FC Operation & Maintenance Guide (20 & 25 Amp) FC/FCA 20 & 25 AMPERE OUTPUT BATTERY CHARGER OPERATION & MAINTENANCE GUIDE SENS part no.: Document revision: DCN No. Date 101117 1.9 104041 9/30/02 1840 Industrial Circle, Longmont, CO 80501 Fax: (303) 678-7504 Tel: (303) 678-7500 Installation or Service problems? Call SENS at (800) 742-2326 between 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. Mountain time Monday through Friday.
FC Operation & Maintenance Guide (20 & 25 Amp) IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS This manual contains important safety and operating instructions for Stored Energy Systems (SENS) model battery charger model FC. Before using the battery charger, read all instructions and cautionary markings on the battery charger, battery and equipment connected to the battery system. Before You Begin Particular attention should be paid to three types of notices throughout this guide.
FC Operation & Maintenance Guide (20 & 25 Amp) • Remove jewelry, watches, rings, etc. before installing battery or charger. 1 READ THIS FIRST CAUTION: Failure to follow installation instructions may cause equipment damage, or void the equipment warranty. READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE PROCEEDING! • The charger must be connected to a battery for it to operate properly (see Section 4.1).
FC Operation & Maintenance Guide (20 & 25 Amp) 2.1 Description, Product Features & Application Stored Energy Systems’ FC chargers are fully automatic battery chargers that automatically recharge and maintain lead-acid and nickel-cadmium batteries.
FC Operation & Maintenance Guide (20 & 25 Amp) Inherent current limited at 100% to 110% of rated output Temperature compensation Output voltage changes in accordance with negative temperature coefficient of battery (-0.12% per degree F). This maximizes battery performance and life.
FC Operation & Maintenance Guide (20 & 25 Amp) Protect the charger from construction grit, metal chips, paint or other debris. Clean away debris after installation. 3.2 Power Connections Connection should be made by a qualified installer. Remove the two screws securing the charger's top front panel to gain access to the connections. Use AWG #8 or larger wire for DC (charger to battery) leads. Use AWG #12 or larger wire for AC input and ground connections.
FC Operation & Maintenance Guide (20 & 25 Amp) the high rate. When the charger reaches the boost voltage set point, and current has dropped to between 50% to 70% of the charger's rating, the charger will revert to the float mode. The transition from boost to float will result in the battery drawing no current from the charger. Once the battery voltage nears the float setting, the charger will again deliver a small amount of current to the battery to maintain the battery at its fully charged state.
FC Operation & Maintenance Guide (20 & 25 Amp) from the boost (or high rate) charge to float charge. Do not automatically assume that the charger has failed if the ammeter reads 0 amps! 4.3 Alarm Operation (pertains only to FCA models) The alarm LEDs have the following meanings: Power on: AC power is available to the charger Charge fail: The charger senses voltage rather than current to detect "failure"; once battery voltage drops approximately 1 volt below nominal the alarm activates.
FC Operation & Maintenance Guide (20 & 25 Amp) The FCA's alarm system includes a Form C contacts. The contacts change position whenever the associated alarm is activated. 5 Adjustments Customer service of the charger is recommended only if the technician is experienced in electrical and electronic equipment. If a trained technician is not available, return the charger to the factory for adjustment. Instructions for charger adjustment are found on the following pages. 5.
FC Operation & Maintenance Guide (20 & 25 Amp) 6. Put the charger in the AUTOBOOST mode by partially discharging the battery, then removing and restoring the charger's AC power source. 7. Allow the battery voltage to rise to the desired high rate charge level. Once at this voltage, carefully turn the boost pot counter-clockwise until the charger ammeter suddenly drops to approximately zero amps. 8. Charger is now adjusted. Replace paper dots and close front cover. Chargers with timed boost 6.
FC Operation & Maintenance Guide (20 & 25 Amp) 5.3 Adjusting Alarm Voltage Levels Three alarm adjustments are possible: charger failure alarm, low battery voltage alarm and high battery voltage alarm. The location of the adjustment potentiometers is shown in a drawing at the end of this guide. Use an external precision voltmeter connected directly to the charger's output terminals.
FC Operation & Maintenance Guide (20 & 25 Amp) (# cells), charge fail alarm voltage 6 Charger Troubleshooting 6.1 (10) 13.7 (19) 26.0 (20) 27.0 (25) 34.5 (27) 37.0 SENS Repair Policy SENS’s policy is to help field technicians correct problems as fast and inexpensively as possible. Please do not hesitate to call SENS; toll-free number to obtain assistance in troubleshooting our chargers. Calling us will save you time and trouble. 6.
FC Operation & Maintenance Guide (20 & 25 Amp) Test #2: With one or both leads disconnected from the inductor, measure the resistance across the inductor terminals. If the resistance is less than 0.25 ohms, the inductor is OK. Test #3: Disconnect wire connected to the diode. Using an ohmmeter on the RX1 scale, a good diode will cause the ohmmeter to read approximately 1/2 scale when the leads are connected one way, and infinity when the leads are connected in reverse.
