Placing Charger In Service; Adjustments Of Float & Equalizing Charge - HindlePower SCR series Operating Instructions Manual

c. Wire Sizes DC: The size of the charger leads should be selected to (a) carry the charger (ampere)
current rating, and also (b) provide less than 0.5 volt total drop at rated current in the loop or leads
between the charger and battery terminals. Choose the larger wire size that meets conditions (a) and (b).
Do not undersize. It is good practice to keep the DC leads as short as possible and to keep them together as
a pair to obtain low inductance. Likewise, it is good practice to avoid sharp bends and to run both DC
leads together if run in conduit.
d. Input Power: These chargers are nominal 120V, 208V, 220V, 240V (50/60 HZ) or 480V (60 Hz)
AC single phase. If the AC input data as supplied with the charger does not agree with the AC supply
voltage at the installation site, do not connect the charger to the AC line. The AC voltage must be within +
or - 10% of the rated input voltage of the charger. If not, consult your power company or the battery
charger manufacturer.

4. PLACING CHARGER IN SERVICE

a. With the AC and DC breakers OFF and the system in float mode, install the charger making AC and
DC connections, as described in Section II, 3, and in accord with local regulations as they apply.
b. After connecting the lead from the positive (+) battery terminal to the positive (+) terminal on the
charger and the lead from the negative (-) battery terminal to the (-) terminal on the charger, observe the
voltmeter. It should read the correct polarity and be approximately the battery open circuit voltage (this is
2.0 volts per cell for lead-acid batteries and 1.2 volts per cell for nickel cadmium batteries). For example, a
60-cell lead-acid battery should read about 2 x 60 cells = 120 volts. This is a check that all cells are in a
true series (none connected in reverse) and all connections are tight. The open circuit voltage should be
about 8 to 10% below the rated float voltage.
c. The charger can now be energized by first closing the DC breaker to supply voltage for the control
circuits, then closing the AC breaker. Set the charger to "float". The AC power ON pilot light should light,
and the ammeter should indicate charger output current. It is to be expected that the meter may show up to
110% current rating of the charger; the 110% being the factory setting of the current limit control.
d. The factory preset float voltage adjustment is shown on page ii and when this value is reached, the
charger ammeter should show a slow decrease in current, eventually down to a stabilized value. Please
note that whenever a charger is in a current limit condition, the output voltage is automatically reduced to
a value below the set float or equalize voltage. The voltage will not increase to normal value until the
battery's state of charge increases, causing the charger current to decrease to a value equal to or less than
the rated current.
e. The factory adjustment of the equalizing charge voltage is also shown on page ii and assuming this
is as desired, the Float/Equalize switch may be switched to "Equalize", to check the charger performance
at this voltage value. If a manual Equalize Timer (option) has been included, turn it clockwise to activate
the equalize charger mode. The charger ammeter may again go up to current limit until the equalizing
charger voltage is reached. The length of time required to reach this level depends on the state of charge of
the battery, and the ampere rating of the charger versus the battery rating.
f. With the charger operating at the desired float and equalizing voltage values, the system can be
considered installed and ready for service.
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