Xantrex Digital echo-charge User manual

Owner’s Manual
Xantrex
Digital echo-charge
Battery Charger
Digital
echo-charge

General safety information for installation and operation is
contained throughout this manual where it applies and is not
included in this summary.
Definitions Warning statements identify conditions or practices that
could result in personal injury, loss of life, damage to equipment or other
property.
Fuse Replacement An in-line fuse is installed in the unit. For continued
protection, it must only be replaced with a fuse of the same type and
rating. This must be done at an authorized service center or at the factory.
To avoid damage, operate the equipment only within the specified guide-
lines of this manual.
Servicing To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not open this unit.
There are no user serviceable parts inside. Refer all service to qualified
personnel.
SAFETY SUMMARY
Thank you for purchasing a Xantrex Digital echo-charge. Xantrex
Technology Inc. takes pride in manufacturing quality products specifically
designed to meet your power requirements.
The Digital echo-charge is designed to operate with any DC charging
source to charge the starter or auxiliary battery.
For your convenience, service is available world-wide by qualified
service centers. If you have any questions about your Digital echo-
charge, please contact Xantrex toll free: 1-800-670-0707.
For technical support and additional information about Xantrex prod-
ucts, visit our Web site at www.xantrex.com or e-mail us at
[email protected]
2
Notice of Copyright
Xantrex Digital echo-charge © November 2002 Xantrex International. All rights reserved. Xantrex is a registered trademark of
Xantrex International.
Disclaimer
UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AGREED TO IN WRITING, XANTREX TECHNOLOGY INC. (“XANTREX”)
(a) MAKES NO WARRANTY AS TO THE ACCURACY, SUFFICIENCY OR SUITABILITY OF ANY TECHNICAL OR
OTHER INFORMATION PROVIDED IN ITS MANUALS OR OTHER DOCUMENTATION.
(b) ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE, WHETHER DIRECT, INDIRECT,
CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL, WHICH MIGHT ARISE OUT OF THE USE OF SUCH INFORMATION. THE USE OF
ANY SUCH INFORMATION WILL BE ENTIRELY AT THE USER’S RISK.
Date and Revision November 2002, Revision 1 Part Number 445-0204-01-01
Contact Information Web: www.xantrex.com Email: [email protected]
Phone: [phone] (toll free) 1-604-422-2777 (direct) Fax: [phone]

The Xantrex Digital echo-charge is specially developed for charging an
auxiliary battery with FreedomTM or Fleet Power®Inverter/Chargers or with
any charging source. The Digital echo-charge automatically switches ON
and OFF, charging a starter or auxiliary battery without affecting the main
house battery bank. The maximum charge current is 15 amps when the
starting battery is 1/2 volt to 1 volt DC less than the house battery. The
Digital echo-charge is designed to work on 12 VDC or 24 VDC systems.
The Digital echo-charge is a voltage-follower, following the three-stage
charge modes of the Freedom Charger. This method protects the starter
battery from over-charging and ensures a long life for the battery. If using
another charge source, the Digital echo-charge will follow the charge
stages of the source. Refer to the source’s Owner’s Manual for charge
modes.
The Digital echo-charge unit is complete with:
• 2 feet of 16 gauge wire with ring terminal (quantity 1)
• 2 feet of 16 gauge wire with ring terminal and 20 amp in-line fuse (quantity 2)
• Digital echo-charge Owner’s Manual
INTRODUCTION
3

Use only deep-cycle batteries in your house battery bank.
Only similar batteries should be connected together in one bank. Do not
connect old and new batteries together or wet and gel cell batteries
together.
Always use properly sized terminals and cables for your interconnecting
battery cables.
Starter battery and house battery banks should not be mixed in the
same bank.
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
4

BEFORE YOU BEGIN
The Digital echo-charge should be unpacked immediately upon receipt,
and inspected to determine if any shipping damage has occurred. No
special handling is necessary; however, care should be used to avoid
dropping the unit or exposing it to dust and moisture.
Needed for Installation
• Flat head and Phillips screwdrivers
• Wire cutters
• Wire strippers
• Mounting screws
• #12 gauge wire, if an extension is needed
• Miscellaneous assortment of wire ties and connectors
5

Caution: To reduce the risk of electric shock and prevent premature
failure from corrosion, do not mount where exposed to rain, drip or spray.
Caution: Risk of electrical shock. Do not remove cover. No user
serviceable parts inside. Refer service to qualified service personnel at a
factory authorized service center or at the factory.
Caution: Always wear safety glasses for eye protection when working
with batteries. Protect your skin from harm by wearing clothing that will
cover your arms and legs when working with batteries.
INSTALLATION PRECAUTIONS
6
The Digital echo-charge is intended for vertical mounting. Mount in a
location that provides the greatest convenience when making the wire
connections to the batteries. Select a location that is within two feet of the
house battery and within two feet of the starter battery, for maximum
charging current. Mount the unit using the holes on the flanges. Ensure
that the mounting location is well ventilated and not exposed to harsh
environments of dust and moisture or in the presence of flammable
fumes. Do not mount on carpet or other heat-sensitive surfaces.
Before making any connections, remove all charging sources—discon-
nect from shorepower, turn the generator OFF and do NOT run the
engine. If using a Freedom charger controlled by a Freedom Remote or
Link monitor, the remote must be OFF. No charging voltage should be
present during installation. If you are using a stand-alone charger or other
power source, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for disabling the
charge function before beginning installation.

INSTALLATION
7
Prevent unnecessary damage by carefully following
the installation instructions.
Battery Connections
Two feet of 16 gauge wire with a ring terminal on the end is connected
to the Digital echo-charge unit. Connect the ring terminals to the batteries
as indicated.
Connect from the echo-charge:
•Ground wire (black) to the negative battery ground.
•Starter Battery wire (red with yellow trace) to the starter battery
positive (+ red) terminal. A 20 amp fuse in this line protects the wire.
•House Battery wire (+ red) to the house battery bank positive (+ red)
terminal. A 20 amp fuse in this line protects the wire.
Use 12 gauge wire to extend wire if needed. Avoid using long connec-
tion wires. The longer the wires, the less current will flow and the longer it
will take to charge the starter battery.
After all connections have been made, turn the charger ON. The Digital
echo-charge will follow the charger and begin to charge the starter
battery.
Note: When the House Battery and Ground connections have been
made, the Digital echo-charge’s LED will light Green. When the starter
battery connection is made, charging will begin.
WARNING
Make sure all charging sources are switched
OFF and no charging voltage is present
before beginning installation.

INSTALLATION
WARNING
Never disconnect battery cables while
the charger is in operation.
8
To Ground
INVERTER/CHARGER
echo-charge
STARTER
BATTERY
HOUSE
BATTERY
FUSE

9
When the input voltage is 13.0/25.5 volts DC or higher, echo-charge
automatically switches ON. The LED glows a steady green. When the
input voltage is lower than 13.0/25.5 volts, the echo-charge automatically
switches OFF, and the LED blinks green. The output voltage of echo-
charge is limited to 14.4/28.8 volts. When it reaches 14.4/28.8 volts, the
charge current will decrease, maintaining a float condition. The starter
battery will be fully charged without overcharging.
No load current drain on the house bank is less than 50 milli-amps.
If the input voltage is above 14.4 volts (or 28.8), output will be limited to a
maximum of 14.4/28.8 volts.
OPERATION
Voltage Differential (VDC) Between
House Battery (+) and Starter Battery (+)
The graph shows the relationship between the
voltage difference over the echo-charge (voltage
difference between house (+) and starter (+) battery)
and the charge current.
Output Current (Amps)

10
It is important to install the Digital echo-charge in a well-ventilated
location. An elevated temperature may cause the Operation LED to glow
red and turn the echo-charge OFF. When the temperature cools down,
the LED will return to green and the Digital echo-charge will resume
normal operation.
OPERATION
Operation
LED

11
TROUBLESHOOTING
PROBLEM THINGS TO CHECK
LED is red.
Thermal
shutdown
1. Check to see that the Digital echo-charge
has sufficient air flow and ventilation around it.
2. Check the battery connections.
Starter battery
is not
charging
1. Check the difference in voltage between the
house battery and the starter battery. If the
difference is greater than 2 volts, the Digital
echo-charge will reduce the charge current. If
the difference is greater than 10 volts, the
Digital echo-charge will shut off and the green
LED will blink.
2. Check the connections to house battery
bank and starter battery. Check the fuses.
Check the ground connection.
LED is off Check fuse in the red wire. Check the ground
connection.
LED is
flashing green
1) House battery voltage below 13.0 volts DC
or above 17 volts DC.
2) The difference between the house battery
and the starter battery is greater than 10 volts
DC.

12
GLOSSARY
AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) Battery A lead acid, maintenance-free
battery.
Ah Capacity The ability of a fully charged battery to deliver a specified
quantity of electricity (Amp-Hr., Ah) at a given rate (Amp, A) over a
definite period of time (Hr.). The capacity of a battery depends on a
number of factors: active material, weight, density, adhesion to grid,
number, design and dimensions of plates, plate spacing design of sepa-
rators, specific gravity and quantity of available electrolyte, grid alloys,
final limiting voltage, discharge rate, temperature, internal and external
resistance, age and life of the battery (bank).
Alternating Current (AC) An electric current that reverses direction at
regular intervals. Sources of alternating current are shorepower,
generator power, inverter power or household current.
Ampere (Amp, A) The unit of measure of electron flow rate of current
through a circuit.
Ampere-hour (Amp-Hr., Ah) A unit of measure for a battery’s electrical
storage capacity, obtained by multiplying the current in amperes by the
time in hours of discharge (Example: a battery that delivers 5 amperes for
20 hours delivers 5 amperes times 20 hours, or 100 Amp-Hr. of capacity.)
AWG (American Wire Gauge) A standard used to measure the size of
wire.
Current The rate of flow of electricity or the movement rate of electrons
along a conductor. It is comparable to the flow of a stream of water. The
unit of measure for current is ampere.
Cycle In a battery, one discharge plus one recharge equals one cycle.
Direct Current (DC) Current that flows continuously in one direction such
as that from batteries, photovoltaics, alternators, chargers and DC
generators.

13
GLOSSARY
Gel Cell Battery A type of battery that uses a gelled electrolyte solution.
These batteries are sealed and are virtually maintenance-free. Not all
sealed batteries are the gel cell type.
Ground The reference potential of a circuit. In automotive use, the result
of attaching one battery cable to the body or frame which is used as a
path for completing a circuit in lieu of a direct wire from a component.
This method is not suitable for connecting the negative cable of the
inverter to ground. Instead, route the cable directly to the negative
terminal of the battery.
LED (Light Emitting Diode) Indicator light.
NEC National Electric Code
Negative Designating or pertaining to electrical potential. The negative
terminal is the point from which electrons flow during discharge.
Positive Designating or pertaining to electrical potential; opposite of
negative. The positive battery terminal is the point where electrons return
to the battery during discharge.
Volt The unit of measure for electric potential.
Watt The unit for measuring electrical power, i.e., the rate of doing work,
in moving electrons by or against an electric potential.
Wet Cell Battery A type of battery that uses liquid as an electrolyte. The
wet cell battery requires periodic maintenance; cleaning the connections,
checking the electrolyte level and performing an equalization cycle.

14
WARRANTY
What does this warranty cover? This Limited Warranty is provided by Xantrex Technology, Inc.
(“Xantrex”) and covers defects in workmanship and materials in your Xantrex echo-charge. This
warranty lasts for a Warranty Period of 12 months from the date of purchase at point of sale to you,
the original end user customer.
This Limited Warranty is transferable to subsequent owners but only for the unexpired portion of
the Warranty Period.
What will Xantrex do? Xantrex will, at its option, repair or replace the defective product free of
charge, provided that you notify Xantrex of the product defect within the Warranty Period, and
provided that Xantrex through inspection establishes the existence of such a defect and that it is
covered by this Limited Warranty.
Xantrex will, at its option, use new and/or reconditioned parts in performing warranty repair and
building replacement products. Xantrex reserves the right to use parts or products of original or
improved design in the repair or replacement. If Xantrex repairs or replaces a product, its warranty
continues for the remaining portion of the original Warranty Period or 90 days from the date of the
return shipment to the customer, whichever is greater. All replaced products and all parts removed
from repaired products become the property of Xantrex.
Xantrex covers both parts and labor necessary to repair the product, and return shipment to the
customer via a Xantrex-selected non-expedited surface freight within the contiguous United States
and Canada. Alaska and Hawaii are excluded. Contact Xantrex Customer Service for details on
freight policy for return shipments outside of the contiguous United States and Canada.
How do you get service? If your product requires troubleshooting or warranty service, contact your
merchant. If you are unable to contact your merchant, or the merchant is unable to provide service,
contact Xantrex directly at:
Phone: [phone] (toll free in North America) 1-604-422-2777 (direct)
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Direct returns may be performed according to the Xantrex Return Material Authorization Policy
described in your product manual. For some products, Xantrex maintains a network of regional
Authorized Service Centers. Call Xantrex or check our website to see if your product can be
repaired at one of these facilities.
In any warranty claim, dated proof of purchase must accompany the product and the product must
not have been disassembled or modified without prior written authorization by Xantrex.
Proof of purchase may be in any one of the following forms:
•The dated purchase receipt from the original purchase of the product at point of sale to the end
user, or
•The dated dealer invoice or purchase receipt showing original equipment manufacturer (OEM)
status, or
•The dated invoice or purchase receipt showing the product exchanged under warranty

15
WARRANTY
What does this warranty not cover? This Limited Warranty does not cover normal wear and tear
of the product or costs related to the removal, installation, or troubleshooting of the customer’s
electrical systems. This warranty does not apply to and Xantrex will not be responsible for any
defect in or damage to:
a) the product if it has been misused, neglected, improperly installed, physically damaged or
altered, either internally or externally, or damaged from improper use or use in an unsuitable
environment;
b) the product if it has been subjected to fire, water, generalized corrosion, biological
infestations, or input voltage that creates operating conditions beyond the maximum or
minimum limits listed in the Xantrex product specifications including high input voltage from
generators and lightning strikes;
c) the product if repairs have been done to it other than by Xantrex or its authorized service
centers (hereafter “ASCs”);
d) the product if it is used as a component part of a product expressly warranted by another
manufacturer;
e) the product if its original identification (trade-mark, serial number) markings have been
defaced, altered, or removed.
Disclaimer
Product
THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE WARRANTY PROVIDED BY
XANTREX IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR XANTREX PRODUCT AND IS, WHERE
PERMITTED BY LAW, IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, CONDITIONS,
GUARANTEES, REPRESENTATIONS, OBLIGATIONS AND LIABILITIES, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE IN CONNECTION WITH THE PRODUCT,
HOWEVER ARISING (WHETHER BY CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, PRINCIPLES OF
MANUFACTURER’S LIABILITY, OPERATION OF LAW, CONDUCT, STATEMENT OR
OTHERWISE), INCLUDING WITHOUT RESTRICTION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OR
CONDITION OF QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE. ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW TO
APPLY TO THE PRODUCT SHALL BE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE PERIOD
STIPULATED UNDER THIS LIMITED WARRANTY.
IN NO EVENT WILL XANTREX BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT,
INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES, COSTS OR EXPENSES
HOWEVER ARISING WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT INCLUDING WITHOUT
RESTRICTION ANY ECONOMIC LOSSES OF ANY KIND, ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE TO
PROPERTY, ANY PERSONAL INJURY, ANY DAMAGE OR INJURY ARISING FROM OR AS
A RESULT OF MISUSE OR ABUSE, OR THE INCORRECT INSTALLATION, INTEGRATION
OR OPERATION OF THE PRODUCT.
Exclusions
If this product is a consumer product, federal law does not allow an exclusion of implied warranties.
To the extent you are entitled to implied warranties under federal law, to the extent permitted by
applicable law they are limited to the duration of this Limited Warranty.

16
Some states and provinces do not allow limitations or exclusions on implied warranties or on the
duration of an implied warranty or on the limitation or exclusion of incidental or consequential
damages, so the above limitation(s) or exclusion(s) may not apply to you. This Limited Warranty
gives you specific legal rights. You may have other rights which may vary from state to state or
province to province.
Warning: Limitations On Use
Please refer to your product user manual for limitations on uses of the product. Specifically, please
note that the Xantrex Digital echo-charge is not intended for use in connection with life support
systems and Xantrex makes no warranty or representation in connection with any use of the product
for such purposes.
Return Material Authorization Policy
Before returning a product directly to Xantrex you must obtain a Return Material Authorization
(RMA) number and the correct factory “Ship To” address. Products must also be shipped prepaid.
Product shipments will be refused and returned at your expense if they are unauthorized, returned
without an RMA number clearly marked on the outside of the shipping box, if they are shipped
collect, or if they are shipped to the wrong location.
When you contact Xantrex to obtain service, please have your instruction manual ready for
reference and be prepared to supply:
•The serial number of your product
•Information about the installation and use of the unit
•Information about the failure and/or reason for the return
•A copy of your dated proof of purchase
Return Procedure
1. Package the unit safely, preferably using the original box and packing materials. Please ensure
that your product is shipped fully insured in the original packaging or equivalent. This
warranty will not apply where the product is damaged due to improper packaging.
2. Include the following:
•The RMA number supplied by Xantrex Technology Inc clearly marked on the outside of the
box.
•A return address where the unit can be shipped. Post office boxes are not acceptable.
•A contact telephone number where you can be reached during work hours.
•A brief description of the problem.
3. Ship the unit prepaid to the address provided by your Xantrex customer service representative.
If you are returning a product from outside of the USA or Canada
In addition to the above, you MUST include return freight funds and are fully responsible for
all documents, duties, tariffs, and deposits.
If you are returning a product to a Xantrex Authorized Service Center
(ASC)
A Xantrex return material authorization (RMA) number is not required. However, you must contact
the ASC prior to returning the product or presenting the unit to verify any return procedures that
may apply to that particular facility.
WARRANTY

17
SPECIFICATIONS
PROTECTION
• Input and output are reverse polarity protected.
• Input is not protected against a voltage that is greater than 36 Volts DC.
• Thermal protection automatically shuts down the Digital echo-charge.
When the condition is corrected, the unit will automatically reset.
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Xantrex Technology Inc.
Toll free 1 800 670 0707
Direct 1 604 422 2777
Fax [phone]
[email protected]
www.xantrex.com
445-0204-01-01 Rev. 1 Printed in the U.S.A.