Maintenance - TecMate TM400 Instructions For Use Manual

If the battery requires further charging the programme reverts to BULK CHARGE (LED #2) for brief periods, delivering a
variable current pulse to the battery. These reversions may occur as many times as is necessary to reduce the battery's
current demand below 200mA at 13.6V (which is consistent with a battery that has accepted as much charge as its basic
condition allows). See expected Charging time below.
If LED#2 and #3 alternates every 1-2 seconds the battery may be in a sulphated condition and unable to initially accept
charge current. Monitor for 2 hours whilst the charger attempts to deliver charge to the battery. A lightly sulphated battery
may recover and accept full charge current as confirmed by a steady LED#2. If the condition remains unchanged the battery
may be in an advanced state of sulphation and 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, it 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
See www.optimate1.com for the appropriate OptiMate model able to recover batteries from advanced sulfation.
NOTE: For safety reasons there is an overall charge time limit of 72 hours.
3.
Voltage retention tests alternating half-hourly* with battery maintenance
For a battery able to remain above 12.4V throughout the voltage retention test - NO CHARGE CURRENT - and 30 minute
maintenance charge period, LED #4 remains on. If the battery voltage falls below 12.4V during the test the program reverts
to step 3.
NOTE: Initial test is 12 hours.
Maintenance - float charge at a safe voltage limit of 13.6V and up to 0.6A is available to counter self-discharge.
The battery can draw current as required to support small loads and counter self-discharge.
Maintenance and voltage retention test periods continue alternating half-hourly until the battery is disconnected.
NOTE: LED#3 may light momentarily every hour - as the retention test ends battery maintenance charging resumes and the
battery may require in excess of 200mA to return to the safe voltage limit of 13.6V. THIS IS NORMAL.
AUTOMATIC

MAINTENANCE

CHARGER
LED #1 LED #2 LED #3
™ and allow it to proceed through its programme once more.
If charge delivery was less than 12 hours, test extends until 24 hours has elapsed.
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