TecMate Optimate4 CAN-bus edition - Manual (Page 5)

5
PROGRAM 1 - STANDARD
VERY FLAT NEGLECTED BATTERIES: If the battery is deeply discharged (and possibly sulfated), remove from the
vehicle and inspect the battery before connecting the charger for a recovery attempt.
The charger’s TURBO 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. 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 fi rst 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.
PRE-QUALIFICATION TEST: LEDs #5 / 6 / 7
TEST LEDs #5/6/7 indicate the condition of the battery prior to charging. Charging commences after 10 seconds.
Consult the “EARLY WARNING OF BATTERY PROBLEMS” table on page 2 (illustration 2) for TEST LED indications.
LED #7 (red) fl ashing: OptiMate 4 is injecting a test signal to see if the battery is recoverable. Once the indication becomes
steady for up to 10 seconds charging will commence. If fl ashing continues the battery cannot be successfully recovered.
RECOVERY / DESULFATE: LED #3
This mode engages if during pre-qualifi cation LED #7 (red) or LED #6 (yellow) or both indicated. The program will
determine the correct charge mode. Charge time: Minimum 15 minutes, maximum 2 hours.
STANDARD recovery for neglected batteries - LED #3 steady on : Up to 16V is applied with current limited to
0,2A. If the battery is unable to accept a charge TURBO recovery will engage after 5 seconds. Batteries able to
accept 0,2A of charge current will advance to PULSE recovery.
TURBO recovery for very badly neglected batteries - LED #3 fl ashing: Output voltage increases to a maximum
of 22V with current limited to 0,2A.
PULSE recovery -fi nal 15 minutes - LED #3 steady on: Current up to 0,8A is delivered in pulses to prepare the
battery to accept normal charge. This mode is particularly effective for recovery of factory activated /
“hi-performance” pure lead or cyclic cell AGM batteries.
CHARGE: LED #4
BULK charge - LED #4 steady on: A constant current of 0,8A up to a voltage of 14,2 -14,4V is delivered to the battery.
FINAL charge - LED #4 fl ashing: Pulsed absorption step: Current is delivered in pulses, varying between 0,2 and 0,8A and up to
a voltage of 14,2 - 14,4V, to bring the battery to full charge in the shortest possible time. Verifi cation step: Once the current
demand is less than 0,2A the charging voltage is now limited at 13,6V whilst the battery's charge level is verifi ed.
If the battery requires further charging the program will revert to pulsed absorption.
If the battery has accepted as much charge as its basic condition allows the voltage retention step follows.
NOTE: For safety reasons there is an overall charge time limit of 48 hours.
VOLTAGE RETENTION TEST: LED #5 fl ashing
Delivery of current to the battery is interrupted for 30 minutes to allow the program to determine the battery's ability to retain
charge. For batteries with a good state of health LED #5 (green) should continue to fl ash for the full 30 minute period. Consult the
“EARLY WARNING OF BATTERY PROBLEMS” table on page 2 for LED indications other than LED #5 (green).
A signifi cant problem exists if the battery is unable to retain suffi cient charge during the 30 minute test period. Read the section
NOTES ON TEST RESULTS on reasons for poor test results or how to test a battery that returns a good result but cannot deliver
suffi cient power once it is returned to service.
MAINTENANCE CHARGE: LED #5 / 6 / 7 steady on
For 30 minutes the circuit offers current to the battery within a safe 13,6V voltage limit whilst the result of the voltage retention
test is displayed. Consult the “EARLY WARNING OF BATTERY PROBLEMS” table on page 2 for LED indications other than LED
#5 (green). The 30 minute fl oat charge maintenance periods follow and alternate wih the 30 minute VOLTAGE RETENTION TEST
periods until the battery is disconnected. A more detailed description of the automatic maintenance cycle for long term battery
storage can be found under the section AUTOMATIC BATTERY MAINTENANCE.