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F3 Series Charger Manual 

Overview 

 

This manual covers installation, operation and troubleshooting of SENS model F3 filtered battery charger. 
 

1.1 

READ THIS FIRST 

 

Please follow the installation and use instructions.  They are vital to the satisfactory operation of the 
charger.  If you have any doubts about adjusting, maintaining or servicing the equipment, contact SENS 
service department. 
 
Changing factory-set potentiometers 

voids the warranty

 Contact the factory if you believe that the 

settings on your charger are incorrect.Before determining that the charger is not working correctly, check 
the following: 
 
1. Are three phases of AC power available to the charger? 
2. Are any circuit breakers tripped or fuses blown? 
3. Is the charger connected to a battery of the correct voltage? 
4. Was the charger damaged in transit or installation?   
5. The charger may have shut down to excessive output voltage.  To ensure that the high volt shutdown 

has been reset, turn off both the AC input breaker and DC output breaker for five minutes.  This is 
more than sufficient time for the DC voltage to decay and reset the shutdown. 

6. If the battery is being over- or undercharged, check whether the output voltage settings have been 

tampered with.  The pots should be covered with either white adhesive paper dots or a hard colored 
varnish.  

Under no circumstances change the adjustment of control board pots other than R33 and 

R34.  

 

 
 

1.1  

Description and Application 

 
The F3 is a fully automatic battery charger and DC current source offering the following features: 
 
• Constant voltage output 
• Electronic current limiting 
• Filtered output (on battery rated in AH four times amp rating of charger): 12, 24, 48V: 30 mV rms; 110, 

120V: 150 mV rms; 144,

 

240V: 300 mV rms 

• Filtered output without battery: 12, 24, 48V: 100 mV rms 
• With optional filter for 110 & 120V models: 30mV rms on battery, 300mV without battery 
• Temperature compensation to maximize battery performance and life 
• Circuit breakers for AC input and DC output 
 
The chargers are designed to supply equipment requiring a low ripple DC source and to automatically 
recharge and maintain a parallel connected lead-acid or nickel-cadmium battery.   
 
 

1.2 

Upon Delivery 

 

Inspect the charger for damage caused during transit, and report damage to the carrier immediately.  Then 
contact SENS to determine how best to repair/replace the damaged unit. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Summary of Contents for F3 SERIES

Page 1: ...106902 Date 11 20 15 1840 Industrial Circle Longmont CO 80501 Fax 303 678 7504 Tel 303 678 7500 Email service sensusa com Web www sens usa com Installation or Service problems Call SENS at 800 742 232...

Page 2: ...rdance with all local codes Do not expose charger to rain or snow Do not disassemble charger return to factory when service or repair is required Incorrect assembly may result in a risk of electric sh...

Page 3: ...tage to decay and reset the shutdown 6 If the battery is being over or undercharged check whether the output voltage settings have been tampered with The pots should be covered with either white adhes...

Page 4: ...mounting dimensions Relay Rack Mounting The charger is shipped on its back with the mounting flanges in the wall mount position Place the charger in a vertical position then unbolt and reverse the mo...

Page 5: ...AC requirement of your charger The input voltage and frequency are marked on the charger s front panel Maximum current consumption will be approximately 75 to 80 of the breaker s rating Typical effic...

Page 6: ...none none Ground fault LED none none Ground fault LED none none Ground fault or Form C contact none Summary of above Summary of above Form C contact Connect to the charger s Form C contacts according...

Page 7: ...s OK if the battery voltage is different from the nominal value by a few percent If the battery voltage is more than 10 different from the rated voltage of the charger recheck your connections BEFORE...

Page 8: ...on the charger will start in the boost mode and stay there until current demanded drops below about 50 of the charger s rated current When current demand increases to about 70 of the charger s rated o...

Page 9: ...he charger has malfunctioned LOW DC Indicates that DC voltage has dropped to approximately 8 5 below nominal battery voltage e g 22 volts for a 24 volt system Probable causes a The AC power has failed...

Page 10: ...ion of high voltage shutdown GROUND optional This is a ground fault alarm If either the charger s positive or negative is connected to ground even through a high resistance path this alarm will activa...

Page 11: ...2 21 High DC shutdown 15 19 30 39 40 52 60 78 151 95 212 73 303 89 Chargers set for flooded lead acid battery 12 volt 24 volt 32 volt 48 volt 120 volt 168 volts 240 volt Float voltage 13 32 26 64 35 5...

Page 12: ...d except when either charger is in BOOST mode whether activated manually or via the AUTO BOOST system or if either charger is operating in current limit Chargers will share the load within 10 of each...

Page 13: ...g diode short Check all power devices for shorts Replace shorted device s DC fuse blows or DC breaker trips Control board failure Replace with known good board Replace board send bad board to SENS for...

Page 14: ...lter capacitor Disconnect capacitors one at a time and check for change in output voltage Replace capacitor that corrected output voltage when removed Alarms or indicators not functioning Alarm displa...

Page 15: ...te a defective SCR Test 5 Due to the modest cost of the control circuit we recommend that the entire unit be replaced rather than attempting to repair it If the troubleshooting guide has not revealed...

Page 16: ...F3 Series Charger Manual 16...

Page 17: ...TOBOOST returns charger to f loat v oltage 100 charger output current 50 to 75 of charger current limit Amps Volts Charger output current Battery voltage NOTE Zero current f low 0 Time When the charge...

Page 18: ......

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Page 20: ...it with a new or refurbished one of the same or similar design The repair or replacement will be warranted for the remainder of the original two year warranty period If we determine that your charger...

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