Alpha Matrix 300 Series Installation guide

Brand: Alpha

Model: Matrix 300 Series

Type: Installation guide

The Alpha Matrix 300 Series is a versatile and reliable solution for distributing DC power in various applications. This 1RU high-density power distribution center comes equipped with numerous features to ensure efficient and safe power management. With its user-friendly single-button interface and intuitive LCD display, you can easily monitor and control power distribution across 16 channels.

Matrix™

1RU High Power Density DC

Distribution Center

SETUP AND OPERATION MANUAL

Page 2

Purpose and Applicability

The purpose of this document is to detail the operation instructions for the Matrix 1RU High Power DC

Distribution Center. This document applies to Comm/net part number 016-143-10 r03 with firmware version

0.69a-0

Unpacking and Inspection

The Matrix panel was carefully packaged at the factory to withstand the normal rigors of shipping. However, you should carefully

inspect the box and contents to confirm that no damage occurred in transit. Most shipping carriers require notification of shipping

damage within twenty-four hours of delivery, and it is the responsibility of the recipient to inspect the shipment immediately upon

receipt.

Contents

! Matrix 1RU High Density DC Distribution Center

! Reversible Rack-Mount Ears for 19” or 23” Racks

! Rear Cover

! Breaker Extraction Tool

If you ordered a compliment of breakers along with your panel,

they will also be packaged along with the panel:

MATRIX

Page 3

Installation

To install the Matrix panel, follow these steps:

1. Select the equipment rack location for installation of the panel. Orient the rack mount ears appropriately for a 19”

or 23” rack. For flush mounting, install the rack mount ears using the included Phillips head screws through the two

holes near the front of the panel. To offset-mount the panel such that the front protrudes beyond the front plane of the

rack, use the two holes further back on the sides of the panel.

2. Install the chassis ground cable. A chassis

ground cable should be landed on the two

studs marked Chassis Ground on the left

side of the panel.

3. Install the incoming DC feeder cables for

the A and B power inputs and A and B

power returns.

Consider installing a piece of clear

heatshrink tubing (3” diameter x 6” long)

over each of the power cables prior to

bolting the cable lugs to the bus bars.

Secure the cable lugs to the bus bars with

the included ¼”-20 x 1” bolts, flat washers,

lock washers, and nuts. The bus bars have

a hole and a slot to allow for ¾” or 1” bolt

hole spacing.

SETUP AND OPERATION MANUAL

Page 4

4. Install alarm wiring. On the left side of the

panel, there is an 8p8c modular jack (RJ-45)

for alarm connections. The pinout is:

5. Install output feeds. First, land the return cable lug to its corresponding position on the return bus bar, then land the

hot cable lug to the corresponding position above.

6. Install circuit breakers. Turn the captive panel mounting screws counterclockwise and remove the front panel. Slide a

circuit breaker of sufficient ampacity into the position corresponding to the output channel to be fed (viewing the front

of the panel from left to right, the positions are A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, then B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8). Push

until the circuit breaker terminals are fully seated in the sockets.

Installation Checklist

! Rack mount ears mounted securely to the panel and the rack?

! Chassis ground cable connected?

! Input power cables (A Hot, A Return, B Hot, B Return) securely bolted to the correct bus bars and heat shrink installed?

! Alarm cable connected and wired correctly to remote monitoring device (if required)?

! Output feed cables landed to correct polarity?

! Wire lacing or cable ties installed to provide strain relief?

! Breakers installed in the correct positions and fully seated?

MATRIX

Page 5

Operation

User Interface

The Matrix panel uses a simple, innovative single-button user interface. The button is integrated with the LCD display.

In general, to interact with the Matrix panel:

! TAP and release the button to advance status screens or menu items.

! PRESS and HOLD the button for about three seconds to make a selection or change values.

If the button is not pressed for three minutes, the panel will return to automatically switching between panel status screens.

Backlight Color

The backlight of the LCD display changes color depending on the condition or mode of the panel. In general:

! A GREEN background indicates that the panel is operating normally and no alarm condition is present.

! An ORANGE background indicates that a pre-alarm condition exists; the load of a breaker exceeding its warning threshold

(default is 70%), for example.

! A RED background indicates that an alarm condition exists. A breaker has tripped, or the load has exceeded the alarm

threshold (default 80%).

! A WHITE background indicates that the panel is displaying a setup menu and is awaiting user input.

Initial Operation

Once all the breakers are installed and power is present on the inputs, slide the rocker

switch to the ON position. The display will turn on and display the Comm/net logo,

followed by the firmware version.

Before the monitoring features of the Matrix panel can be used, you must first take

inventory of the installed breakers. If no inventory exists, the display will read:

Press and hold the display button for about three seconds until the display reads:

Turn on all of the breakers you intend to use, then press and hold the button for three seconds.

! Keep in mind that the panel will alarm on any breaker configuration change, not only on breaker trips. If a breaker is added or

turned on later, the panel will alarm until a new inventory is taken.

SETUP&

BKR&INV&

HOLD&3&S&

TURN&ON&

THE&BKRS&

HOLD&3&S&

SETUP AND OPERATION MANUAL

Page 6

The display will show the number of breakers that have been detected:

If the number of breakers displayed does not match the number of breakers you have installed, check to make sure all the breakers are

fully seated, turned on, and not upside down.

Press and hold the button for three seconds. The display will show:

Tap the button to continue.

The display will now prompt you to set the ampacity of the installed breakers:

Press and hold the button for three seconds until a the first installed breaker is displayed:

Press and hold the button for three seconds to enter the ampacity of this breaker:

Tap the button until the correct ampacity is displayed (the display will advance through

standard Slimline breaker ampacities: 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 100), then

press and hold the button for about three seconds. The display will then show the ampacity

of the next installed breaker. Repeat this process for all installed breakers. To exit the Set

Breaker Amps menu, simply tap the button until the main status screen is displayed:

The panel is now ready for normal operation and the display will automatically alternate showing the voltage and summed load

of Bus A and Bus B. Install the front panel and secure it by turning the captive screws clockwise.

16&BKRS&

CORRECT?&

HOLD&3&S&

STORED&

PRESS&

TO&CONT.&

SET&

BKR&AMPS&

HOLD&3&S&

BKR&A1&

NOT&SET&

HOLD&3&S&

PRESS&TO&

CHANGE&

NOT&SET&

Bus&A&

53.8&VDC&

2&A&

MATRIX

Page 7

Viewing Panel Status

With no user input, the panel will automatically display the voltage and summed load of each bus, alternating between Bus A and

Bus B every six seconds. At any time, the user may tap the button to advance the screen.

Viewing Individual Breaker Load

In addition to viewing the total load per bus, the Matrix panel can display the load on any of

the sixteen breaker channels. From the main status screen, tap the button until “VIEW BKR

LOAD” is displayed, then hold the button until the first installed breaker is displayed:

The panel will automatically display the load of each installed breaker, from left to right, advancing to the next installed breaker

screen every six seconds. To force the panel to advance without waiting, simply tap the button. Once the button has been tapped,

the screen will remain on the selected breaker display until the button is tapped again, or it will return to the top status screen

after three minutes.

Advanced Settings

Restore Factory Defaults

This menu selection will reset the breaker inventory, ampacities, and alarm thresholds to their factory default settings. CAUTION:

Restoring factory defaults may cause an alarm condition, as the installed breakers will not match the programmed

inventory.

Setup Demo Mode

This mode is used to display dummy load values for test and demonstration purposes. Caution: The panel will display static,

incorrect load values in this mode.

Version Display

This selection will simply display the installed version of firmware. Tap the button to exit the screen.

BKR&A1&

24.7&AMP&

49%&

Matrix&

AB&Iso&

Ver&

0.69f&

SETUP AND OPERATION MANUAL

Page 8

Breaker Removal

The Breaker Extraction Tool

The breaker extraction tool is designed to connect to the front of the slimline

breakers compatible with the panel.

The breaker extraction tool is equipped with a magnet for convenient storage of

the tool when not in use.

With the magnet in place, the breaker extraction tool is designed to attach directly

to the metal chassis of the panel. When not in use the breaker extraction tool

should be attached to the front of the panel for direct and consistent access.

Extracting Slimline Breakers

Each slimline breaker has two threaded brass screw hole features designed for

extraction.

MATRIX

Page 9

The breaker extraction tool is fitted with screw features designed to attach to the

breaker. Attach the breaker extraction tool to the front of the breaker with these

screws.

Attach the breaker extraction tool to the front of the slimline breaker.

With your finger on the breaker extraction tool, slowly pull the breaker extraction

tool directly away from the breaker panel to release the breaker from the panel.

SETUP AND OPERATION MANUAL

Page 10

Specifications

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

DESCRIPTION

! 19”/23” rack mount housing via reversible rack ears

(steel powder coated dark gray housing)

! Copper bus components tin-nickel plated, input bus

bars configured for two-hole compression lug landing

up to 300A per bus depending upon configuration

! Bullet terminal 1RU circuit breakers available in 3–

100A ratings per breaker position, circuit breaker trip

detection via monitoring circuit with user

programming of installed breaker inventory

! LED front panel indicators for input power, breaker

trip alarm (available on the 016-131-10 version)

! Removable front panel cover protects circuit breaker

toggles from nuisance tripping

! Front access circuit breakers and controls

(rear access input and output terminations)

! SmartSwitch supervisory controller option provides

front panel LCD display with voltage, current, and

breaker trip status (available on the 016-143-10 version)

! Ethernet interface port option with web server and

SNMP (order #016-138-10)

! Rear plastic clear cover for termination protection

PART #

CONFIGURATION

DESCRIPTION

PN 016-131-10

A/B input, -48VDC, 300A per input:

! A/B isolated input, 300A maximum,

! 8A/8B circuit breaker sockets (100A rated per socket)

! 19”/23” rack mount

! Dark gray color

! No supervisory controller

(LED status indicator only)

PN 016-143-10

A/B input, -48VDC, 300A per input:

! A/B isolated input, 300A maximum,

! 8A/8B circuit breaker sockets (100A rated per socket)

! 19”/23” rack mount

! Dark gray color

! Includes SmartSwitch supervisory

controller, per channel current

monitoring, and advanced alarm features

PN 016-138-10

A/B input, -48VDC, 300A per input:

! A/B isolated input, 300A e maximum,

! 8A/8B circuit breaker sockets (100A rated per socket)

! 19”/23” rack mount

! Dark gray color

! Includes SmartSwitch supervisory

controller, per channel current

monitoring, and advanced alarm features

! Includes Ethernet port with web server

and SNMP

MATRIX

Page 11

Appendix A: Operational Flowcharts

The flowcharts in this appendix illustrate the user interface logic of the Matrix panel.

Figure A-1: Matrix Panel Flowchart 1

Bus B

49.8 VDC

132.2 A

Bus A

49.8 VDC

108.5 A

logo

6 sec

VIEW BKR

LOAD

HOLD 3S

SETUP

HOLD FOR

3 SEC

Tap

w/o

Trip

Tap

Tap – with no breaker trips

3 min timeout

back to 6sec

auto loop

Page

3 sec

Page

3 sec

Page

5 sec

BREAKER

TRIPPED

BREAKER

TRIPPED

Tap

Tap – with

breaker trips

Tap with Trip

Breaker

TRIP

Breaker

TRIP

ERROR

HOLD 3 S

3 sec

Page

Held for 3 sec at power up

After 5 sec, if No breaker inventory

Matrix

AB Iso

Ver #.##a-1/0

1/0= demo/normal

Restore EE to factory defaults

5 sec

Page

SETUP AND OPERATION MANUAL

Page 12

Figure A-2: Matrix Panel Flowchart 2

ONLY VISIT INVENTORY

BRK A2

12.7 AMP

42 %

SETUP

HOLD FOR

3 SEC

Tap

Page

BRK A1

29.9 AMP

99 %

BRK A4

23.1 AMP

77 %

BRK A3

9.2 AMP

30 %

Tap

6 sec

BRK A7

11.3 AMP

37 %

Tap

BRK A8

3.2 AMP

10 %

BRK A85

10.7 AMP

35 %

BRK A6

8.4 AMP

28 %

Tap

6 sec

BRK B2

17.9 AMP

59 %

Tap

BRK B1

20.2 AMP

67 %

BRK B4

14.9 AMP

49 %

Tap

6 sec

Tap

6 sec

Tap

6 sec

BRK B7

7.8 AMP

26 %

Tap

BRK B8

24.7 AMP

82 %

BRK B5

5.6 AMP

18 %

BRK B6

19.9 AMP

66 %

Tap

6 sec

Tap

6 sec

Tap

FROM

Page1

6 sec

BACKGROUND COLOR

BASED ON % LIMITS

RED IF > 80%

ORANGE IF > 70%

Else GREEN

----------------------------------

TAP TRANSITION

FROM AUTO STAYS

ON CURRENT

BREAKER

TRIPPED

MATRIX

Page 13

Figure A-3: Matrix Panel Flowchart 3

ONLY VISIT INVENTORY

SETUP

BKR ALMS

HOLD 3 S

SETUP

BUS ALMS

HOLD 3 S

SETUP

BKR INV

HOLD 3 S

SETUP

ADVANCED

HOLD 3 S

Tap

tap

From

page 1a

3 sec

Page

3 sec

HOLD FOR

3 SEC

TO EXIT

Tap

TURN ON

THE BKRS

HOLD 3 S

If not set don’t

time out

3 sec

# BKRS

CORRECT?

HOLD 3 S

3 sec

STORED

PRESS

TO CONT.

TO EXIT

HOLD FOR

3 SEC

3 sec

Tap

SET

BKR AMPS

HOLD 3 S

BKR A1

## AMPS

HOLD 3 S

3 sec

PRESS TO

CHANGE

## AMPS

3 sec

BKR A2

NOT SET

HOLD 3 S

PRESS TO

CHANGE

NOT SET

3 sec

Tap

##+AMPS

TO ENTER

HOLD 3 S

3 sec

tap

Tap

##+AMPS

TO ENTER

HOLD 3 S

3 sec

tap

BKR B8

## AMPS

HOLD 3 S

PRESS TO

CHANGE

## AMPS

3 sec

Tap

##+AMPS

TO ENTER

HOLD 3 S

3 sec

tap

Tap

3 sec

w/o inv

From

Page

From

Page

From

Page

From

page 1b

SETUP AND OPERATION MANUAL

Page 14

Figure A-4: Matrix Panel Flowchart 4

BUS A

MAX AMPS

HOLD 3 S

Tap

tap

From

Page

3 sec

TO EXIT

HOLD FOR

3 SEC

3 sec Tap

HOLD TO

EDIT TAP

TO SHIFT

BUS A

### AMPS

3 sec

BUS B

MAX AMPS

HOLD 3 S

Tap

3 sec

TAP

3 sec

Tap Tap

BUS A

### AMPS

3 sec

TAP

rotate

0-2

BUS A

### AMPS

BUS A

### AMPS

BUS A

### AMPS

HOLD 3 S

3 sec

BUS A

### AMPS

3 sec

TAP

rotate

0-9

3 sec

BUS A

### AMPS

3 sec

TAP

rotate

0-9

Tap

HOLD TO

EDIT TAP

TO SHIFT

BUS B

### AMPS

3 sec

Tap

3 sec

TAP

Tap Tap

BUS B

### AMPS

3 sec

TAP

rotate

0-2

BUS B

### AMPS

BUS B

### AMPS

BUS B

### AMPS

HOLD 3 S

3 sec

BUS B

### AMPS

3 sec

TAP

rotate

0-9

3 sec

BUS B

### AMPS

3 sec

TAP

rotate

0-9

MATRIX

Page 15

Figure A-5: Matrix Panel Flowchart 5

SETUP

ALARMS

HOLD 3 S

Tap

tap

From

Page

3 sec

TO EXIT

HOLD FOR

3 SEC

3 sec Tap

HOLD TO

SAVE TAP

TO EDIT

ALARM

80 %

TAP

SETUP

WARNING

HOLD 3 S

Tap

TAP

rotate up

thru

values

3 sec

ALARM

XXX%

SAVED

Tap

HOLD TO

SAVE TAP

TO EDIT

WARNING

70 %

TAP

rotate up

thru

values

3 sec

WARNING

XXX%

SAVED

SETUP AND OPERATION MANUAL

Page 16

Figure A-6: Matrix Panel Flowchart 6

RESTORE

DEFAULT

HOLD 3 S

Tap

tap

From

Page

3 sec

TO EXIT

HOLD FOR

3 SEC

3 sec

CONFIG

RESET

TAP

SETUP

DEMO

HOLD 3 S

Tap

3 sec

TAP

Tap

HOLD TO

SAVE TAP

TO EDIT

DEMO

MODE

ON/OFF

TAP

toggle

ON/OFF

3 sec

DEMO

MODE

SAVED

From

Page

Matrix

AB Iso

Ver #.##a-1

Tap

MATRIX

Page 17

About Comm/net Systems

Comm/net Systems, Inc. (CSI) is the leader in high power density

communications power systems. Comm/net offers comprehensive

power and communications site systems integration and

deployment services via a national footprint of regional branch

offices. Additional information can be found at

www.commnetsystems.com.

Corporate Headquarters

Comm/net Systems, Inc.

4237 – 24th Avenue West

Seattle, WA 98199

Tel: 206.282.8670

Fax: 206.282.8684

www.commnetsystems.com

24/7 Sales & Service

To purchase Comm/net Systems

solutions, contact your Comm/net

Systems representative at:

(800) 274-0544 or e-mail:

sales @commnetsystems.com

in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks, service marks, registered marks, or registered service marks are the property of their respective

owners. Comm/net Systems assumes no responsibility for any inaccuracies in this document. Comm/net Systems reserves the right to change, modify, transfer,