TecMate Optimate5 - Manual (Page 6)

6
USING THE OPTIMATE 5: PROCEEDING TO CHARGE
For safety reasons, the OptiMate output will only activate if a battery retaining at least 2V is connected, whereupon the
circuit instantly diagnoses the battery condition and engages the appropriate charge mode and lights the corresponding charge
status LED.
The charger’s special recovery mode cannot engage if it senses that the battery is still connected to a vehicle wiring
circuit which effectively offers a lower electrical resistance than the battery on its own. However, if the deep-discharged
battery is not removed for recovery, neither battery nor vehicle electronics will be damaged.
VERY FLAT NEGLECTED BATTERIES: Pay particularly close attention to the following which is especially
important for relatively small batteries such as those used on motorcycles, lawn tractors, jet-ski’s, snowmobiles and
similar: 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 high current charging.
Monitor the battery temperature during the first hour, then hourly there-after. Check for unusual signs, such as bubbling or
leaking electrolyte, heightened activity in one cell compared to others, or hissing sounds. If at any time the battery is
uncomfortably hot to touch or you notice any unusual signs, DISCONNECT THE CHARGER IMMEDIATELY.
ECO POWER SAVING MODE WHEN THE CHARGER IS CONNECTED TO AC SUPPLY: To reduce long term power
consumption OptiMate 5 employs two converter circuits, a power converter to charge the battery and an auxiliary converter to
power the control circuitry and LED display. The power converter is switched off when the charger is not connected to a battery
resulting in a very low power draw of less than 1,7W, equivalent to power consumption of 0,042 kWh per day. When a battery
is connected to the charger power consumption depends on the current demand of the battery and its connected vehicle /
electronic circuitry. After the battery has been charged and the charger is in long term maintenance charge mode (to keep the
battery at 100% charge) the total power consumption is estimated to be 0,060 kWh or less per day.
The LED indicators referred to below, and the clauses dealing with them, are sequenced as they may come on through
the course of the program.
3
.1
3
.2
4
.1
4
.2
6
5 5
2
1
1. LED #1 - Power on. Confirms AC power supply to the charger. Light intensity is low during POWER SAVING MODE.
2. LED #2 indicates inverse polarity - wrong output connections. Swap around to activate output.
3. Circuit activation and recovery of deep-discharged, neglected batteries
3.1 ACTIVATION - If the battery voltage is above 2V, LED #3 lights briefly to confirm circuit activation.
For batteries with a good state of health LED #3 goes out immediately and charge LED #4 comes on.
3.2 RECOVERY - For neglected batteries in poor state of health, LED #3 remains on and indicates steadily. The charge
voltage is limited at a maximum 22V while the circuit attempts to deliver a current of 400mA into the battery.
If step 3 has not concluded after 2 hours, step 4 engages automatically.
4. Charge and charge verification
4.1 CHARGE: The BULK CHARGE stage (steady LED #4) delivers a constant current of about 2,8Amps maximum into the
battery, up to a voltage of 14,2 -14,5V.
4.2 VERIFICATION: LED #4 flashes while the circuit verifies battery charge level.
If the battery requires further charging the programme reverts to CHARGE for brief periods, delivering a variable current
pulse to the battery. These reversions may occur as many times as is necessary to reduce the battery’s current
demand below 400mA at 13,6V (which is consistent with a battery that has accepted as much charge as its basic
condition allows).
When LED #4 has flashed continuously for 30 minutes, step 5 engages and a voltage retention test starts.