West Mountain Radio PWRguard PLUS User manual

www.westmountainradio.com
1020 Spring City Drive
Waukesha, WI 53186
262-522-6503
[email protected]
©2016 West Mountain Radio, All rights reserved. All trademarks are
the property of their respective owners.
PWRguard PLUS

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West Mountain Radio Operating Manual
Thank you for choosing the PWRguard PLUS from West Mountain Radio.
This product is designed to protect your 12VDC equipment and battery
against system power faults. An optional external sense input is available
on PWRguard PLUS for further protection of your equipment.
The method of operation is to disconnect the load if the supply voltage is
outside the normal range (11.0V to 15.0V) or the external sense input is
activated. The sense input can be triggered from an external dry contact
closure or a low voltage input (3.0 to 5.0VDC).
One example would be connecting a sensor that detects water in a
basement, and PWRguard PLUS would shut down power. Another useful
example is to have a sense input connected to a key switch to enable
power from PWRguard PLUS.
The PWRguard PLUS also has a piezo buzzer alarm which will sound
once per minute during load disconnect. This alarm can be disabled if you
do not need an audible alert.
Modes of Operation: Automatic and Manual
Automatic Mode
Supply Voltage Not In Normal Range: When the supply voltage is
outside of the normal range the PWRguard PLUS will disconnect
the load. Upon restoration of normal supply voltage the load will be
reconnected automatically.
Sense Input Triggered: When the sense input is activated the
PWRguard PLUS will disconnect the load. When the sense condition
is cleared the PWRguard PLUS will automatically reconnect the load
unless supply voltage is outside of normal levels.
Manual Mode
Supply Voltage Not In Normal Range: When the supply voltage is
outside of the normal range the PWRguard PLUS will disconnect the
load (as above) and permit a manual reset only when the power is
within the normal voltage range.
Sense Input Triggered: When the sense input is activated the
PWRguard PLUS will disconnect the load. When the sense condition
is cleared the PWRguard PLUS will automatically reconnect the load
unless supply voltage is outside of normal levels.
Anderson Power Products® and Powerpole® is a registered trademark of Anderson Power Products, Inc.

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West Mountain Radio Operating Manual
Installation
1. Install the PWRguard PLUS between the power source and the
loads to be protected.
 NOTE:TheunitcomesttedwithPowerpole®connectorsforease
of installation into your power system.
Input (power source) connects on the left side of the case.
Output (load) connects on the right side of the case.
Make sure that you only connect the RED lead to POSITIVE, and the
BLACK lead to NEGATIVE.
2. Install the unit in a cool dry location. The case may be fastened
downusingthemountingholesontheanges.
3. The external sense terminal is located within the unit. Remove the
case and locate the small terminal-block on the left hand side. The
terminal nearest the edge of the board provides +5VDC through a
330 ohm resistor and the right terminal is the sense input.
The piezo buzzer alarm can be disabled by removing the jumper
from the terminal post marked “Buzzer”.
4. When the power supply is switched on, the PWRguard Plus unit will
become operational and the AUTO RESET and ON LEDs will
both glow green. If the AUTO RESET LED does not turn on, hold
the reset button down for 5 seconds until it does. If the YELLOW
LED (Low fault) comes on instead of the ON LED, it means that your
power supply or battery voltage is too low. PWRguard Plus requires
at least 13 (+/- 0.1) volts to become operational when turned on. If
supply voltage range is between 11-13V, you will need to manually
turn on by pushing reset.
This setup integrates PWRguard Plus into a UPS. The PWRGuard
Plus input is connected to the output of the Super PWRgate. The
PWRguard Plus output is connected to the input of the RIGrunner.
This setup will protect the battery from deep discharge after an AC
power loss, and all devices that are plugged into the RIGrunner from
under and over voltage. After AC power is restored, the battery will
be recharged through the Super PWRgate and PWRguard Plus will
reset the system.
5V DC
Sense Input Buzzer Jumper
USB Programming Connector

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West Mountain Radio Operating Manual
Minimal Set Up
This set-up connects PWRguard PLUS input to the Super PWRgate
PG40S output terminal and then plug the PWRguard PLUS output into
the RIGrunner input terminal. This will provide protection for the battery
and all the devices that are plugged into the RIGrunner. Additionally,
after loss of AC mains power, the PWRguard PLUS will reset the system
after the power is restored.
Integrated Set Up

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West Mountain Radio Operating Manual
Fuse
The PWRguard PLUS fuse is used to protect the source and the load
from excessive current. The PWRguard PLUS includes a 40A fuse (the
rating of the PWRguard PLUS.) The fuse may be changed to a lower
value if desired for protection of other system components downstream.
Operating In Automatic Reset Mode
The PWRguard PLUS unit is operational whenever it is connected to
the 12V power source. There is no ON/OFF switch needed. This is the
Factory Default Mode Setting.
GREEN LED –
Output ON
When the source voltage is between 11.0 and
15.0V (nominally 13.8V), the large green LED will
light showing that the output is ON. The small LED
indicates the PWRguard PLUS is in Automatic Reset
Mode.
RED LED –
Hi-Fault
The RED LED (Hi-Fault) will light whenever the
input voltage exceeds 15V. The GREEN LED will
go OFF and there will be NO output voltage. In
the automatic reset mode, the RED LED will turn
off when the input voltage returns to less than 15V,
and the output will turn ON, thereby relighting the
GREEN LED and re-powering the load.
YELLOW LED–
Low-Fault
The YELLOW LED (low-fault) will light whenever the
input voltage drops below 11.0V. This LED will also
brieylightiftherearemomentarydipsbelow11.0V.
This feature assures correct operation during turn-on
surge currents and during SSB or CW transmission
when powered from a battery supply. The voltage
may drop each time the power requirement peaks.
If the voltage continues to be below 11.0V for more
than 5 seconds, the LED will light continuously. This
state will continue until the voltage is continuously
below 11.0V and indicates the battery is nearing its
drained state. The GREEN LED will go OFF, thereby
turning the output OFF. The PWRguard PLUS will
now remain OFF. When the input voltage returns to
13.0V, the PWRguard PLUS will automatically reset.
Operating In Manual Reset Mode
Tocongurethismode,holdtheresetbuttondownfor5secondsand
the small green “AUTO RESET” LED will go OFF.

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West Mountain Radio Operating Manual
Cold Start The PWRguard PLUS will automatically reset from a
cold start condition.
GREEN LED –
Output ON
When the source voltage is between 11.0 and 15.0
Volts (nominally 13.8 volts), the large green LED will
light showing that the output is ON. The small LED,
being off, indicates the PWRguard PLUS is in Manual
Reset Mode.
RED LED –
Hi-Fault
The RED LED (Hi-Fault) will light whenever the input
voltage exceeds 15.0V. The GREEN LED will go OFF
and there will be NO output voltage. In the
Manual Reset Mode when the input voltage returns
tolessthan15.0V,theREDLEDwillashindicating
a return to safe voltage condition. The PWRguard
PLUS can then be manually Reset, thereby
repowering the load and lighting the GREEN
LED.
YELLOW LED
– Low-Fault
The YELLOW LED (low-fault) will light whenever the
input voltage drops below 11.0V. This LED will also
lightbrieyiftherearemomentarydipsbelow
11.0V. This feature assures correct operation during
turn-on surge currents and during SSB or CW
transmission when powered from a battery supply.
The voltage may drop each time the power
requirement peaks. If the voltage continues to be
below 11.0V for more than 5 seconds, the Yellow
LED will light continuously. This state will continue
if the voltage is continuously below 11.0V and the
battery is nearing its drained state. The GREEN LED
will go OFF thereby turning the output OFF. The
PWRguard PLUS will remain OFF. When the input
voltage returns to 13.0V, the YELLOW LED will begin
toashindicatingthesupplyvoltagehasrecovered.
The PWRguard PLUS can then be Manually Reset,
thereby, relighting the GREEN LED and re-powering
the load.
Manual to
Auto Reset To restore auto mode, hold the reset button down
again for 5 seconds. The small green LED will light.

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West Mountain Radio Operating Manual
Additional Modes
Automatic Battery Save Mode
The PWRguard PLUS is designed to protect a battery from any additional
current drain following a long turn off period of 60 minutes. This “Sleep Mode”
will further reduce battery power drain by limiting the on time of the Yellow
LED. Normal operation will be restored when the input voltage returns to the
safe operating range, and the unit is manually or automatically reset. When
the unit is in Sleep Mode there is very limited power drain.
Voltage Sensing Circuits
Unitsarefactorycalibratedforthespeciedtrippointsanddelays.
LED Indicators
Green
ON – Load powered
OFF – Load off
Red
ON – Voltage too high
Blink – Voltage good – waiting for reset
Yellow
ON – Voltage too low
Blink – Voltage good – waiting for reset
Short Interval Blink – Battery Save Mode
USB Programming Instructions
Download and install the West Mountain Radio port diagnostics utility or use
another terminal program, such as Hyper-Term. During installation, be sure to
install the drivers on the PC. The utility can be set to start every time the PC
powers up and it is always on the tool tray (lower right) or to just run it when
needed.
Open the PWRguard Plus unit and power it up. When the LED is on, connect
a micro-USB cable (not included with unit) between the PWRguard Plus
and the PC. The first time, Windows will attempt to install the driver. If the
diagnostic utility was previously installed, Windows should find the driver on
its own. Now the Yellow LED should be rapidly blinking.

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West Mountain Radio Operating Manual
Specications
Electronics: Maximum voltage: 35 VDC
Current: < 30 mA Normal Mode
< 5mA Sleep Mode
Solid State Switch: Continuous Current: 30 A
Maximum Current: 40 A
Nominal ON resistance: 5 milliohms
Switching Ranges: Hi Trip: 15.0 ± 0.1VDC
Low Trip: 11.0 ± 0.1VDC
Auto Re-Start: 13.0 ± 0.1VDC
Switching Time Hi-Trip: 10 milli-seconds
Constants Low-Trip: 3.3 Seconds
Mode Select: 5.0 Seconds
Sleep Mode: 60 Min
After the driver is found, start the West Mountain Radio diagnostics utility
program. Find the PWRguard Plus in the list of devices. Right-click on
the PWRguard Plus and select “TEST”. When the terminal window pops
up, press enter in the terminal area and the following menu will appear:
West Mountain Radio PWRguard+ 1.14
1) Reset to factory settings
2) View/Change Settings
3) Monitor mode
4) Force output ON
5) Force output OFF
Function <0>:
If enter “2”, followed by “ENTER, the following options occur:
Press just enter for no change:
High Trip <14.97>:
High Restart (14.81>:
Low Trip <10.97>:
Low Restart <12.96>:
Force unit ON via remote sense(Y,N)<N>?
Force unit OFF via remote sense(Y,N)<Y>?
Auto Restart when voltage is back in range <Y>?

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West Mountain Radio Operating Manual
FCC INFORMATION
For a Class B digital device or peripheral, the user instructions shall include the
followling or similar statement, placed in a prominent location in the text of the
manual:
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for
a class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits
are designed to provide reasonable protection again harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates,uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy, and if not installed and used in accordance with the guaran-
tee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment
does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to
correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
 •Reorientorrelocatethereceivingantenna
 •Increasetheseparationbetweentheequipmentandreceiver 
 •Connecttheequipmentintoanoutletonacircuitdifferent 
from that to which the receiver is connected.
 •Consultthedealeroranexperiencedradio/TVtechnicianfor 
help.
Modicationsnotexpresslyapprovedbythemanufacturercouldvoidtheuser’s
authority to operated equipment under the FCC Rules.
PWRguard Plus Warranty
PWRguard Plus is warranted against failure due to defects in workmanship or materials for
one year after the date of purchase from West Mountain Radio. Warranty does not cover
damage caused by abuse, accident, misuse, improper or abnormal usage, failure to follow
instructions, improper installation, alteration, lightning, or other incidence of excessive
voltage or current. If failure occurs within this period, return the PWRguard Plus or accessory
to West Mountain Radio at your shipping expense. The device or accessory will be repaired
or replaced, at our option, without charge, and returned to you at our shipping expense.
Repaired or replaced items are warranted for the remainder of the original warranty period.
You will be charged for repair or replacement of the PWRguard Plus or accessory made after
the expiration of the warranty period.
West Mountain Radio shall have no liability or responsibility to customer or any other person
or entity with respect to any liability, loss, or damage caused directly or indirectly by use
or performance of the products or arising out of any breach of this warranty, including,
but not limited to, any damages resulting from inconvenience, loss of time, data, property,
revenue, or profit, or any indirect, special incidental, or consequential damages, even if
West Mountain Radio has been advised of such damages.
Except as provided herein, West Mountain Radio makes no express warranties and any
implied warranties, including fitness for a particular purpose, are limited in duration to the
stated duration provided herein.
www.westmountainradio.com
1020 Spring City Drive, Waukesha, WI 53186
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