TecMate OptiMate 5 voltmatic Serie Modo De Empleo página 5

USING THE OPTIMATE 5
voltmatic
For safety reasons, the OptiMate output will only activate if a battery retaining at least 1V is connected, whereupon the
circuit instantly diagnoses the battery condition and engages the appropriate charge mode and lights the corresponding charge
status LED.
ECO POWER SAVING MODE WHEN THE CHARGER IS CONNECTED TO AC SUPPLY:
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.
1
2
6V 6V
12V 12V
voltmatic voltmatic
3
SAVE
4
1.
LED #1 (6V) & LED #2 (12V): Confirms AC Power supply to the charger. LED #1 (6V) & LED #2 (12V) alternate until a
battery is connected, where-after the voltmatic processor will select 6V or 12V charge mode according to battery voltage.
Battery voltage lower than 8V: 6V charge mode is selected. Battery voltage higher than 8V: 12V charge mode is selected.
A
very flat neglected 12V battery measuring less than 8V at the battery terminals will be selected as a 6V battery.
2. To save a low voltage 12V battery, 12V charging mode must be pre-selected as follows:
STEP 1. Disconnect OptiMate 5 from AC power supply. STEP 2. Connect battery clips together. STEP 3. Reconnect OptiMate 5
to AC power supply. 12V LED flashes for 3 seconds and then turns on, confirming 12V mode is pre-selected. STEP 4. Connect
OptiMate 5 to the 12V battery. Charging will proceed in 12V mode.
NOTE: Once the 12V battery is disconnected after charging OptiMate 5 will return to voltmatic mode.
3.
LED #3 indicates inverse polarity - wrong output connections. Swap around to activate output.
4.
LED #4 SAVE / DESULPHATION MODE Max. time: 2 hours
4.1 SAVE mode for low voltage sulphated batteries unable to accept or hold a charge - For a battery disconnected from
vehicle wiring (procedure described under point 4 of
SAFE high voltage low current desulphation* mode.
*The OptiMate SAFE low current, high voltage SAVE / DESULPHATION mode cannot engage if it senses that the battery is still
connected to a vehicle wiring circuit. However, if the deep-discharged battery is not removed recovery will start with the low
voltage PULSE desulphation mode. Desulphation is the electrochemical process of breaking up lead-sulfate crystals covering
the surface of the battery's lead plates that prevents the battery from accepting and holding charge.
4.2 PULSE desulphation for low voltage batteries able to accept some charge - Current is delivered in pulses and slowly
increased to prepare the battery to accept full charge. This mode is particularly effective for recovery of factory activated /
"hi-performance" pure lead or cyclic cell AGM batteries.
5.
LED #5: Charge, pulse absorption and cell equalization
5.1 BULK CHARGE: Up to full current is delivered into the battery to increase the voltage up to 14.2 -14.5V for a 12V battery
and 7.1 - 7.25V for a 6V battery.
5.2 Pulsed absorption, cell equalization: Current is delivered in pulses, varying between 0.4A and full current, within the
voltage limit of 14.2 -14.5V for a 12V battery and 7.1 - 7.25V for a 6V battery.
5.3 Verification: After a 10 minute period of pulsed absorption the battery's charge progress is verified. 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 or the 2 hour pulsed absorption limit has been reached the voltage retention step follows.
Charging time:
The time required for the OptiMate™5 to complete a charge on a flat but not severely discharged and
otherwise undamaged battery is roughly equal to 1/3 the battery's Ah rating, so a 60Ah battery should take no more than about
20-25 hours to progress to the Maintenance charge cycle. Deep-discharged batteries may take significantly longer.
For safety reasons there is an overall charge time limit of 72 hours for steps 4 and 5.
6
: PROCEEDING TO CHARGE
To reduce long term power
6 6
7
TEST - - -
MAINTAIN
CHARGE
5
CONNECTING THE CHARGER TO THE BATTERY) OptiMate 5 applies its
6.
LED #6 flashing: Voltage retention test
LED #6 flashes throughout the 30 minute test. NO CHARGE is delivered. A battery able to hold charge above 12.4V will proceed
to the Maintenance charge cycle.
7.
LED #6 on: Maintenance charge cycle
The maintenance charge cycle consists of 30 minute float charge periods alternating with a 30 minute 'rest' periods.
During the 30 minute charge period current is offered to the battery within a safe voltage limit ("float charge" 6.8V for a 6V
battery and 13.6V for a 12V battery), allowing it to draw whatever small current is necessary to maintain it at full charge and
compensate for any small electrical loads imposed by vehicle accessories or on-board computer, or the natural gradual
self-discharge of the battery itself.
During the 30 minute 'rest' cycle the charger automatically disconnects from the battery and no charge is delivered.
The 30 minute charge, 30 minute rest "50% duty cycle" prevents loss of electrolyte in sealed batteries and minimizes gradual
loss of water from the electrolyte in batteries with filler caps, and thereby contributes significantly to optimizing the service life
of irregularly or seasonally used batteries.
Maintaining a battery for extended periods:
battery at 100% charge, but never overcharging. 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.
8.
LED #7 on: Failed Voltage retention test
If the battery voltage falls below 12.4V during the voltage retention test LED #7 (red)** will come on and indicate steadily. A
charge is delivered to the battery for a period of 30 minutes after which the Voltage retention test (point 6) is repeated. A
repeated red light means that after being charged the battery's voltage is not being sustained or that despite recovery attempts
the battery was irrecoverable. Always remove the battery from the vehicle, reconnect the OptiMate™ and allow it to proceed
through its programme once more.
9.
LED #7 flashing: a neglected / sulphated 12V battery may have been too low to trigger the 12V charge mode. Pre-select the
12V setting per point 2 and charge again.
LIMITED WARRANTY
TecMate (International) SA, Sint-Truidensesteenweg 252, B-3300 Tienen, Belgium, makes this limited warranty to the original
purchaser at retail of this product. This limited warranty is not transferable. TecMate (International) warrants this battery
charger for three years from date of purchase at retail against defective material or workmanship. If such should occur the unit
will be repaired or replaced at the option of the manufacturer. It is the obligation of the purchaser to forward the unit together
with proof of purchase (see NOTE), transportation or mailing costs prepaid, to the manufacturer or its authorized representative.
This limited warranty is void if the product is misused, subjected to careless handling, or repaired by anyone other than the
factory or its authorized representative. The manufacturer makes no warranty other than this limited warranty and expressly
excludes any implied warranty including any warranty for consequential damages.
THIS IS THE ONLY EXPRESS LIMITED WARRANTY AND THE MANUFACTURER NEITHER ASSUMES NOR AUTHORIZES ANYONE TO
ASSUME OR MAKE ANY OTHER OBLIGATION TOWARDS THE PRODUCT OTHER THAN THIS EXPRESS LIMITED WARRANTY. YOUR
STATUTORY RIGHTS ARE NOT AFFECTED.
NOTE: Details at www.tecmate.com/warranty.
copyright © 2013 TecMate International
OptiMate 5 and the names of other battery care products mentioned in these instructions such as BatteryMate, TestMate and
TestMate mini, are registered trademarks of TecMate International NV.
WARRANTY in Canada, USA, Central America and South America:
TecMate North America, Oakville, ON, Canada, as a wholy owned subsidiary of TecMate International, assumes the
responsibility for product warranty in these regions.
More information on TecMate products can be found at www.tecmate.com.
The OptiMate will maintain a battery for months at a time, keeping the
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