TecMate International Optimate Modo De Empleo página 7

3.
LED #3 SAVE lights If the battery is extremely flat (deep-discharged or sulphated), Time: 4 hours.
3.1 LOW VOLT SAVE (from 2V) to 8.8V ( LED #3 steady on ) : Current is limited to 200mA so that the battery may
gently recover to a safe voltage level of 8.8 Volts. Batteries able to accept 0.2A of charge current will advance to
PULSE recovery.
3.2 PULSE recovery - LED #3 steady on: Current up to 2A 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
4.
LED #4 Charge and charge verification
4.1 CHARGE: The BULK CHARGE stage delivers a constant current of about 2 Amps into the battery, up to a voltage
of 14.2 -14.5V.
4.2 Optimize / Pulsed absorption: Engages when the voltage has reached 14.3V for the first time during CHARGE
mode. Current is delivered in pulses, varying between 0.2 and 2A and up to a voltage of 14.2 - 14.4V, to bring the
battery to full charge in the shortest possible time. Charge time is usually extended if there is higher than expected
current draw by connected circuitry or battery health is less than optimal.
NOTE: For safety reasons there is an overall charge time limit of 48 hours.
5.
VOLTAGE RETENTION TEST: LED #5 flashes every 3 seconds
(single flash = good lead-acid battery, double flash = good lithium battery)
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 flash for the full 30 minute
period (single flash = good lead-acid battery, double flash = good lithium battery). For a battery unable to retain at least
12.4V, LED #6 will light and the program will immediately progress to STEP 6. 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 sufficient
power once it is returned to service.
6.
MAINTENANCE CHARGE: LED #5 / 6
LED #5 or 6 indicates depending on the outcome of the voltage retention test.
The maintenance charge mode is designed to preserve the DC source battery whilst maintaining the battery connected
for maintenance at full charge. Intermittent charge is delivered to keep the battery maintained at full charge.
Charge is delivered when voltage of the maintained battery reduces below 13.2V and continues until the voltage reaches
13.6V. LED #5 or 6 indicates continuously during the charge period. After reaching 13.6V charging is interupted and
the voltage is monitored. During battery monitoring mode LED #5 or 6 will flash. The Maintenance Charge (STEP 6)
and Voltage retention (STEP 5) alternate and repeat every 30 minutes until either the SOURCE battery (or DC supply) or
MAINTAINED battery is disconnected or the SOURCE battery is completely discharged.
NOTE 1: Current demand is determined by the battery and the circuitry connected to the battery. A higher current
demand will deplete the source battery faster.
NOTE 2: If during the MAINTENANCE CHARGE a battery voltage drops below 12.4V, possibly due to a high current draw
from an external circuit connected to the battery, LED #4 CHARGE lights and a continuous 2A charge will be delivered.
Maintaining a battery for extended periods:
good, for months at a time. At least once every two weeks, check that the connections between the charger and battery
are secure, and, in the case of batteries with filler caps on each cell, disconnect the battery from the charger, check the
level of the electrolyte and if necessary, top up the cells (with distilled water, NOT acid), then reconnect. When
handling batteries or in their vicinity, always take care to observe the SAFETY WARNINGS above.
Notes on TEST results:
1. If the red LED #6 lights a significant problem exists. The red LED means that after being charged the battery's voltage
is not being sustained above 12.4V (roughly equal to 50% charge in a sealed AGM battery) or that despite recovery
attempts the battery was irrecoverable. This may be due to a defect in the battery itself, such as a short-circuited cell or
total sulphation, or, in the case of a battery still connected to the electrical system it supports, the red LED #6 may be
signalling a loss of current through deteriorated wiring or a degraded switch or contact, or in-circuit current-consuming
accessories. A sudden load such as vehicle headlights being switched on while the charger is connected can also cause
the battery voltage to dip significantly.
2. GOOD TEST RESULT, but the battery cannot deliver sufficient power: Permanent damage within the battery may be
causing excessive self discharge (caused by the battery itself, even a partly damaged battery may initially retain
sufficient power, but lose power faster than normal there-after). Disconnect the battery from the OptiMate. After at least
12 hours reconnect and observe if SAVE LED #3 lights, indicating the battery was unable to hold charge. If CHARGE LED
#4 lights the battery retained at least 12.4V. Or measure the voltage and compare to table 1 on page 2.
The OptiMate will maintain a battery whos basic condition is
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