User Manual

7
STEP 7
CHARGE
LED #4 : YELLOW
4
The safeTº program limits charge current if the temperature measured
at the OptiMate Lithium is below 0ºC / 32ºF or above 45ºC / 113ºF. If the
temperature was initially below 0ºC / 32ºF charge current is limited to
325mA only for the first hour after which the battery is expected to have
increased it's internal temperature within the normal temperature zone.
Within the normal temperature zone the ampmatic™ LiFePO
4
specific
program automatically determines the most efficient rate of charge
current for the connected battery, according to its state of charge, state of
health, and electrical storage (Ah) capacity. The delivered current may be
anywhere from 1.25A to 5A.
For batteries with an electrical storage (Ah) capacity less than 5Ah charge
current is automatically adjusted lower to an average equal to battery Ah
capacity, e.g. a 2.5Ah / 2500mAh battery receive an average of 2.5 Amps.
NOTE: For safety reasons there is an overall charge time limit of 24 hours
for SAVE and CHARGE modes.
STEP 8
OPTIMIZE
LED #5 : YELLOW
5
The OPTIMIZE mode starts when the voltage has reached 14.4V for the first
time during bulk CHARGE mode.
The ampmatic™ current control program now delivers pulses of current
to equalise the individual cells within the battery and optimizes charge level.
Charging should complete within the minimum charge time set during STEP
3, but if the battery requires further charging the program will extend
OPTIMIZE mode up to a maximum of 2 hours.
STEP 9
TEST after
charge
LED #6 FLASHING
TEST
6
TEST after charge : Delivery of current to the battery is interrupted for
30 minutes* to allow the program to determine the battery’s ability
to retain charge.
* IF charging started in SAVE mode (LED #3, indicating a deep discharged
battery) or the the voltage retention test is extended to 12 hours to confirm
battery health.
The TEST result (indicated on LED # 6, 7, 8) is adjusted in real time according
to the measured battery voltage. Consult the “EARLY WARNING OF BATTERY
PROBLEMS” table on page 2 to match TEST LED indication to an estimated
state of charge percentage (SOC%).
More information is provided in the section “NOTES ON TEST RESULTS”.
STEP 10
OptiMATE
smart
MAINTAIN
LED #6 / 7 / 8 ON
TEST
8
7
6
For batteries with a good
state of health LED #6
(green) will remain on.
MAINTENANCE CHARGE: LED #6 / 7 / 8 steady on
according to final voltage measured at termination of STEP 7.
The MAINTENANCE CHARGE CYCLE consists of 30 minute charge periods
followed by and alternating with a 30 minute ‘rest’ periods, during which
there is no charge current.
During the 30 minute charge cycles current is delivered only if the battery
has lost charge.
The BATTERY REFRESH CYCLE is performed if the charger detects the
battery has lost significant charge. The program returns to OPTIMIZE mode
(LED #5) and then proceeds to the voltage retention test and maintenance
charge cycle.
Read section MAINTAINING A LITHIUM BATTERY FOR EXTENDED PERIODS.
NOTES ON TEST RESULTS:
1. For any test result other than green #6, disconnect the battery from the electrical system it supports, and reconnect the OptiMate. If a
better test result is now obtained, this suggests that the power losses are partly due to an electrical problem in the electrical system and
not in the battery itself.
2.
If the red LED #8 alone, or the yellow #7 and red LED #8 indicate together (or yellow LED alone for a sealed battery), a significant
problem exists. The red / yellow+red LEDs mean that after being charged the battery’s voltage is not being sustained or that despite
recovery attempts the battery was irrecoverable. This may be due to a defect in the battery itself, such as a short-circuited cell, or, in
the case of a battery still connected to the electrical system it supports, it may be signalling a loss of current through deteriorated wiring
or a degraded switch or contact, or in-circuit current-consuming accessories.
A sudden load being switched on while the charger is connected can also cause the battery voltage to dip significantly.
3.
TEST LED #8 (red) flashing - Charging is suspended. During the voltage retention test the voltage reduced below 12.8V within the first
30 minutes, indicating the battery may have suffered permanent damage and a professional assessment is required.
More information
on OptiMate TEST or MONITOR products can be found at www.optimate1.com.