Timer Switch Setting; Voltmeter/Test Meter Testing; Battery Percent Of Charge Test (12 Volt Only) - Solar Octane OS6110 Owner's Manual

For Model OS6140, set the Volt Selector to the proper voltage. While monitoring the ammeter, turn the Rate
Selector until the ammeter stops increasing, but do not exceed the maximum charge rate recommended by the
battery manufacturer or the chart above. See Timer Switch Setting for information about 10 Amp automatic on/off
mode.
Unless the information is supplied for the particular battery, always charge small 12 Volt batteries at no more than
2 Amps. Not all of these chargers are capable of charging at 2 Amps or less. If your charger does not feature a 2
Amp setting, do not attempt to charge small 12 Volt batteries on that charger. Charge only standard sized 6 and 12
Volt automobile batteries on those chargers.
Note: The charger ammeter will not taper on 6 volt settings. Use charging time equations or charts only to
determine the time needed to fully charge the battery.

Timer Switch Setting

Set the timer for the length of charging time required to bring the battery to full charge, as determined in Charging
Time Instructions. When selecting times less than 20 minutes, turn timer past the 20-minute mark, then back to the
time desired. Setting the time to charge starts the charging process. To prevent overcharging, do not set the timer
for more time than it will take to bring the battery to full charge. If the timer is turned to the left, past OFF, HOLD is
selected. In this position, the charger will remain ON indefinitely. This position should be used only when charging
at a low rate for extended periods. The battery can be damaged when being charged for extended periods,
especially at higher amperages.
Model OS6140 is a manual to automatic charger. When the timer has been set to any time up to 120 minutes, this
charger is in a manual mode and the charging rate is controlled by the Rate Selector. When the timer returns to zero
time, instead of shutting off, the charger switches to a 10 Amp automatic mode. In this mode, charging will
continue until the battery reaches full charge. At full charge, the output from the charger is shut off. If left
connected, the charger will continue to monitor the charge level of the battery and will resume charging if the
battery discharges for any reason. A battery can be charged completely in the automatic mode by setting the Timer
to automatic. When in automatic, the Rate Selector is no longer in control of the charging rate. Because the
automatic charge rate is 10 Amps, small motorcycle type batteries should not be charged in the automatic mode.

Voltmeter/Test Meter Testing

The Voltmeter/Test Meter, available on some models, allows additional testing to be performed. In normal operation,
without the Test Switch pressed, the meter reads from 0-20 volts DC (0 and 20 are not actually seen on the meter
face but are represented by the ends of the scale), on the lower scale of the meter. Using this part of the meter,
during charging, the voltage should read:
- for 6 Volt batteries read 6.5 to 8.5 Volts
- for 12 Volt batteries read 13.5 to 16.5 Volts
If the voltmeter reads outside these voltages, refer to the chart below for possible battery conditions:
Volts low, Amps high
Volts low, Amps low
Volts high, Amps low
After charging is complete, the voltmeter should read the full charge voltage of the battery. This is normally higher
than the rated battery voltage. To perform testing functions, press the Test Switch and read the top scale on the
meter.
Note: This type of repair work is rather specialized. It may require additional tests using other instruments for
complete diagnosis. Remember, the charger must be turned OFF to perform the tests. If attempting to test with the
charger ON, the results will be meaningless.

Battery percent of charge test (12 Volt only)

1. With the charger OFF and clamps properly connected to the battery, press the Test Switch and read the
battery percent of charge on the top left scale of the test meter.
2. If the battery has been recently charged or is in a vehicle that has been run recently, there is probably a
surface charge on the battery. This will give a falsely high reading on the percent of a charge test. Remove
the surface charge by turning on the vehicle headlights for three or more minutes. Allow the battery to sit
for one minute. Retest the battery percent of charge.
Probable shorted battery – replace
Poor connection or frozen battery
Battery cold or sulfated – reduce charge rate and charge longer
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