BCDi320 Manual

1514
• The battery is charged at a constant
current (higher than in two-stage)
until the battery’s voltage reaches
the absorption voltage.
• Then the charging current dimin-
ishes as necessary to maintain the
battery at that voltage.
• Once the current drops to 10%,
the charging cycle is complete.
The unit switches to keeping the
battery at the oat voltage and will maintain the battery at full charge until needed.
• Three-stage charging is faster than two-stage, however the battery is subjected to higher
voltages and currents. Three-stage charging is not recommended for charging loaded batteries
because the unit cannot differentiate between current going to a load connected to the battery
and current being absorbed by the battery; this can cause overcharging.
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Bulk
(Constant Current)
Absorption
(Constant Volts)
Float
(Constant Volts)
Time
Three Stage Charge
Volts
Amps
Charging Proles
This unit has both two-stage and three-stage charging capability. You can choose which charg-
ing prole is used during operation by using the Stage Select switch on the front panel.
Below are explanations of the two proles:
• The battery is charged at a constant
current until the battery’s voltage
reaches the oat voltage.
• Then the charging current dimin-
ishes as necessary to maintain the
battery at that voltage.
• Once the current drops to 10%, the
charging cycle is complete. The
unit will maintain the battery at
full charge until needed.
• Two-stage charging is gentler on the battery since the battery is subjected to lower voltages
and currents than in three-stage. In addition, a reasonable load can be connected to the
battery without affecting the charger’s ability to keep the battery at full charge.
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Bulk
(Constant Current)
Float
(Constant Volts)
Time
Two Stage Charge
Volts
Amps
TWO-STAGE CHARGING
THREE-STAGE CHARGING