Using Your Battery Charger

OVERVIEW

Using the SpeedCharge battery charger is very simple. First, connect the battery and AC power following the precautions listed under “OPERATING INSTRUC- TIONS”. Then select the appropriate BATTERY TYPE and CHARGE RATE for your battery. The SpeedCharge will then do everything automatically. This section explains a few details.

CHARGING: If the charger does not detect a properly connected battery, the CHECK (red) LED will light continuously until such a battery is detected. Charg- ing will not begin while the CHECK light is on. When charging begins, the CHARGING LED will be lit.

AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF: When the 2A or 30A10A charge rate is selected, the charger is set to perform an automatic charge. When an automatic charge is performed, the charger stops charging automatically after the battery is charged.

ABORTED CHARGE: If charging can’t be completed normally, charging will be aborted. When charging is aborted, the charger’s output is shut off and the red CHECK LED and digital LED blink on and off (at opposite times). In that state, the SpeedCharge ignores all buttons. To reset from after an aborted charge, either disconnect the battery or unplug the charger.

DESULFATION MODE: If a battery is left discharged for an extended period, it could become sulfated and not accept a normal charge. If the charger detects a sulfated battery, the charger will switch to a special mode of operation designed for such batteries. Activation of the spe-

cial desulfation mode is indicated by blinking the CHARGING LED. If suc- cessful, normal charging will resume af- ter the battery is desulfated. The CHARGING LED will then stop blinking and light continuously. Desulfation could take up to 10 hours. If desulfation fails, charging will be aborted and the CHECK (red) LED will blink.

30A CHARGE RATE: When set to

30A10A, the unit will charge the battery for a few minutes at 10A. The charger will determine whether to increase the current to 30A, based on factors including the battery voltage and type selected. If the current is increased from 10A to 30A, the 30A10A LED will change from yellow to orange. Eventu- ally, the current will decrease from 30A back down to 10A and the LED will change from orange back to yellow. The charge current may be increased to 30A and decreased back down to 10A several times during the charging process. After the battery has been charged enough for the display to indicate 77%, the current will not be increased to 30A.

COMPLETION OF CHARGING: Charge completion is indicated by the CHARGED (green) LED; when lit, the charger has stopped charging and switched to the Maintain Mode of operation.

MAINTAIN MODE: When the CHARGED (green) LED is lit, the charger has started Maintain Mode. This mode of operation is also known as Float-Mode Monitoring. In this mode, the charger keeps the battery fully charged by delivering a small current, when necessary. The voltage is main- tained at a level determined by the BATTERY TYPE selected.