Alpha Technologies Spectra Series - Manual (Page 40)

Preliminary Operating Instructions 40 of 62 AIP SERVICE NUMBER 1-800-863-3364
The working components of the charger are cooled by natural convection. If dust and debris are allowed
to build up, they will restrict airflow and cause these components to overheat.
Moisture may cause electrical shorting and/or corrosion. It may also combine with dust and debris
making them more difficult to remove. Do not use liquids to clean the working components of the
charger as they may damage them. Compressed air should be used to clean dust and debris from the
charger and its components
It may be necessary to remove the top panel and/or a side panel from the charger enclosure to allow
access to the internal parts for cleaning.
Always be careful not to bump the wiring or components. This could cause loose connections or
failures.
14.3 CHECK AREA AROUND CHARGER
The area around the charger must remain clean, cool, dry, and well ventilated. Check for obstructions to
airflow, clearances, or other violations of the requirements in SECTION 4 of this manual on “LOCATION
FOR CHARGER INSTALLATION”.
14.4 VISUAL INSPECTION
Check the charger for any physical failures, such as loose contacts or hardware, excess wear, or
damage. Darkened or hot terminals should be tightened or replaced.
14.5 BATTERY CONDITION
Batteries must be well maintained for the charging system to operate properly. Follow the battery
manufacturer’s instructions for battery maintenance. Check for loose connections or corrosion. Periodic
cleaning and watering of non-sealed batteries is very important. Logging the water usage of non-sealed
batteries is useful. As a battery ages it will use more water and increase in float current.
CAUTION: CHECK THE DC CONNECTIONS FROM THE CHARGER TO THE BATTERY AND
MAKE SURE THEY ARE TIGHT AND CLEAN. TIGHTEN AND/OR CLEAN IF NEEDED. FAILURE
TO DO SO COULD CAUSE MALFUNCTION, FIRE, OR EXPLOSION.
DC connections may become corroded over time. If the connections become corroded, they should be
cleaned as recommended by the battery manufacturer.
After the connections are cleaned, a battery connection treatment should be applied to help prevent
corrosion from reoccurring. Contact the battery manufacturer for their recommendations.
15. SERVICING THE CHARGER
The battery chargers are fully tested and calibrated with factory default values. If properly installed and set up,
the charger should require very little attention.
The manual has a Troubleshooting Guide with a section on interpreting fault codes and LEDs and for help in
repairing most of the problems that may occur. If the symptom does not appear in the guide or the repair does
not work, consult your sales or service representative to arrange for on site or factory service.
If a problem does occur, the following steps should help the user or technician find the problem and determine
what is necessary to correct it and return the charger to service:
1) Make note of any information about the Charging System (Charger, Battery, Battery Bus or Wiring, AC
Power Supply and other equipment hooked to the Charger). Write down the symptoms, such as, condition
of the batteries, what does the charger display show for voltage, current and fault codes, condition of the
charger circuit breakers, condition of any other circuit breakers or fuses in the charging system. If
possible, measure the DC voltage at the battery, DC voltage at the charger, DC current from the charger,
AC input voltage, and AC input current. Open the AC and DC breakers to prevent equipment damage or
personal injury.