Voltage Retention Tests Alternating Half-Hourly With Battery Maintenance - TecMate Optimate 4 Instructions For Use Manual

NOTE 1. For safety reasons there is an overall time limit of 48 hours for program stages 3.2 through 4.2.
NOTE 2. Some sealed "MF" or "AGM" batteries that have been neglected may cause the program to advance to
the CHARGE VERIFICATION stage (4.2) without proceeding through the bulk CHARGE stage (
diagnostics will detect and correct this anomaly. The circuit will oscillate between bulk charge and verification as
described in 4.2.
POINT
5., 6. and 7.

Voltage retention tests alternating half-hourly with battery maintenance

The first VOLTAGE RETENTION TEST period of 30 minutes follows
period. These 30 minute TEST and MAINTENANCE periods then alternate for as long as the battery remains
connected. Delivery of current to the battery is interrupted for 30 minutes during voltage retention test periods to
allow the battery to rest (thereby minimizing loss of water from the electrolyte) and to allow the circuit to monitor
the battery's voltage decline to determine its ability to retain charge and deliver power.
5.
For batteries with a good state of health the green LED #5 should flash at the start of the test period and
continue to flash for the full 30 minutes until the next 30 minute maintenance period commences, when
the LED indication reverts to steady. If the battery remains in circuit with the vehicle's electrical system, and
accessories or lights impose an electrical load on the battery, the green LED may give way to one or other
inferior LED indication during test or maintenance periods. See table below.
6.
At some stage during the test period the yellow TEST LED #6 may start to indicate alone or together with the
green #5 or red LED #7 according to the severity of the voltage decline. See table below. Normally voltage drop
is associated with some current flow see the NOTE following
in circuit with the vehicle's electrical system, if the decline in voltage resulted from a current drain out of the
battery which was only of a temporary nature, the LED indication can revert to a better level, ideally green.
7.
If the red LED #7 alone, or the yellow #6 and red LED #7 together start to flash during a 30 minutes test
(or steadily during a maintenance period), a significant problem exists. Read the NOTE and FURTHER NOTE
below the table.
Interpretation of possible led indications during or after the 30 minutes retention test
RED #7
Voltage
bATTERY TYPE below 12V
WITH READ NOTE
FILLER CAPS
BELOW
AGM
READ NOTE
SEALED MF
BELOW
GEL READ NOTE
SEALED MF
BELOW
NOTE: For any test result other than green #5, remove the battery from the vehicle and reconnect the Optimate™.
If a better test result is obtained with the battery off the vehicle this suggests that the power losses are partly due
to an on-vehicle electrical problem. You are advised to read the following note #6 and 7 and to consult an auto-
electrical specialist.
FURTHER NOTE ON LED INDICATIONS #6 and 7: If the above test on a battery removed from the vehicle results in
a remark in the above table other than GOOD or VERY GOOD, you are advised to take the battery to a professional
service workshop equipped with a BatteryMate™ motorcycle battery tester-charger ( www.batterymate.com ) or
a TestMate™ digital battery tester (www.testmate.com ), for a more thorough investigation. The red /yellow+red
LEDs #6 and 7, (or yellow LED #6 alone for a sealed motorcycle battery) mean that after being charged the
battery's voltage is not being sustained 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 vehicle's wiring system, the red LED #7 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 the headlights being switched on while the charger is connected can also cause the battery voltage to dip
significantly. Always remove the battery from the vehicle, reconnect the OptiMate™ and allow it to proceed through
its program once more.
RED #7 YELLOW #6
+ YELLOW #6
Voltage Voltage
12.0 – 12.2V 12.2 – 12.4V
NEEDS REPLACING MARGINAL
SOON
REPLACE NOW REPLACE
REPLACE NOW REPLACE
4.2, thereafter a 30 minute MAINTENANCE
POINT
10 below. For a good battery remaining
POINT
YELLOW #6
+ GREEN #5
Voltage
12.4 – 12.6V
GOOD
MAY NEED
REPLACING SOON
MAY NEED
REPLACING SOON
4.1). The built-in
POINT
GREEN #5
Voltage
12.6V +
VERY GOOD
GOOD
GOOD
5