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I) Alarm Contacts
The charger provides one set each of dry alarm contacts: A.C.
Fail and D.C. Fail. These can be used to activate a light or buzzer
if connected to a supervisory alarm system. Contacts are rated: 30
VDC @ 1 Amp, 110 VDC @ 0.3 Amps. For mating connector wire
assembly, contact Newmar and request P/N 773-1210-0.
C
OK
FAIL
DC
FAIL
IV) OPERATION
A) Three Stage Charge Regimen
The Phase Three Battery Charger features the three stage charge
regimen which is widely recommended by battery manufacturers
for allowing the fastest possible recharge time without loss of
batteries' electrolyte (gel or liquid) which may be caused by
sustained charging at higher voltages.
This three stage regimen is initiated each time A.C. is first applied,
when drained batteries are most likely to be encountered, and
proceeds slowly or quickly through each stage depending on the
battery's relative state of charge. The L.E.D. Status Indicator on the
front panel indicates which stage the charger is in.
The regimen proceeds as follows:
1) Bulk Charge - Status Indicator: Glowing Yellow. When batteries
are significantly discharged the charger responds initially by
delivering a high amount of D.C. current, at or near the charger's
maximum rated output, in order to rapidly replenish them. It is
during this stage that chargingcurrent is maintained at a high level
as battery voltage increases. Bulk charging continues until battery
voltage reaches the "charge" voltage level (where batteries are at
about 75-80% of capacity). A power limit circuit prevents charger
overload during this maximum output stage. Note: During this bulk
phase the charger is in a "constant power" mode; therefore, as
output current increases, output voltage decreases, and vice versa.
Full output voltage is achieved and maintained only when the
charger switches to the absorption stage.
2) Absorption Charge - Status Indicator: Glowing Green.
During this second stage of the charge cycle, battery voltage is
maintained at the "charge" voltage level. Output current begins to
taper off as the battery plates become saturated. Charge voltage
is maintained until the current sensing circuit detects that output
current has tapered to about 5-15 % of charger rating*. At this
point the batteries are at about 95 % of full charge and the charger
switches to the third and final stage of the charge cycle.
* Note: The absorption phase may also be ended by the time-out
circuit. See section B following for an explanation of the purpose
and functioning of the time-out circuit.
3) Float Charge - Status Indicator: Blinking Green. For extended
battery life the Phase Three then automatically switches to a
11
P.O. Box 1306, Newport Beach, California 92663 • Phone: 714-751-0488 • Fax: 714-957-1621 • E-Mail: techservice@newmarpower.com
C
OK
FAIL
AC
FAIL
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lower float voltage level. This float charge keeps batteries at peak
condition without overcharging. The charger may be left in this
stage for lengthy periods of time without attention (though periodic
checks of electrolyte level in flooded batteries is recommended). It
is not necessary or recommended to shut the charger off when this
stage is reached.
A typical three stage charging cycle is illustrated in FIGURE 7.
FIGURE 7: Typical Charger Output Graph (into battery
without load)
BULK PHASE
ABSORPTION PHASE
TIME
* Approximately 10 hours maximum at factory setting.
Note: If a load is applied during the absorption phase, the charger
may revert to the bulk phase depending on the total current draw.
When the charger switches to the float phase, it will remain in that
phase regardless of current draw. The charger is still able to deliver
full output current when in the float phase. To re-initialize the three
stage process shut the charger off momentarily, then back on
again.
B) Time-Out Circuit
Batteries have a tendency to lose their electrolyte and may be
damaged if they are maintained for long periods of time in the
elevated voltage of the absorption phase. Therefore, the Phase
Three Charger employs a special high charge rate time-out circuit.
This circuit is initialized each time A.C. is first applied to the charger
and runs for a pre-set interval of approximately 10 hours before
forcing the charger to go into the float (lower voltage) mode.
If the current demand of the batteries/load falls below 5-15 percent
of the charger's output capacity prior to the circuit timing-out, the
charger will switch to the float mode and will remain in that mode
until the charger is shut off and restarted, although it will continue
to respond to any current demand within charger rating.
If current demand continues to remain above the 5-15 percent-
of-capacity threshold, the charger will remain in the bulk or
absorption phase (depending on total current draw) until it is
forced into the float mode by the time-out circuit.
C) Status Indicators
The Phase Three Charger is equipped with an L.E.D. (located to the
left of the output ammeter) which signals each of the three normal
operational stages (described in detail above), and which also, in
combination with an audible tone indicator, provides warning and
diagnostics of abnormal conditions which result in charger
FLOAT PHASE
VOLTS
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