User's Manual

DSP500 Series Wheel Alignment Sensors 1. Getting Started • 5
The charge indicator light turning from red to yellow is an indication that the charging
mode has switched from a fast charge mode into a “trickle” charge mode. It does not
mean that the battery is 100% charged. A fully discharged battery should be allowed to
“trickle” charge a minimum of five hours to ensure a full charge. The charge indicator
light turns green after approximately 6-8 hours of trickle, indicating the charger has
entered “float” mode, which maintains the battery at full charge indefinitely.
You should expect at least 8 hours of continuous use from a fully charged battery.
If you are not getting this amount of usage time, the most likely cause is inadequate charging
time.
Batteries that are consistently subjected to partial charging rather than full charge cycles will
permanently lose capacity.
Charging time for a fully discharged battery with the sensor power switch turned “OFF” is 11
to 13 hours. Three or four times this interval would be required if the sensors were left “ON”
during the charge cycle. It is very important that the sensors be turned “OFF” during
charging. The sensor’s power switch is located on the front of the sensor above the two
cable connectors. When the sensor is placed on the storage hanger, it will automatically turn
off.
Charging overnight with the sensors’ power switches set to “OFF” will provide a proper
charge.
Our charging system cannot over-charge the batteries. If you’re not using the
sensors, charge them!
The sensor batteries are rated for 200 full charge/discharge cycles, making their life
expectancy about one year for the customer that consistently discharges them 100%. Life
expectancy for batteries with lower usage can be significantly longer.
100% Discharge 200 Cycles
50% Discharge 450 Cycles
30% Discharge 1000 Cycles
In a shop with extended service hours, there are some things you can do to prolong battery
life:
When the sensors are not being used to perform alignments, they should be stored on the
charging hangers with sensor power switched off. At a minimum, turn the sensors “OFF”
between alignments. Any charging accomplished throughout the day helps maintain the
batteries at peak performance, and helps extend their life.
If you have one day out of the week when alignments are not performed, you can let the
sensors charge continuously for 24 hours or longer. This should “undo” the effects of any
undercharging that occurred during the previous week. This sort of prolonged charging will
only be effective at restoring full capacity to the batteries if performed regularly. Once a week
is the recommended minimum.
When is it time to replace the batteries?
If after a full charge the battery does not last for the expected 8 hours, you should put it
through one or two sessions of extended charge time (24 hours or longer). If the battery does
not recover and start giving satisfactory cycle time, then it should be replaced. The sooner
you catch the batteries losing capacity, the more likely an extended charge time will restore
the battery to normal capacity. If the battery discharge time is only three or four hours, it is
unlikely, that extended charge time will help significantly.