User Guide

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the battery carefully to try to determine if any cells seem different to the others (for example, with white matter between the plates,
plates touching). If mechanical defects are apparent do not attempt to charge the battery, have the battery professionally assessed.
5. If the battery is new, before connecting the charger read the battery manufacturer’s safety and operational instructions carefully. If
applicable, carefully and exactly follow acid filling instructions.
USING THE OPTIMATE 3: PROCEEDING TO CHARGE
For safety reasons, the OptiMate output will only activate if a battery retaining at least 2V is connected.
VERY FLAT NEGLECTED BATTERIES: Pay particularly close attention to the following which is especially important for
relatively small batteries such as those used on motorcycles, lawn tractors, jet-ski’s, snowmobiles and similar: A battery left
deep-discharged for an extended period may develop permanent damage in one or more cells. Such batteries may heat up excessively
during high current charging.
Monitor the battery temperature during the first hour, then hourly there-after. Check for unusual signs, such as bubbling or leaking
electrolyte, heightened activity in one cell compared to others, or hissing sounds. If at any time the battery is uncomfortably hot to touch or
you notice any unusual signs, DISCONNECT THE CHARGER IMMEDIATELY.
ECO POWER SAVING MODE WHEN THE CHARGER IS CONNECTED TO AC SUPPLY: The power converter
switches to ECO mode when the charger is not connected to a battery resulting in a very low power draw of less than 0,5W, equivalent to
power consumption of 0,012 kWh per day. When a battery is connected to the charger power consumption depends on the current demand
of the battery and its connected vehicle / electronic circuitry. After the battery has been charged and the charger is in long term
maintenance charge mode (to keep the battery at 100% charge) the total power consumption is estimated to be 0,060 kWh or less per day.
The LED indicators referred to below, and the clauses dealing with them, are sequenced as they may come on through the course
of the program.
LED #5 - GREEN: TEST & MAINTAIN
LED #6 - RED: TEST & MAINTAIN
LED #1 - AC POWER (100-240V)
LED #2 - Reverse polarity
LED #3 - SAVE/DESULPHATE
LED #4 - CHARGE
1. LED #1 - Power on. Confirms AC power supply to the charger. Light intensity is low during POWER SAVING MODE.
2. LED #2 indicates inverse polarity - wrong output connections. Swap around to activate output.
3. LED #3 SAVE lights If the battery is extremely flat (deep-discharged or sulphated),
3.1 STANDARD recovery for neglected batteries - LED #3 steady on : Up to 16V is applied with current limited to 0,2A. If the battery
is unable to accept a charge TURBO recovery will engage after 5 seconds. Batteries able to accept 0,2A of charge current will advance
to PULSE recovery.
3.2 TURBO recovery for very badly neglected batteries removed from the vehicle - Output voltage increases to a maximum of 20V
with current limited to 0,2A. The charger’s special recovery mode cannot engage if it senses that the battery is still connected to a
vehicle wiring circuit which effectively offers a lower electrical resistance than the battery on its own. However, if the deep-discharged
battery is not removed for recovery, neither battery nor vehicle electronics will be damaged.
3.3 PULSE recovery -final 15 minutes - LED #3 steady on: Current up to 0,8A is delivered in pulses to prepare the battery to accept
normal charge. This mode is particularly effective for recovery of factory activated / “hi-performance” pure lead or cyclic cell AGM
batteries.
4. LED #4 Charge and charge verification
4.1 CHARGE: The BULK CHARGE stage delivers a constant current of about 0,8 Amps maximum into the battery, up to a voltage of
14,2 -14,5V.
4.2 VERIFICATION: The circuit verifies battery charge level.
If the battery requires further charging the programme reverts to BULK CHARGE for brief periods, delivering a variable current
pulse to the battery. These reversions may occur as many times as is necessary to reduce the battery’s current demand below
200mA at 13,6V (which is consistent with a battery that has accepted as much charge as its basic condition allows). (see
expected Charging time below.)
NOTE: For safety reasons there is an overall charge time limit of 48 hours.