Mastervolt IVO SMART 12/30-2, User Manual, Page: 4 / 24

4
TECHNOLOGY
/
INSTALLATION
THE BATTERY CHARGER AS FLOAT CHARGER
It is possible to use the charger as a “trickle” charger. The
charger supplies a constant output voltage of 13.25V
(26.5V). For this mode you can remove a jumper on the
front (see chapter 5).
BATTERY SELECTION
The optimal charge voltage for a wet lead acid battery dif-
fers from the gel battery. Therefore it is possible to switch
over to a higher float voltage (13,8V for 12V) necessary
for gel batteries. You increase this output voltage by re-
moving a jumper on the front panel (see chapter 5).
THEORY OF OPERATION
The IVO battery charger has a three-step charge charac-
teristic (see fig. 1).
Phase 1: Main charge, “BULK”
The first step “BULK” starts after switching on the IVO
charger. In this phase, the charger supplies the maximum
current until the battery reaches 14.40V. When the battery
reaches this limitation area the charge current wil decrea-
se. Bulk duration is maximum 6 hours, depending on the
battery’s condition and charge rate. The yellow “bulk” LED
will light up during this phase.
Phase 2: “ABSORPTION”
The second step “ABSORPTION” starts automatically
after the battery has reached a voltage of 14.25V. The
battery is in this case charged approx. 80% or more.The
charger remains in this “absorption” phase untill the char-
ge current drops for a periode of 15 min. below 2.5A. If the
charge current will not drop below 2.5A, a clock will switch
the “absorption” mode off after 6 hours, while the battery
is charged with a constant voltage up to 100% in “trickle
charge”. The current consumption in the absorption mode
depends on the capacity of the batteries and will decrease
slowly. During the absorption phase both the “bulk” LED
and the “absorption” LED will light up.
Phase 3: Trickle charge, “FLOAT”
The third stage, “FLOAT”, starts when the “absorption”
phase has been completed. In the “float” mode, the char-
ger automatically switches back to a lower output voltage
of 13,25V. This voltage is sufficient to maintain the battery
at a 100% charge. During this phase, the charge voltage
can be entirely used for the supply of the users connected
to the battery. If necessary the charger automatically
switches back to the “absorption” mode. During this mode
all yellow LED’s will light up.
Current consumption from mains or generator
The charger produces no phase shift, because the input
current follows the AC voltage waveform so a power
factor of 1.0 or “unity” is achieved. The shape of the input
current waveform is the same as the input voltage e.g.
sinusoïdal. Therefore the input current is very low compa-
red to conventional chargers.
Low ripple on output
The charger has a very low ripple on the output, which pre-
vents interference in the DC circuit. The ripple is less than
100 mV with a maximum battery load.
Automatic temperature charge voltage compensation
When a temperature sensor is connected to the start or
service battery, the IVO Smart will automatically adjust the
charge voltage with 30mV/ºC. The temperature sensor
shall be mounted in such a way that a sensible indication
is given from the battery temperature.
Automatic voltage sense compensation
The IVO Smart will automatically compensate for the
voltage drop across the cable connection to the battery.
The charger is programmed in such a way that a separate
sense connection is no longer necessarily.
5 INSTALLATION
Install the IVO battery charger in a dry, well ventilated
area, as close as possible to the batteries. Although the
battey charger has a high efficiency, some heat will be
produced. This heat will be discharged by a fan with varia-
ble speed. At installation of the battery charger be sure
that:
• the air flow is not obstructed;
• no water and/or dust can enter the cabinet.
MOUNTING THE IVO CHARGER
The charger can be either horizontal or vertical mounted.
We recommend vertical, because the heat convection is
from bottom to top.
Fig. 1 Charge caracteristic IVO Smart.