TecMate Optimate6 - Manual (Page 5)

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3.1 If the assessment is positive the voltage remains limited at 16V and the DESULFATE LED #3 remains on.
3.2 If the assessment is negative, typically for a badly neglected battery that has not received any charge for many months,
the second more powerful TURBO stage will engage with the voltage limit reset to 22V. TURBO RECOVERY mode is
indicated by a fl ashing DESULFATE LED #3.
3.3 Once the battery accepts the very low set current (0,4A LED #8 indicating) the voltage will reduce until the moment
when the automatic circuit judges that the battery can accept the fi nal stage of the recovery programme. If the
DESULFATE LED #3 was fl ashing during the TURBO mode (§3.2), it will now revert to steady indication. During 15
minutes the ampmatic™ current control will now deliver current in pulses (as displayed by LEDs #8, 9 and 10)
whilst maintaining the voltage below 14,3V, to further prepare the battery to accept normal charge. This mode is
particularly effective for initiating recovery of factory activated / “hi performance” pure lead or cyclic cell AGM batteries.
NOTE: If the battery remains connected to the vehicle electrical system (even with ignition key in off position) the TURBO
recovery stage cannot engage.
4. Bulk and pulsed absorption charge
The BULK CHARGE stage (steady LED #4) will engage if the micro processor determines that the battery can accept
charge at normal voltages levels.
4.1 The ampmatic ™ charge current monitoring and control mode automatically determines the most effi cient rate of
charge current for the connected battery, according to its state of charge, state of health, and electrical storage
capacity. The delivered current may be anywhere from 0,4A to 5A. For most discharged (but not totally fl at) batteries of
rated capacity 12Ah or more, CURRENT LED #10 should also light up.
4.2 The PULSED ABSORPTION stage (fl ashing CHARGE LED #4) starts when the voltage has reached 14,3V for the fi rst time
during BULK CHARGE stage. The
ampmatic ™ current control circuit now delivers pulses of current for 10 minutes
so as to cause the battery voltage to vary between 13,7V and 14,3V, to equalise the individual cells within the battery
and bring it to full charge as rapidly as possible. Charge current LED #8 and possibly #9 (
ampmatic ™) and #10
(5A) will light when current is delivered.
4.3 CHARGE VERIFICATION (fl ashing LED #4) follows PULSED ABSORPTION. The charging voltage is now limited at 13,6V
during 5 minutes whilst the battery’s charge level is verifi ed. If the battery requires further charging (indicated by the
0,4A charge current LED pulsing strongly) the programme will revert to the PULSED ABSORPTION stage (§ 4.2). 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). As soon as the
circuit has verifi ed that the charge is adequate the voltage retention test (see § 5) automatically follows.
NOTE 1 For safety reasons there is an overall time limit of 48 hours for programme stages 3.1 through 4.3.
5. 6. 7. Initial and extended voltage retention tests and battery maintenance
charging
During the VOLTAGE RETENTION TEST delivery of current to the battery is interrupted to allow the circuit to monitor the
battery’s voltage decline to determine its ability to retain charge and deliver power.
The initial 30 minute VOLTAGE RETENTION TEST follows § 4.3 during which a small load of 100mA is applied to improve the
accuracy of the result. For batteries with a good state of health the green TEST LED #5 should fl ash at the start and continue
throughout the test period, otherwise LEDs #5 + 6 or 6 or 6 + 7 or 7 will fl ash and indicate voltage measured during the test
(see table below).
INTERPRETATION OF POSSIBLE LED INDICATIONS DURING OR AFTER THE VOLTAGE RETENTION TEST:
RED #7 RED #7 +
YELLOW #6 YELLOW #6 YELLOW #6 +
GREEN #5 GREEN #5
BATTERY TYPE VOLTAGE BELOW
12,2V VOLTAGE 12,2
– 12,4V VOLTAGE 12,4
– 12,5V VOLTAGE 12,5
– 12,7V 12,7V +
WITH FILLER
CAPS READ NOTE
BELOW REPLACE MAY NEED
REPLACING SOON GOOD VERY GOOD
AGM SEALED MF READ NOTE
BELOW REPLACE NOW REPLACE MAY NEED
REPLACING SOON GOOD
GEL SEALED MF READ NOTE
BELOW REPLACE NOW REPLACE MAY NEED
REPLACING SOON GOOD
If the result after the initial 30 minute voltage retention test is anything other than green LED #5, the LED(s) fl ashing at that
moment will now remain on, indicating the result is locked and testing has been concluded and a MAINTENANCE CHARGING
cycle has started.
EXTENDED VOLTAGE RETENTION TEST: If only the GREEN LED #5 is fl ashing at the end of the initial 30 minute voltage
retention test, the test will be extended, indicated by the LED fl ashing mode changing from single pulse
(- - - -) to double pulse (-- -- --). The extended voltage retention test checks for excessive self discharge (caused by the battery