Pioneer 2TM User Manual
Page 58
ActivMedia Robotics Operating System
The "overcharge" bit ID7 is set (1) when the batteries are well below full charge and the
charger is at full charging current. During this bulk-charging period, the battery voltage
rises to around 13.8-14V. The overcharge bit ID7 then drops to low (0) while the batteries
charge from approximately 80% to 90% of full charge: from ~13.8 to 14.7V. The charger
then reverts to "float mode", maintaining full charge at much lower current and charger
voltage (~13.5V).
In float mode, the overcharge bit ID7 is set.
Accordingly, by monitoring the power-good and overcharge bits, as well as the battery
voltage, your client may make recharging strategy decisions. The thing to remember is
that lead-acid batteries last longest when routinely charged into float mode, typically
once per day.
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