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Variations in this charge stage are highly dependent on the battery Charge
MODE selected. Flooded Lead Acid batteries are often aggressively charged
to high voltage levels to force internal gassing which helps to mix the
electrolyte. AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries differ in that this stage limits
upper voltage regulation levels which helps prevent them drying out.
Upon completion of this stage, nearly 100% of total charge is delivered to a
typical lead acid battery. (This stage is typically not applied to Lithium cells)
FLOAT / MAINTENANCE Charge Stage:
The entry into this stage typically signifies that the battery is FULLY charged
and has a Green LED ‘Charged’ indicator associated with it.
No further charging action occurs. However, all batteries, regardless of
chemistry, self-discharge at a rate that is proportional to ambient temperature
meaning that if a battery sits on a table completely disconnected from all
loads, it will self-discharge over many months.
This charge stage, depending on the MODE selected will either:
o
Regulate at a low voltage level to supply a ‘trickle current’ to ‘MAINTAIN’
battery at full charge (prevent self-discharge), or
o
Re-start charging if the battery voltage decays below a trigger voltage level
Common Traits Applied to All Charge Stages:
Each Charge Stage employs the use of a ‘Safety Timer’ to time out and end
that stage if the stage process took too long without achieving the desired
targeted results.
Normally, each Stage ends when the charger detects that the battery has
reached the proper level of charge for that stage. However, each Charge
Stage has a preset timer that limits how long that stage may run. In cases
where the battery capacity has diminished that timer may expire before the
Stage actually completes charging.
The Safety Timers are preset according to the MODE selected and their
time-out durations are based on the size of battery (Ampere-Hour rating of
the battery – also known as ‘AH’)
Upon Safety Timer time out, a decision is automatically established to
transition to the next stage, or advance immediately to the final stage –
Float/Maintenance Standby Stage, or terminate charge and display an Error
Code.
When a Stage Timer expires before the proper charge level is reached, the
charger controller makes a decision to either transition to the next stage,
advance immediately to the final Float/Maintenance Standby Stage, or
terminate charging and display an Error Code.
8. USB INTERFACE
Any high quality standard Micro-USB cable can be used to connect your PC
directly to the Charger’s USB Connector, located on the rear side. Through this
connection, these functions are accessed:
