Instruction Manual

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between the charge and discharge amp hours,(7)Charge efficiency, which is item 4 divided by item 5,
8)Self discharge current, which is item 6 divided by item 3, (9) Same as item 7, except averaged over
some number N of cycles, and (10) Same as item 8 except averaged over some number N of cycles.
The number N can be selected in the “options” box, under “Efficiency average cycles.”
Over 100% efficiency possible?? Another thing that should be kept in mind is that it is actually
possible for a battery system to appear
to be more than 100% efficient (and the battery would then
appear to have a self charging, or positive current instead of a self discharge (negative) current)
according to this measurement. That can occur when the battery system experiences warm ambient
temperature during the first time it is charged fully, but after one cycle takes place, the next time the
batteries are a lot colder at the moment the cycle ends. At a colder temperature the batteries can’t
absorb as much energy. Under these conditions it may take fewer amp hours to get up to the
voltage/amp criteria than were discharged, making the measurement read over 100% efficient.
However this is rarely sustained for more than 1 cycle, since the temperature can’t drop forever—and
unlikely for 4 cycles. If later the temperature rises again, for the opposite reason as described above,
the battery may now appear unusually inefficient over 1 cycle, as the battery will happily absorb more
amp hours now to get up to the same apparent state of charge, now that it is warm again, giving the
impression of inefficiency for that cycle. Over several cycles, however, the temperature can’t continue
to rise or decline radically, so over 4, or especially 15 cycles this will average out to a “true” efficiency.
6.D. Output control Relay programming and operation
Refer to programming mode section 6A P30-P31 for programming the relay setpoints . See section
2 “Relay Output control” for relay requirements.
6.E. List of each alarm option (total 10),
Each of 5 alarms may be turned off, or may manifest as a “visual alarm” only, or both visual
and audible. These choices are specified as described in Section 6.A: Program modes P26, P27,
P28, P29.
Visual Alarms
A “visual alarm” causes the “alarm lamp” to flash as soon as the alarm condition is met and goes off
when the alarm condition is no longer met. While the alarm is occurring you can push the “alarm
off/on” switch to view and identify the particular alarm. If more than one alarm is active, the display will
alternate between all active alarms.
Audible alarms
An “audible alarm” does all that the “visual alarm” does, but in addition, when the alarm first begins, it
starts a distinctive, rather quiet, sequence of tones to draw attention to the new alarm. There are
several different tone sequences depending on the alarm type. You can further identify the alarm by
pushing the “alarm on/off” switch and viewing the alarm type in the display. This also silences the
audible alarm. The alarm will not become audible again until the alarm condition first stops, then goes
again into the alarm state.
Alarm option list
There are a total of four alarms (and one “notice) for each of up to two battery banks. Battery 1 refers
to the battery bank being measured by Volts1 and Amps1. Battery 2 refers to the bank being
measured by Volts2 and Amps2. Alarms are listed as follows:
6.E.1:“Battery low”:
This results in an alarm when the battery voltage (AD1 or AD2) is less than the “battery low”
setpoint or
when the “battery % full” (AD22 or AD23 ) is less than “battery % low” setpoint. There is
one alarm for “battery 1” and another for “battery 2”. Refer to programming section 6.A, P22, P24,
P26 and P28 for instructions on setting these up.
6.E.2: Battery meets charged criteria: (should be called a “notice”, not alarm)
This “notice” is activated when the “battery charged” setpoints are reached, as set by program
modes P32, P33. Although this operates like an alarm, this really might better be called a “notice”,
since the fact that the battery has reached the “charged” criteria is not usually “alarming”—but