Using The Optimate 4; Automatic Microprocessor Controlled Operations; Circuit Activation And Recovery Of Deep-Discharged, Neglected Batteries - TecMate Optimate 4 Instructions For Use Manual

USING THE OPTIMATE
The points below are numbered the same as the quick guide on the inside front cover.
1. and 2. Connections and input power
Connect the charger to the battery: RED clamp to POSITIVE (POS, P, +) terminal and BLACK clamp to NEGATIVE
(NEG, N,–) terminal. Now you are ready to start:
1.
Connect the charger to a 110 – 120V AC receptacle. The "POWER ON" LED #1 should illuminate. If not,
check your AC supply and the connection to it.
2.
If the INVERSE POLARITY LED #2 indicates, the battery connections are incorrect. The charger is
electronically protected so no damage will result, and the output will be disabled automatically. Disconnect
the AC input, swap the battery connections around, then restore the AC input power.

Automatic microprocessor controlled operations.

All charge and test leds light briefly after

3. Circuit activation and recovery of deep-discharged, neglected batteries

For safety reasons, the OptiMate™ output will only switch on if a battery retaining at least 2V is correctly
connected to it and to a live 110 – 120V input. If these conditions are not met, only the POWER ON LED #1 will light
on the LED panel.
3.1
Immediately the output circuit is activated, the orange DESULFATE LED #3 comes on very briefly while the
OptiMate™ checks whether the battery can be charged effectively by the normal multi-stage program. If it
can, the yellow CHARGE LED #4 will almost immediately replace the DESULFATE LED, and the
#10 (0,8A) should come on.
3.2
If the battery is extremely flat (deep-discharged or sulfated), the DESULFATE LED will continue to indicate for
up to 2 hours while a special high voltage is applied to force a very small fixed current into the battery in a
recovery attempt. This recovery mode has two stages. In the first stage the voltage is limited to about 16V
for 5 seconds while the circuit assesses whether this level is likely to be adequate to recover the battery.
If this assessment is positive the recovery mode program continues with voltage limited at 16V for up to
2 hours maximum, or until the moment when the automatic circuit judges that the battery can accept the
normal charging program. During 3.2 the charge current LED #8 (0.2A) may indicate after some time when
the battery starts to accept some current.
3.3
In the case of very badly neglected batteries that have not received any charge for many months, the
second more powerful TURBO stage of the recovery mode will engage about 5 seconds after the circuit
has been initialised. The voltage limit is reset at 22V, but the current is limited to a very low and safe value.
To indicate the activation of the TURBO RECOVERY mode the DESULFATE LED #3 flashes. As and when
the battery can accept the very low set current, the charge voltage automatically reduces. To indicate this
progress the DESULFATE LED will stop flashing and indicate steadily (
the battery can accept the normal charging program. At this moment or in any case after the maximum time
limit of 2 hours has elapsed, the CHARGE mode (
NOTE: A battery left deep-discharged for an extended period may develop permanent damage in one or more
cells. Such batteries may heat up excessively during charging. Stop charging any battery immediately if it is
uncomfortably hot to touch.
4. Charge and charge verification
4.1
The BULK CHARGE stage (steady LED #4) delivers a constant current of about 0.8 Amps (LED #10) into the
battery. This will cause the charging voltage to increase gradually. When it reaches 14.3V, the OptiMate™
will start the absorption and CHARGE VERIFICATION stage.
4.2
CHARGE VERIFICATION (flashing LED #4): The charging voltage is now limited at 13.6V during 30 minutes
whilst the battery's charge level is verified. If the battery requires further charging the program will revert
to the main CHARGING stage (
voltage again signals that the battery is approaching full charge the circuit reverts to VERIFICATION and
LED #4 resumes flashing. 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). As soon as the circuit has verified that the charge is adequate
(signaled by LED #4 having flashed continuously and consistently for a full 30 minutes), the voltage
retention test (see
4
4
™
POINT
4.1) and yellow LED #4 will indicate steadily again. When the rising
POINT
5) automatically follows.
POINT
1 above to confirm microprocessor health.
4) will engage.
POINT
3.2) until the circuit judges that
POINT
LED
CURRENT