Cadex Electronic Spectro CA-12 User Manual
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Cadex Electronic Spectro CA-12 User Manual

For testing 12-volt automotive batteries
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C A D E X E L E C T R O N I C S I N C .
Spectro CA-12 User's Guide
For testing 12-volt automotive batteries
ENGLISH
 2005 Cadex Electronics Inc.
22000 Fraserwood Way • Richmond
BC • V6W 1J6 • CANADA
Phone 1.604.231.7777 • Fax 1.604.231.7755
www.cadex.com
Protected by US Patent No. 6,778,913
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This unit is designed to test Flooded Cells, 12V, 500-875 CCA and 50-160 RC
Spectro CA-12 Firmware Version 1

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  • Page 1 22000 Fraserwood Way • Richmond BC • V6W 1J6 • CANADA Phone 1.604.231.7777 • Fax 1.604.231.7755 www.cadex.com Protected by US Patent No. 6,778,913 IMPORTANT NOTICE This unit is designed to test Flooded Cells, 12V, 500-875 CCA and 50-160 RC Spectro CA-12 Firmware Version 1...
  • Page 2 In no event will Cadex or its officers or employees be responsible for any consequential, incidental, or indirect damages (including damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, and the like) arising out of the use or inability to use the Spectro CA-12 and/or its documentation.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Radio Interference Disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in the European Union Using This Manual Conventions Terms Introduction The Spectro CA-12 Package Spectro CA-12 Features Battery Testing Before Testing Testing the Battery Test Results Working with Saved Results...
  • Page 4 Troubleshooting Maintenance and Service Calibration Charging and Replacing the Internal Battery Changing the Fuse Resetting the CA-12 Cleaning the clamps Cleaning the unit Upgrading the firmware Resetting the Printer Spare Components State of Charge and Open Circuit Voltage Using the SpectroCA-12 PC Companion Software...

  • Page 5: Safety Notice

    Modification of Equipment CE, FCC, CSA and other approvals apply only to Spectro CA-12 in the factory- authorized configuration. Changes or modification to the equipment not expressly approved by Cadex will void the approvals and void the user’s authority to operate...

  • Page 6: Radio Interference

    Radio Interference This equipment generates, uses, and radiates radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, cause interference with radio communications. It has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class “A” digital device pursuant to Subpart B of Part 15 of the FCC Rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference when operated in a commercial environment.

  • Page 7: Terms

    Using This Manual Conventions Screen Text Result A button on the Spectro CA-12 ▲▼◄► Keypad direction keys Terms Ampere Hour. A European Capacity Standard. Battery Type The manufacturer and model number of a particular battery. Cranking Amps. The current a battery can deliver for 30 seconds at 0°...

  • Page 8: Introduction

    Introduction The Spectro CA-12 is a 12V automotive battery tester for Lead Acid batteries. It uses sophisticated algorithms to determine Cold Cranking Amps, Reserve Capacity and State of Charge. It also has a Starter Test, a Charge System Test, a Continuity Test and a Voltmeter.

  • Page 9: Spectro Ca-12 Features

    Spectro CA-12 Features Figure 1. Spectro CA-12 Features OFF/ON Turns the CA-12 ON and OFF. Enter To start tests, confirm settings and select menu items. To exit menus and result screens. Directional keys To scroll through menus and results. Battery Clamps Connect these clamps to the battery terminals.
  • Page 10 Figure 2. Spectro CA-12 Rear Serial port To connect to a computer. Battery clamp port Connect the battery cable to this 15-pin port. Infrared printer port Place the infrared printer in front of this port. Input Power Port Connect the external power supply here.

  • Page 11: Battery Testing

    Battery Testing Before Testing 1. Look on the battery label or the battery specification sheet for the CCA (Cold Cranking Amps). Note down the Reserve Capacity (in minutes) if it is available. An inaccurate entry will result in inaccurate measurements. 2.

  • Page 12: Test Results

    Test Results After the battery test completes, a screen displays the battery condition (see page 14 for detailed messages): GOOD BATTERY <>=More Enter=done Press ► to view the CCA, SoC (State of Charge) and the RC (Reserve Capacity) if it was entered: GOOD BATTERY Good Good...

  • Page 13: Working With Saved Results

    ◄► to view the RC and SoC screen. Exporting Saved Results To export data using the Spectro CA-12 PC Companion Software, refer to PC Companion software for details. The Export feature sends data to a PC Terminal program through the serial port.

  • Page 14: Electrical Tests

    Electrical Tests There are three electrical tests and a voltmeter available on the CA-12. The electrical tests are a Starter Test, Charge System Test and Continuity Test. Starter Test To run the Starter Test, follow this procedure: From the main screen, use ▲▼to select .

  • Page 15: Continuity Test

    Firmly connect the black clamp to the negative terminal (-) of the battery. Start the vehicle and let it idle. On the CA-12, Press Enter to start the Curb Idle No Load test. After the above test is complete, turn on the high beams and Press Enter to start the Curb Idle High Beams test.

  • Page 16: Voltmeter

    Use ▲▼to select . Press Enter. Continuity Firmly connect the red clamp to the first test point in the vehicle. Firmly connect the black clamp to second test point. Press Enter to start the test. This test takes about 10 seconds. The result is the resistance as in the following diagram.

  • Page 17: System Settings

    To access the System Settings, in the main menu, use ▼▲to scroll to . Press Enter. System Settings These settings can be adjusted easily through the Spectro CA-12 PC Companion Software. See the Spectro CA-12 PC Companion Software help file for more details. Active Matrix The CA-12 can store five matrices for different types of batteries.
  • Page 18 International Electrical Commission German Standard Battery Council International Standard Marine Cranking Amps The CA-12 can display the Temperature in the following formats: Centigrade. This is the default setting. Fahrenheit To change the result options, do the following: In the main menu, use ▼▲to scroll to .

  • Page 19: User Information

    User Information Enter the contact information in this area. The information on this screen will appear on printer outputs. To change the User Information, do the following: In the main menu, use ▼▲to scroll to . Press System Settings Enter. Use ▼▲to scroll to .

  • Page 20: Set Clock

    Set Clock This feature sets the time. By default, the clock is set to PST (GMT-8). Move through the data and time using ◄►. Adjust the time using the ▼▲ keys. Printer Port This feature determines which port will print test data. Select the IR PORT or Serial Port device using the ▼▲...

  • Page 21: Messages

    Messages Battery Results Message Good Good Good Battery Marginal Good Marginal Battery, CCA Marginal Good Marginal Marginal Battery, RC Marginal Good or Replace Battery, CCA Low Marginal Good or Replace Battery, RC Low Marginal Replace Battery, CCA and RC Low Replace Battery Shorted cell suspected Good,...

  • Page 22: Fault Messages

    Fault Messages Internal Battery Low, Please Recharge the CA-12 battery. A fully charged Recharge CA-12 battery exceeds 100 tests. If the battery is not recharging, replace it. See Charging and Replacing the Internal Battery on page 19. Battery Disconnected Reconnect the battery clamps to the battery under test and repeat the test.

  • Page 23: Matrix Error Messages

    Re-calibration Needed Perform the calibration to clear the message. This message appears if the unit has performed more than 2000 tests since the last calibration or was last calibrated more than 6 months ago. Spectrum Acquisition Error Data Acquisition Error, Test is terminated Battery charge level is low (below 12.3V) to The state-of-charge is too low.

  • Page 24: Troubleshooting

    Troubleshooting The unit does not power up. Battery charge may be low. Plug the unit into a power supply to charge the battery. Contrast may be low. See Screen Contrast on page 12. The internal battery may need to be replaced. See Charging and Replacing the Internal Battery on page 19.

  • Page 25: Maintenance And Service

    Maintenance and Service In order to maintain accuracy in the results and long life, Cadex Electronics Inc. recommends the following steps to maintain the CA-12. WARNING: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPLACE THE INTERNAL BATTERY. APART FROM REPLACING THE FUSE OR RESETTING THE UNIT, DO NOT OPEN THE CA-12 OR ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE UNIT.

  • Page 26: Charging And Replacing The Internal Battery

    Charging and Replacing the Internal Battery The internal battery is charged when the CA-12 unit is connected to a power supply. It takes approximately 4 hours to recharge the battery. WARNING: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPLACE THE INTERNAL BATTERY YOURSELF. THE INTERNAL BATTERY CAN ONLY BE REPACED BY A CADEX AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER.

  • Page 27: Resetting The

    Remove the top cover and locate the fuse at the topside of the unit. Remove the fuse with a pair of needle nose pliers and replace it with the spare fuse. Figure 5. Location of CA-12 Fuse Resetting the CA-12 If the CA-12 crashes or does not respond to any input during a firmware upgrade, do the following: Disconnect the CA-12 from the automotive battery and power supply.

  • Page 28: Cleaning The Clamps

    Remove the top cover and locate the reset switch at the bottom of the unit. Use a pen to reset the unit. Figure 7. Location of CA-12 Reset Switch Cleaning the clamps Clean the battery clamps every three months with a wire brush. This will ensure that the readings are accurate.

  • Page 29: Upgrading The Firmware

    Upgrading the firmware Please refer to the help section in the PC Companion software to upgrade the Spectro CA-12 firmware. Resetting the Printer The Cadex supplied printer (Martel MCP8830B) has been configured in the factory for IR operation. Only this printer is supported by the CA-12.

  • Page 30: Spare Components

    84-100-0120 Universal Input Power Supply (Input 90-264VAC, Output 17-600-0006 12V, 1.6A). Only this power supply is approved for use with the Spectro CA-12. IEC320 6’ Power Cord 68-723-1810 State of Charge and Open Circuit Voltage The following table compares a 12V battery state of charge with the open circuit voltage.
  • Page 31 Specifications Application Services 12V lead acid batteries for SLI (Starting, Ignition and Lighting). Battery Types The generic matrix accommodates the Flooded lead-acid (maintenance free version) Operating Range 12V, 500-875 CCA; 50-160 min RC Test Results - Reserve capacity in minutes or Ah; Cranking in CCA, CA, EN, IEC, DIN, BCI and MCA;...

  • Page 32: Using The Spectroca-12 Pc Companion Software

    Matrix Management The Cadex Spectro CA-12 uses matrices to determine battery condition. As more matrices become available to support different battery models, the PC companion software can be used to upload new matrices to the CA-12.

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