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The LED indicators referred to below, and the clauses dealing with them, are sequenced as they may come on through the
course of the program.
LED
#1 - Power on. Confirms AC power supply to the charger.
For safety reasons, the OptiMate output will only activate if a battery retaining at least 4V is connected.
No charging following connection to a battery -voltage below 4V or wrong output connections. Swap around to activate output.
LED
#2 - Charge and charge verification
STEP1:
LOW VOLT SAVE (from 4V) to 8.8V (LED #2 flashing) :
Current is limited to 200mA so that the battery may gently
recover to a safe voltage level of 8.8 Volts, after which
current up to 0.6A is delivered in pulses to prepare the battery to
accept normal charge. Charge time: Minimum 15 minutes, maximum 2 hours.
STEP2: CHARGE
: The BULK CHARGE stage ( LED #2) delivers a constant current of about 0.6 Amps maximum into the battery,
up to a voltage of 14.2 -14.5V.
STEP3 : VERIFICATION:
For 30 minutes the program verifies the charge level. If the battery requires further charging the
programme reverts to BULK CHARGE for brief periods, delivering a variable current pulse to the battery. These reversions
may occur as many times as is necessary to reduce the battery’s current demand below 200mA at 13.6V (which is
consistent with a battery that has accepted as much charge as its basic condition allows). See expected Charging time
below.
NOTE:
For safety reasons there is an overall charge time limit of 24 hours, after which the program advances to STEP4.
LED#
3 - STEP4 : Voltage retention tests alternating half-hourly with battery maintenance
Voltage retention test -
NO CHARGE CURRENT is delivered for up to 30 minutes or until the voltage drops below 13.3V.
Maintenance
- float charge at a safe voltage limit of 13.6V and up to 0.6A is available .
The battery can draw current as required to support small loads and counter self-discharge. Maintenance and voltage retention
test periods continue alternating half-hourly until the battery is disconnected.
Battery problems / not charging :
1. LED #3 will not light or LED#2 and #3 alternate every 1-2 seconds: the battery may be unable to accept or hold sufficient
charge, or, in the case of a battery still connected to the vehicle’s wiring system, it may be signaling a loss of current through
deteriorated wiring or a degraded switch or contact, or in-circuit current-consuming accessories. Disconnect OptiMate from
AC supply and the battery, then :
a) if still connected to vehicle wiring, remove the battery from the vehicle, inspect and if the battery appears physically
undamaged, then for 1 hour, allow for the voltage to recover.
b) if the battery is in a very cold environment, move the battery where temperature is at least 15°C (60°F) and then for 1 hour (or
up to 24 hours if the battery was stored below freezing ) allow the battery to warm up naturally.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO WARM THE BATTERY ARTIFICIALLY.
Then, reconnect OptiMate to the battery and then reconnect OptiMate to AC power. If the problem persists, read point 2 below.
2. This OptiMate charger's primary function is to charge and maintain batteries that are in good health or might have been mildly
over discharged. Go to www.optimate1.com and find the OptiMate battery saving charger model able to safely and correctly
recover a severely sulphated lead-acid battery or an OptiMate Lithium charger that can safely recover a lithium battery from
a severely discharged state.
Maintaining a battery for extended periods:
The OptiMate will maintain a battery whos basic condition is good, for months
at a time. At least once every two weeks, check that the connections between the charger and battery are secure, and, in the case of
