Freedom 10 Owner's Manual - Battery Charging
Part No. 90-0113-00
Fdmman2.p65 2/98
The float charge stage holds the battery
voltage at a lower level, where it is safe for
long term battery maintenance. During the
float charge stage, the full output current of
the battery charger is available to operate any
DC appliances that may be on the system,
while constantly maintaining the float charge
voltage.
The battery charger remains in the float
charge stage indefinitely until the charger is
disconnected from incoming AC power or
turned OFF with the Freedom Remote Control
Panel or Link Instrument.
Gel cell and Advanced AGM batteries
can accept a higher rate of charge. Consult
the manufacturer for specifications.
Stage
2 - Acceptance Charge The
acceptance stage immediately follows the
bulk charge stage. During this stage the
battery voltage is held constant at the bulk
charge voltage limit and the current gradually
ramps down. During this stage the battery is
accepting its final amount of charge current
and the lastof the sulfate on the plates is
removed.
The acceptance stage lasts until the
charge current reaches the transition point in
Amps. A timer will terminate the acceptance
stage if this current level is not reached. The
time is automatically set when the dip
switches for battery type are set on the
Freedom Remote Control Panel.
Maximum acceptance time is 1 hour for
wet cells and 3 hours for gel cells. Gel cell
acceptance time can be longer because they
are less likely to gas. Expect wet cell batteries
to gas somewhat during acceptance, this is a
necessary part of the charging process.
NOTE: Acceptance timers are not used
when Link Instruments control the charger.
Refer to the Link Owner’s Manual.
Stage 3
- Float Charge When the
acceptance stage is terminated, either
because the charge current ramped down to
the transition point or the timer engaged,
charge current will shut off. The unit monitors
the battery voltage while it drifts down from
the bulk charge voltage limit. When it reaches
the float voltage set point, the float charge
stage is engaged.
BATTERY CHARGING
14
Freedom 10-12V
Freedom 10-24V
Freedom 15-12V
Freedom 20-12V
Freedom 20-24V
Freedom 20-32V
Freedom 25-12V
Freedom 25-24V
5 Amps DC
2.5 Amps DC
10 Amps DC
15 Amps DC
7.5 Amps DC
6 Amps DC
21 Amps DC
10 Amps DC
ACCEPTANCE TO FLOAT TRANSITION POINTS
Stage 4 -
Equalizing Charge This is the
only battery charger stage which is not
engaged automatically. It must be manually
initiated each time it is necessary to equalize
using a dip switch on the back of the Freedom
Remote Control or the front panel on the Link
Instrumentation. Applying an equalizing
charge is not possible without the use of a
Freedom Remote Panel or Link Instrument.
Periodic equalizing is recommended by
most wet cell deep-cycle battery manu-
facturers. There are no firm rules for how
often an equalizing charge should be applied,
but once a month is a good rule of thumb for
batteries which are regularly cycled, less often
for systems in only occasional use.