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SECTION 4.4 – SET UP MODE –
ALARM FUNCTIONS
alarm display will either show “A LU” for Alarm Low Voltage, “A HU” for
Alarm High Voltage or “A LS” for Alarm Low Status. If “PA t” has been
set, then when the alarm triggers, the display will alternate in 2 ways. It
will show the current display (3 seconds), then it will show “A Lt” (Alarm
Low status timed),(1 second), it will then revert to the normal display (3
seconds), it will then show the time in hours and minutes until the alarm
is due to deactivate (for 1 second). For 9 hours 45 minutes, the display
would show “t9.45”. Note that when the display reaches 0.00 there could
actually be up to 30 seconds remaining. This is because the timer does
not display the seconds.
Changing the alarm type will cancel any currently active alarms. Alarm
set points and timers can be changed, and the existing alarm will remain
active. But actually changing the alarm type (such as from low voltage
to low status) will cancel the currently active alarm. This is a simple way
of cancelling an active alarm. If the display is in sleep mode then the
alarm output will still activate but the alarm status display will not show,
however the Alarm LED on the front panel will still light up. Pressing
either button will show what type of alarm has activated in case you
forget which type you set. And in the case of “PA t” will show the time
remaining before deactivation.
Set-up mode - Secondary Alarm
The secondary alarm activates the alarm output, which can drive an external audible warning device or warning
light in an error code event. The display will show “SA x”, “SA” signifying Secondary Alarm, “x” showing the cur-
rent setting. The default is “O”, Off. “x” can be set to any of the following:- O Off Default. Error codes will never
activate the alarm output.
U Voltage Error codes E 02 and E 03 (low- or high-voltage warnings for selected battery type) will activate the
alarm output. Note that if error codes are disabled (the next function in the set-up menu) this secondary alarm will
not operate. Range Error code “E04” (measurement range error) will activate the alarm output. Power lost Error
code “E01” (Power lost) will activate the alarm output. Note that if any error codes are disabled (the next function
in the set-up menu) then the disabled error codes will not activate this alarm.
SECTION 4.5 – SET UP MODE –
DEFEATING ERROR CODES
In some circumstances, it may be necessary to defeat the error code functions in Smartgauge™. Most
installations, particularly those where loads are used at the same time as charging, use what are known as 2 or
3 stage chargers. These chargers use a combination of an initial (the first stage) “constant current” charge cycle
(usually referred to as the bulk stage) then switch to a second stage of constant voltage (usually referred to as
the acceptance or absorption cycle). Three stage chargers then switch to a third cycle known as “float”. These
types of chargers usually keep to within very well accepted voltage limits during the charge cycle.
Certain constant voltage chargers may provide a very high charge
voltage of around 16 volts or more for a short period of time which can
trigger repetitive or continual E 03 error codes in Smartgauge™. For this
reason the next setting on the set-up menu allows error codes E 02 and
E 03 to be defeated. The display will show “EC x” signifying Error Codes
and “x” being either “1” for error codes enabled (the default) or “O” for
error codes disabled. Note that this setting only affects error codes E 02
and E 03. The other error codes will continue to operate. Note that error
code E 02 is a low voltage warning code. The reason this code is also
disabled is that users of the types of chargers that may trigger the E 03 error code are usually experienced users
who are aware of how far they can push batteries in order to get the maximum usage from them.
Indicates Alarm – High Voltage
Indicates Alarm – Low Voltage