5
USING THE OPTIMATE 5: PROCEEDING TO CHARGE
For safety reasons, the OptiMate output will only activate if a battery retaining at least 2V is connected.
VERY FLAT NEGLECTED BATTERIES:
Pay particularly close attention to the following which is especially important for
relatively small batteries such as those used on motorcycles, lawn tractors, jet-ski’s, snowmobiles and similar:
A battery left
deep-discharged for an extended period may develop permanent damage in one or more cells. Such batteries may heat up excessively
during high current charging.
Monitor the battery temperature during the first hour, then hourly there-after. Check for unusual signs, such as bubbling or leaking
electrolyte, heightened activity in one cell compared to others, or hissing sounds. If at any time the battery is uncomfortably hot to touch or
you notice any unusual signs, DISCONNECT THE CHARGER IMMEDIATELY.
ECO POWER SAVING MODE WHEN THE CHARGER IS CONNECTED TO AC SUPPLY:
The power converter
switches to ECO mode when the charger is not connected to a battery resulting in a very low power draw of less than 0.5W, equivalent to
power consumption of 0.012 kWh per day. When a battery is connected to the charger power consumption depends on the current demand
of the battery and its connected vehicle / electronic circuitry. After the battery has been charged and the charger is in long term
maintenance charge mode (to keep the battery at 100% charge) the total power consumption is estimated to be 0.060 kWh or less per day.
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.
SAVE
CHARGE
MAINTAIN
TEST
3
4
6
5
5 5
2
1
LED #1 Power on. Confirms AC power supply to the charger.
Light intensity is low during POWER SAVING
MODE.
LED #2 indicates inverse polarity
-
wrong output connections. Swap around to activate output.
LED #3
SAVE: For batteries that are deep discharged.
STEP 1 TEST BEFORE CHARGE :
For safety reasons, the OptiMate output will only activate if a battery retaining at least
2V is connected, whereupon the micro processor instantly diagnoses the battery condition and engages the appropriate
charge mode and lights the corresponding charge status LED.
STEP 2 PULSE LOW VOLT SAVE (from 2V) :
Current up to 4A is delivered in pulses to prepare the battery to accept
normal charge.
This mode is particularly effective for recovery of factory activated / “hi-performance” pure lead or
cyclic cell AGM batteries.
Charge time: Minimum 15 minutes, maximum 2 hours.
LED #4
CHARGE: Lights if battery is NOT deep discharged at connection or has progressed from SAVE mode.
STEP
3 BULK CHARGE:
The BULK CHARGE stage delivers a constant current of 4 Amps maximum into the battery, up to
a voltage of 14.2 -14.5V.
STEP 4 OPTIMIZE:
The OPTIMIZE CHARGE mode starts when the voltage has reached 14.2 -14.5V for the first time
during BULK CHARGE stage. The control circuit now delivers pulses of current for 30 minutes to equalise the
individual cells within the battery. The battery's charge level is verified. If the battery requires further charging the
program will extend OPTIMIZE charge up to a maximum of 4 hours.
NOTE:
For safety reasons there is an overall charge time limit of 72 hours.
LED #5 / 6 -
VOLTAGE RETENTION TESTS ALTERNATING HALF-HOURLY* WITH BATTERY MAINTENANCE
STEP 5 VOLTAGE RETENTION TEST (LED #5 flashing):
Delivery of current to the battery is interrupted for
30 minutes*
to
allow the program to determine the battery's ability to retain charge. For batteries with a good state of health LED #5 (green)
should continue to flash for the full
30 minutes*
period.
