5
5.
For batteries with a good state of health the green LED #5 should flash at the start of the test period and
continue to flash for the full 30 minutes until the next 30 minute maintenance period commences, when the
LED indication reverts to steady.
6.
If the battery remains in circuit with the vehicle’s electrical system, and accessories or lights impose an
electrical load on the battery, the green LED may give way to a steady red LED indication.
Remove the battery from the vehicle and reconnect the OptiMate. The charge programme will in due course
again arrive at a voltage retention test result. If the LED indication is again red, read the following note.
NOTE ON RED LED INDICATION #6:
If the above test on a battery removed from the vehicle results in a red LED
indication, you are advised to take the battery to a professional service workshop equipped with a BatteryMate
™
motorcycle battery tester-charger ( www.batterymate.com ) or a TestMate
™
digital battery tester
(www.testmate.com), for a more thorough investigation. The red LED means that after being charged the battery’s
voltage is not being sustained or that despite recovery attempts the battery was irrecoverable. This may be due to a
defect in the battery itself, such as a short-circuited cell or total sulphation, or, in the case of a battery still connected
to the vehicle’s wiring system, the red LED #6 may be signalling a loss of current through deteriorated wiring or a
degraded switch or contact, or in-circuit current-consuming accessories. A sudden load such as the headlights being
switched on while the charger is connected can also cause the battery voltage to dip significantly. Always remove the
battery from the vehicle, reconnect the OptiMate
™
and allow it to proceed through its programme once more.
FINAL NOTE ON THE VOLTAGE RETENTION TEST:
This test is a strongly indicative but not necessarily a conclusive
test of battery condition, which can be more precisely established by using a TestMate
™
mini which tests 12V batteries
on the vehicle during cranking, as well as the charging system operation. Alternatively, contact a workshop as advised
above.
Automatic battery maintenance
The 30 minute float charge maintenance periods follow and alternate with the 30 minute test periods during which
there is no charge current. This “50% duty cycle” prevents loss of electrolyte in sealed batteries and minimizes
gradual loss of water from the electrolyte in batteries with filler caps, and thereby contributes significantly to
optimizing the service life of irregularly or seasonally used batteries. The circuit offers current to the battery within
a safe 13.6V voltage limit (“float charge”), allowing it to draw whatever small current is necessary to sustain it at
(or close to) full charge and compensate for any small electrical loads imposed by vehicle accessories or on-board
computer, or the natural gradual self-discharge of the battery itself.
NOTE:
Maintaining a battery for extended periods:
After activating the charger you should observe the LED
indications every few hours until the test result is displayed. If at any time the battery is hot to touch, disconnect it
from the charger and get it professionally tested using a BatteryMate
™
or TestMate
™
II electronic tester specifically
designed for that type of battery. At least once every two weeks, check that the connections between the charger and
battery are secure, and, in the case of batteries with filler caps on each cell, disconnect the battery from the charger,
check the level of the electrolyte and if necessary, top up the cells (with distilled water, NOT acid), then reconnect.
When handling batteries or in their vicinity, always take care to observe the SAFETY WARNINGS above.
Charging time
The time required for the OptiMate
™
3+ to complete a charge on a flat but not severely discharged and otherwise
undamaged battery is roughly equal to the battery’s Ah rating, so a 12Ah battery should take no more than about 12
hours to progress to the self-discharge check (§ 5). Deep-discharged batteries may take significantly longer.
NOTE:
The total charging time of the above steps 4.1 and 4.2 is not limited.
If using the OptiMate
™
3+ on a severely discharged automobile battery of larger capacity than the recommended rated
capacity range (2 to 35Ah), a full charge may require up to several days. In such cases, prolonged continuous charger
operation at maximum output and in warm ambient temperatures may cause the charger to become quite hot. For
best charger servie life, it is recommended that you switch off and allow the charger to cool thoroughly to room
temperature before reconnecting it to complete the charge.
Disconnection
Disconnect the OptiMate
™
first from the AC mains supply and then from the battery. Always disconnect from the
AC mains before reconnecting to the same or another battery. Close the rubber cap on the eyelets connection lead
(SAE-71) if this is attached to the battery, to protect its 2-pole connector against dirt and damp while the OptiMate
™
is
disconnected.
