can be operated in two different operating modes:
In SMA operating mode, the Sunny Island protects the battery from deep discharge. In stand-alone
operating mode without Sunny Island, an external device must protect the battery from deep
discharge.
The charge controller may only be operated with PV array (modules and cabling) of protection class
II. Do not connect any sources of energy other than PV modules to the charge controller.
Already when designing the PV plant, ensure that the values comply with the permitted operating
range of all components at all times. The maximum open circuit voltage of the PV array may not be
greater than the maximum input voltage of the charge controller (140 V), even at very low ambient
temperatures. The voltage of the PV array must always be at least 5 V higher than the battery voltage
during operation. The charge controller is suitable for battery currents of up to 50 A at 48 V/24 V/
12 V nominal battery voltage.
The suitability of a PV array for the charge controller primarily depends on the output voltage and
output power of the PV array. In this regard, observe the limits specified by the module manufacturer.
Appropriate usage also includes observing all documentation.
SMA operation Stand-alone operation
The "SMA" operating mode must be selected if
the charge controller is operated in a system
equipped with a Sunny Island 5048/2012/
2224.
The "Stand-alone" operating mode must be
selected if the charge controller is operated in a
stand-alone grid system equipped with a
Sunny Island 3324/4248 or without a
Sunny Island.
Section 6.1.1 "Operating mode" (28) explains how to set the operating mode.

Safety Instructions SMA Solar Technology AG
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2.2 General Safety Instructions
DANGER!
Danger to life due to high voltages in the charge controller.
• All work on the charge controller must only be carried out by an electrically skilled
person.
CAUTION!
Danger of burn injuries due to hot enclosure parts.
• Do not touch the enclosure of the charge controller during operation.
Grounding the PV array
Observe all local regulations for grounding the PV array. SMA Solar Technology AG
connecting the array frame and other electrically conductive surfaces so that there is
continuous conduction and to ground them in order to ensure optimal protection for plants
and persons.

SMA Solar Technology AG Unpacking
Installation Guide SIC50-IA-en-11 11
3 Unpacking
3.1 Scope of Delivery
3.2 Check for Transport Damage
Check the charge controller for visible external damage, such as cracks in the enclosure. Contact your
dealer if you find any damage.
3.3 Identifying the Charge Controller
You can identify the charge controller by the type label. The type label is on the right side of the
enclosure.
Object Quantity Description
A 1 Charge controller
B1Document set
C 1 Technical description
D 2 Thermal fuse (30 A)
E 1 SIC-PB communication interface and RJ45 cable (5 m)*
*optional, required for SMA operation
F 1 Battery temperature sensor**
** optional

Battery Management and Charge Control SMA Solar Technology AG
12 SIC50-IA-en-11 Installation Guide
4 Battery Management and Charge Control
4.1 SMA Operation
The SIC-PB communication interface must be installed and connected to the Sunny Island 5048/
2012/2224 for SMA operation. If a communication connection is established, the Sunny Island will
control of battery management, including charge control.
The charge controller receives the current and temperature-compensated nominal charging voltage
from the Sunny Island and transmits the battery's present charging current back to the Sunny Island.
This ensures that the battery is always optimally charged and that the Sunny Island calculates the
correct charging state. For further details on battery management see the Sunny Island
documentation.
If communication does not function in SMA operation, the battery will only be charged with voltages
of 13.5/27/54 V.
Working principle of a Sunny Island system with a charge controller
Battery
Charge controller
Sync bus (CAN)
Array
Sunny Boy
Sunny Island

SMA Solar Technology AG Battery Management and Charge Control
Installation Guide SIC50-IA-en-11 13
4.2 Stand-Alone Operation
During stand-alone operation or during operation with the 3324/4248 Sunny Island inverters, the
charge controller automatically controls the charging voltage of the battery, depending on the battery
type set and current charging phase, according to the "four-phase charging process" (MPP, boost,
continuous, float). During the first phase, charging is carried out using the maximum power provided
by the PV array. During the second phase, the charging current is reduced and the battery voltage is
regulated to the charging voltage set for the boost phase. This phase is only completed if the battery
voltage ever drops below 2.08 V/cell during the preceding discharging phase. Otherwise, the
charging process is immediately continued with the third phase, "continuous". The continuous and the
boost charging phases are identical, except that the continuous phase has a slightly lower charging
voltage. Once continuous charging is completed, the charge controller switches to float charging until
the next complete discharge.
If a battery temperature sensor is connected, the charging voltage is adjusted to the temperature using
-4 mV/°C and cell.
Working principle of the charge controller in stand-alone operation
PC
Battery
Charge
controller

Assembly SMA Solar Technology AG
14 SIC50-IA-en-11 Installation Guide
5 Assembly
5.1 Selecting the Mounting Location
5.1.1 Dimensions
CAUTION!
Risk of injury due to the charge controller's heavy weight.
• Take the weight of the charge controller of approx. 10 kg into account.
DANGER!
Danger to life due to fire or explosion.
The charge controller enclosure can become hot during operation.
• Do not mount the charge controller on flammable construction materials.
• Do not mount the charge controller near highly flammable materials.
• Do not mount the charge controller in potentially explosive areas.
CAUTION!
Danger of burn injuries due to hot enclosure parts.
• Mount the charge controller in such a way that it cannot be touched inadvertently
during operation.

SMA Solar Technology AG Assembly
Installation Guide SIC50-IA-en-11 15
5.1.2 Ambient Conditions
• The mounting location and method must be suitable for the weight and dimensions.
• Mount on a solid surface.
• The mounting location must be accessible at all times.
• The charge controller must be easy to remove from the mounting location at any time.
• The ambient temperature should be between -25 °C and +60 °C to guarantee optimal
operation.
• Do not expose the charge controller to direct sunlight to avoid power losses due to overheating.
5.1.3 Safety Clearances
Observe the following safety clearances to walls, other devices or objects to ensure sufficient heat
dissipation.
Direction Safety clearance
Sides 20 cm
Top 30 cm
Bottom 20 cm
Multiple charge controllers installed in areas with high ambient temperatures
If necessary, increase the clearances between the individual charge controllers. In
addition, make sure there is enough ventilation to ensure sufficient cooling of the charge
controller.

Assembly SMA Solar Technology AG
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5.1.4 Position
• Mount vertically or tilted backwards by max. 45°.
• Install at eye level in order to allow operation conditions to be read at all times.
• Never mount the device with a forward tilt.
• Do not mount horizontally.
5.2 Mounting Instructions
1. Mark the position of the drill holes.

SMA Solar Technology AG Assembly
Installation Guide SIC50-IA-en-11 17
2. Drill the holes (diameter: at least 8 mm) at the
indicated positions and use wall anchors (at least
M8).
3. Screw the charge controller onto the wall using the
three mounting plates. Use fastening material
suitable for the surface.
4. Make sure that the device is securely in place.
SUNNYISLANDCHARGER

Electrical Connection SMA Solar Technology AG
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6 Electrical Connection
6.1 Safety
DANGER!
Danger to life due to high voltages in the charge controller.
• Disconnect the PV array using a disconnection unit and secure it against accidental
reactivation.
• Disconnect the miniature circuit breaker and ensure that it cannot be reconnected.
• Ensure that no voltage is present in the system.
WARNING!
Risk of injury due to electric shock.
If all cables with different voltages are routed in parallel, damaged cable insulations may
lead to a short circuit.
• Route all cables separately.
NOTICE!
Electrostatic discharges may damage the charge controller.
• Ground yourself before touching a component inside the charge controller.
NOTICE!
Overvoltage can destroy the system.
• Use an external overvoltage protector in areas with an increased risk of
thunderstorms and lightning.

SMA Solar Technology AG Electrical Connection
Installation Guide SIC50-IA-en-11 19
6.2 Overview of the Connection Area
Object Description
A "PV+" connection terminal for "PV+" cable of the PV array
B "PV–" connection terminal for "PV–" cable of the PV array
C "BAT–" connection terminal for "BAT–" cable of the battery
D "BAT+" connection terminal for "BAT+" cable of the battery
EThermal fuses
F "EARTH" connection terminal for grounding
G Connection terminal for the battery temperature sensor cables
H Connection terminal for the signaling contact cables
IDIL switch for configuration
K Internal LEDs (only visible to the installer)
L LED connection of the multicolored LED in the lid
M M20 metric-thread cable glands for the battery, PV array and PE cables

Electrical Connection SMA Solar Technology AG
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6.3 Grounding
6.3.1 Grounding the Charge Controller
1. Open the charge controller. Loosen the screws of the enclosure lid and remove the lid.
2. Unscrew the lock nut of the metric-thread cable
gland (B) and slide it along the PE cable.
3. Route the PE cable through the cable gland into the
charge controller and connect it to the "EARTH"
connection terminal (A).
4. Retighten the lock nut of the cable gland.
N M25 metric-thread cable gland for the signaling contact and the battery temperature
sensor cables
O M25 metric-thread cable gland for communication cable
DANGER!
Risk of lethal electric shock.
The charge controller has the protection class I.
• Ground the charge controller properly, regardless of whether the battery and PV are
grounded.
Object Description