Rev 6.3.0 12.09.16
PL Reference Manual
6
Fig. 1B - The Battery Charge Cycle
1
1.0 BATV Menu
The BATV screen, shown at power-up,
gives the real-time battery voltage.
Note:
There is a software version number
shown on the display for approximately 1
second each time the PL is turned on - this
is not a voltage.
Long push on BATV screen will display
current regulation cycle state.
The Battery Charge Cycle
The PL’s sophisticated regulation system is
designed to keep the battery fully charged
without overcharging it.
To achieve this, it uses a charge control process
with three main states. These states are Boost,
Absorption and Float. The PL also uses a fourth
state from time to time, called the Equalisation
state (See fig 1B.)
1.1 BOST (Boost)
In the boost stage, all the charge current available
is used to charge the battery. As the battery
charges, its voltage rises. When the voltage
reaches the boost maximum voltage (BMAX) and
remains there for 3 minutes, the controller will
automatically advance to the absorption stage.
Returning to Boost state
To get this charge cycle to repeat, the PL must
return to the boost state. There are three ways
that it can do this.
a. Low Battery Voltage
If the battery voltage falls below the boost return
voltage BRTN for more than 10 minutes, then
the PL will switch back into the boost state. The
delay is necessary to prevent large short term
loads causing unnecessary returns to Boost state.
b. Programmed boost cycles (optional)
The PL will automatically do a boost cycle after a
set number of days (BFRQ), regardless of battery
voltage.
c. Manual boost
The user can manually set the PL into the boost
state (or any of the regulation states).
To manually advance to the next state, do a
long push on BATV. This will show the current
regulator state. (BOST=Boost, EQUL=Equalise,
ABSB=Absorption, or FLOT=Float). A long-
push on that state will manually advance the PL
into the next state. Or, to return to the BATV
screen without changing the state, do a short
push.
Note:
if ETIM is 0, then the Equalise state will
be bypassed. If ATIM is 0, then the Absorb state
will be bypassed.
BATTERY VOLTAGE
TIME
BOOST EQUALISATION ABSORBTION FLOAT BOOST
BRTN
FLTV
ABSV
EMAX
BMAX
ETIM
ATIM
Fig. 1B - The Battery Charge Cycle
BOST EQUL ABSB FLOT
BATV
CHRG
LOAD
IN
OUT
DATA
SET
Fig. 1A - The BATV Menu Structure
