TecMate Optimate3+ - Manual (Page 4)

USING THE OPTIMATE ™ 3+
The clauses below are numbered the same as the quick guide on the inside front cover.
1. and 2. Connections and input power
Connect the charger to the battery: RED clamp to POSITIVE (POS, P, +) terminal and BLACK clamp to NEGATIVE (NEG,
N,–) terminal. Now you are ready to start:
1. Connect the charger to a mains supply socket providing AC supply of 220 to 240V. The “POWER ON” LED #1
should illuminate. If not, check your AC supply and the connection to it.
2. If the INVERSE POLARITY LED #2 indicates, the battery connections are incorrect. The charger is electronically
protected so no damage will result, and the output will be disabled automatically. Disconnect the AC input,
swap the battery connections around, then restore the AC input power.
3. Circuit activation and recovery of deep-discharged, neglected batteries
For safety reasons, the OptiMate ™ output will only switch on if a battery retaining at least 2V is correctly connected to
it and to a live 220-240V input. If these conditions are not met, only the POWER ON LED #1 will light on the LED panel.
3.1 Immediately the output circuit is activated, the orange DESULFATE LED #3 comes on very briefl y while the
OptiMate
™ checks whether the battery can be charged effectively by the normal multi-stage programme. If it
can, the yellow CHARGE LED #4 will almost immediately replace the DESULFATE LED.
3.2 If the battery is extremely fl at (deep-discharged or sulphated), the DESULFATE LED will continue to indicate
for up to 2 hours while a special high voltage is applied to force a very small fi xed current into the battery in
a recovery attempt. The charge voltage is limited at a maximum 20V while the circuit attempts to deliver a
current of 200mA into the battery. Ths can continue for up to 2 hours maximum, or until the moment when the
automatic circuit judges that the battery can accept the normal charging programme. At this moment or in any
case after the maximum time limit of 2 hours has elapsed, the CHARGE mode (§ 4) will engage.
NOTE: 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 charging. Stop charging any battery immediately if it is uncomfortably
hot to touch.
4. Charge and charge verifi cation
4.1 The BULK CHARGE stage (steady LED #4) delivers a constant current of about 0,6 Amps into the battery. This
will cause the charging voltage to increase gradually. When it reaches 14,3V, the OptiMate
™ will start the
absorption and CHARGE VERIFICATION stage.
4.2 CHARGE VERIFICATION (fl ashing LED #4): The charging voltage is now limited at 13,6V during 30 minutes
whilst the battery’s charge level is verifi ed. If the battery requires further charging the programme will revert to
the main CHARGING stage (§ 4.1) and yellow LED #4 will indicate steadily again. When the rising voltage again
signals that the battery is approaching full charge the circuit reverts to VERIFICATION and LED #4 resumes
fl ashing. These reversions may occur as many times as is necessary to reduce the battery’s current demand
below 200mA at 13,6V (which is consistent with a battery that has accepted as much charge as its basic
condition allows). As soon as the circuit has verifi ed that the charge is adequate (signaled by LED #4 having
fl ashed continuously and consistently for a full 30 minutes), the voltage retention test (see § 5) automatically
follows.
NOTE Some sealed “MF” or “AGM” batteries that have been neglected may cause the programme to advance to the
CHARGE VERIFICATION stage (4.2) without proceeding through the bulk CHARGE stage (§ 4.1). The built-in diagnostics
will detect and correct this anomaly. The circuit will oscillate between bulk charge and verifi cation as described in
§ 4.2.
5. and 6.
Voltage retention tests alternating half-hourly with battery maintenance
The fi rst VOLTAGE RETENTION TEST period of 30 minutes follows § 4.2, thereafter a 30 minute MAINTENANCE period.
These 30 minute TEST and MAINTENANCE periods then alternate for as long as the battery remains connected.
Delivery of current to the battery is interrupted for 30 minutes during voltage retention test periods to allow the
battery to rest (thereby minimizing loss of water from the electrolyte) and to allow the circuit to monitor the battery’s
voltage decline to determine its ability to retain charge and deliver power.
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