SENS IQ Technical Manual
16
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8.3.2.2 Demand Based Automatic Equalize Mode
Press the front panel CHARGE MODE SELECT button to engage AUTO mode and see Section 8.6.2 to
activate either Standard or Dynamic Demand Based EQUALIZE.
CAUTION:
For systems with a large amount of continuous DC load (load separate from battery
charging current) the AUTO setting may force the charger into equalize charging mode
for longer than is required by the battery, possibly causing excessive charging of the
battery. This should be taken into account in the design of the system and in the choice of
charge mode setting.
8.3.2.2.2 Standard Demand Based Automatic Equalize Mode
Dynamic Demand Based Automatic EQUALIZE mode provides a battery interactive automatic EQUALIZE
cycle in a manner similar to that described below for Standard Demand Based Automatic EQUALIZE, but
automatically adapts to each application in real time by compensating for depth of discharge, varying load,
battery age and other variables. This Dynamic Equalize
TM
mode safely maximizes recharge performance
while cutting risk of overcharge that is associated with prolonged fixed charge cycles or excessive
EQUALIZE settings. This mode is preferable to the standard method due to overall better recharge
performance.
8.3.2.2.1 Dynamic Demand Based Automatic Equalize Mode
(factory default setting, available with version 3.00
or later firmware
)
Figure 5: Typical automatic charge sequence
the equalize voltage until the equalize time period (see Section 8.3) has expired, or the FLOAT setting is
selected manually with the front panel CHARGE MODE SELECT button. If the charger is switched from
EQUALIZE to FLOAT, then back to EQUALIZE, this resets the equalize time period.
S
tandard Demand Based Automatic EQUALIZE mode provides a battery interactive automatic EQUALIZE
cycle in which the charger measures the output current to determine state of charge of the battery. With the
charger in the AUTO mode and Demand Based EQUALIZE active, when the output current of the charger
exceeds about 95% of its adjustable current limit setting, the charger enters EQUALIZE mode. As the output
current tapers off to less than about 70% of the adjustable current limit setting, the charger reverts to FLOAT
mode. If the equalize time period has expired while in Demand Based EQUALIZE, the charger mode
selector automatically reverts to FLOAT. If the charger is switched from AUTO to FLOAT, then back to
AUTO, this resets the equalize time period. A typical automatic charge sequence is shown in
FIG
5
.