Race Energy BCM21 Installation & User Manual - page 12
12
FRONT PANEL ADJUSTMENTS
2 STAGE / 3 STAGE (STG) PROFILE SELECT
Two additional adjustments can be made from the front panel. These are to select
the charging profile as well as the behavior of the charger at the conclusion of a
recharge cycle.
The switch on the left selects a 2 Stage or 3 Stage charging profile.
A 2 Stage charging profile consists of charging the battery at a constant current
(Bulk Charge) until the battery voltage reaches the Float Voltage. The charger will
then maintain the battery at the Float Voltage and the current will gradually taper
down. The recharge is considered complete when the charging current drops to
10% of the rated current of the charger.
A 3 Stage charging profile consists of charging the battery at a constant current
(Bulk Charge) until the battery voltage reaches an elevated voltage called the
‘Absorption Voltage’. The charger will then maintain the battery at the Absorption
Voltage until the charging current drops to 10% of the rated current of the charger
OR a maximum of 3 hours (both adjustable in the custom charging profile).
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Bulk
(Constant Current)
Maintenance
(Constant Volts)
Time
Two Stage Charger
Volts
Amps
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Bulk
(Constant Current)
Absorption
(Constant Volts)
Maintenance
(Constant Volts)
Time
Three Stage Charger
Volts
Amps
END OF CHARGE (EOC) FUNCTION SELECT
The switch on the right tells the Charger what to do when recharging is complete.
Moving the switch to the Left tells the charger to Rest or switch to Standby when
the recharge is complete. The charger will remain in Standby until the power is
cycled with the Power Switch or by unplugging and re-plugging the power cord
OR until the battery voltage drops to 90% of the rated voltage of the battery.
Under any of these conditions, the charger will initiate a new recharge cycle. This
is the position the switch MUST be in to meet the California Energy Commission
regulations.
Moving the switch to the Right tells the charger to maintain the battery at the Float
Voltage indefinitely. This will ensure that the battery is always fully recharged and
ready for service. A new recharge cycle will be initiated only if the charger is unable
to maintain the battery at the Float Voltage OR by cycling the power as described
above.