B) Time-Out Circuit - NewMar PT-14W Installation And Operation Manual

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 time‐out circuit. This circuit is initialized each time AC is first applied to the charger (or
when the reinitialize button on the optional remote panel is activated) and runs for a pre‐set interval
before forcing the charger to go into the float (lower voltage) mode. The functioning of the charger
during this interval is as follows:
If the current demand of the batteries/load falls below 5‐15 % of the charger's output capacity prior to
the circuit timing‐out, the charger will automatically switch to the float mode. If demand rises to about
10‐20 % of charger output capacity, it will return to the elevated output voltage of the absorption phase.
This switching back and forth between modes may occur until the circuit times‐out (8‐10 hours after AC
is first applied), after which the charger will remain at float voltage, until the circuit is re‐initialized,
either by turning the charger off and then on again or by presssing the re‐initialize button on the
optional remote panel.
Installation Note: The time‐out circuit of the PT charger has been set at about 8‐10 hours, which is
appropriate for battery systems within the capacity range specified on the front panel of the charger. If
the charger is used with a battery system with a capacity near (or outside) the upper or lower ranges of
the specified range of the charger, adjustment of the internally located time‐out circuit adjustment pot
may be recommended. The procedure is as follows:
(Caution: Ensure AC input has been disconnected before proceeding)
1) Remove the two phillips head screws on the front panel (bottom right and just above the output
terminals), as well as the two phillips head screws on each side of the unit.
2) Carefully lift the main cover off of the charger base if installed. It is necessary to remove the drip
shield.
3) Locate the potentiometer labeled "TIMER ADJ" on the charger function circuit board located on the
left hand side of the charger.
4) Using a small flat tip screwdriver, turn the potentiometer:
* clockwise to increase the amount of time the charger remains in the absorption
mode before timing out
* counterclockwise to decrease the amount of time.
The approximate ranges are illustrated on the next page.