OMIIISP leaflet MM5-ENG1V6.qxp
01/11/2005
22:36
Page 1
DESULPHATING CHARGER
Unique : diagnoses, recovers, charges,
checks & maintains safely, for months
12V
All major starter battery
manufacturers recommend
maintaining such batteries
FULLY CHARGED during
periods of non-use.
OptiMate IIISP is totally
safe for months-long
connection and
maintenance of
irregularly or seasonally
used batteries even
while still connected
to the vehicle.
No risk of over-charging.
Electronically protected
against user errors.
Just connect the
OptiMate IIISP to your battery,
the rest is automatic.
There is no switch, no fuse...
and there are no sparks.
De-activates automatically
if connections are
broken.
www.optimate3.com
OptiMate IIISP ’s unique
diagnostic function automatically identifies deeply
discharged (sulphated)
batteries and applies
a controlled high voltage
with small fixed current for
a limited period to
recover them.
IP42
Splash-proof design
OPTIMATE IIISP
OptiMate IIISP is the most advanced fully automatic
diagnostic battery charger and maintainer for all 12V
lead-acid batteries from 2,5 to 32 Ampère-hours capacity.
1
5 MAJOR
MOTORCYCLE
MANUFACTURERS
SAY
OMIIISP leaflet MM5-ENG1V6.qxp
01/11/2005
22:37
Page 2
DESULPHATING CHARGER
5-stage automatic programme :
1.
Tests the battery for
possible deep discharge
or sulphation. If necessary,
the OptiMate IIISP automatically engages a
special high voltage recovery mode (up to 20V)
with controlled very low fixed current, so as to
desulphate very flat batteries, for up to 2 hours,
controlled by an internal timer.
Charges at 0,6 Amps
constant current («bulk
charging» stage) for
maximum safe rate recharge until such time as
the battery is normally able to crank the engine.
OPTIMATE IIISP
2.
During a 30 minute timed
verification stage the
OptiMate IIISP ensures
that even well-used batteries are brought to
full charge saturation. If necessary within this
period, the programme reverts automatically to
the bulk charging stage, repeating steps
2 & 3 as many times as may be necessary until
the battery is thoroughly charged.
3.
4.
During a timed 30-minute
pause in its programme, the
circuit monitors the battery’s voltage retention when
«off charge». This identifies batteries unable to hold
their charge adequately, or, if the battery remains
connected to the vehicle’s electrical system, that an
excessive power drain is occuring some-where in the
system.
5.
The green LED indicates
for batteries which pass
the voltage retention test.
They are then offered
charge current according to need for 30 minutes so
as to support connected electronic alarms or other
small loads. The voltage retention check (step 4) is
then repeated and alternates thereafter with step
5 for as long as OptiMate IIISP and battery remain
connected.
Problems are identified by the red LED indicating.
The circuit will continue to offer the battery float
charge support until disconnected.
Connection and accessory options
AMGATES
TM77
2
AMEXTEND
TM73
AMCLAMP
TM74
AMEYEDL
TM71
AMDCPLUG
TM72
AMEYE
TM76
DINSOCKET
TM78
Delivered with two interchangeable
connection sets, one with clamps for bench
charging (TM74), the other with in-line
battery protection fuse and eyelet
terminals for permanent attachment to
the battery posts of on-vehicle batteries
(TM71) for subsequent easy connection
and disconnection of the charger.
AMBRACKET
TM70
2,5m
OMBRACKET
TM75
This accessory, order code TM71, has an
unique weatherproof rubber cover which
protects the 2-pole charging cable connector
against dirt & damp when the charger is not
connected.
Other connection & accessory options are
illustrated above.
Limited 2 year warranty, except on cables,
plugs and connectors.
www.optimate3.com
TecMate’s chargers: technical terms simply explained.
Battery Resistance: A large battery has less resistance than a smaller battery
of similar construction if both are in the same condition or status. A fully charged
battery has higher resistance tha n the same battery part-discharged. A deepdischarge or sulphated battery has very high resistance & is therefore extremely
difficult to recharge again. Think of men eating: a really big man eats more & can
eat faster than a small kid. A big man who is really hungry will eat even faster.
But the same man lost in a dessert for a week or so might be very hungry indeed
but cannot swallow due to a swollen closed throat. Constant voltage
(“logarithmic”) chargers cannot recharge such “closed throat” batteries. But
constant current chargers often can because the voltage they apply rises
automatically in response to the battery’s resistance. Constant voltage charging
is however useful for the absorption & maintenance of “float” stages, see below,
when the battery is already sufficiently charged to start the engine.
Constant Current: the first & main stage of the charging program, during which
the current stays constantly at or very close to the stated rated value for the
relevant model. Think of this as the “boost” stage. TecMate chargers do maintain
a constant “boost” stage current, unlike most competitors.
Constant Voltage: when applied to chargers, “Constant Voltage” mans that the
voltage at which the battery charger delivers current to the battery is held at a
stated value, and the current passed into the battery varies according to the
battery’s internal resistance, falling progressively with time as the battery’s
internal resistance against further current input rises. (This progressively
decreasing charge current is also known as a “logarithmic” charging
characteristic, and is often the sole charging stage of most common chargers).
Absorption stage: Where the Constant Current stage can be thought of as the
“boost” stage, the Constant Voltage absorption stage can be thought of as the
“fill” stage. The voltage gradually rises during the constant current charging stage
as the battery recovers it’s charge. When the battery is about 75 to 85 % fully
charged (75% for small motorcycle batteries, 85% for larger automotive batteries)
the voltage reaches the 14.3V or 14.4V level (14.7v for gel DC, 16 to 16.9V for
MF) at which prolonging the constant current stage would risk gassing the
battery, so the charge voltage should now be limited at this level or less. This
second stage of charging is called the “absorption stage” because it allows the
battery to absorb further current according to it’s need before passing into the
medium to long term maintenance stage (float charge mode). In practice the
absorption stage continues (the voltage being limited at 14.3 – 14.4V) until he
current absorbed by the battery at this voltage has fallen to one sixth of the
“boost” stage to ensure a thorough charge replenishment. Automotive & truck
batteries which have discharged significantly might need several days connection
to a maintenance type charger before reaching the float charge stage.
Float Charge Mode: When in absorption stage the current absorbed by the
battery has reduced to one sixth that of the “boost” stage the green LED
indicates that the battery is now (close to) fully charged & ready to use The
voltage limit is now automatically reduced to 13.6 – 13.7V for medium to long
term maintenance of the battery without gassing. The battery can draw current
according to need to support small loads (or current leaks in the vehicle wiring
circuit) varying from zero to up to one sixth of the “boost’ stage. The AccuMate &
AccuMate PRO charging circuits can revert to the absorption stage if their
monitoring circuits find that the battery needs more current to maintain its charge
than is available in float charge mode. See below for more details.
Standby feature: This is a special feature of the AccuMate & AccuMate PRO
circuits! During the float mode these circuits continuously monitor the current
drawn by the battery. This is especially important when the battery remains
connected within a wiring system, whether those of a vehicle or of a power
support system. For example “collectors’ classic automobiles” may well still have
their original wiring whose insulation is deteriorating & whose electrical contacts
may have become corroded or loose, thus giving rise to “leaks” of current in the
system and consequently rapid or sudden battery drain.
Fully Interactive: he current the battery needs to support such leaks or loads
may rise right up to the limit allowed in float mode. Should AccuMate monitoring
circuit sense this, the green LED goes out, the yellow LED comes on again, & the
circuit reverts automatically to it’s “boost” stage which allows up to the full charge
current to the battery as required until once again near fully charged, when the
Absorption Stage will follow until the green LED once again replaces the yellow
LED as the float mode is once again attained. This fully interactive
characteristic is what distinguishes the AccuMate & AccuMate PRO as the ideal
medium term charger-maintainers for collectors’ oldtimer vehicles.
Thermal Protection: AccuMate & AccuMate PRO have an NTC Thermistor to
monitor internal temperature & reduce output current if conditions become too
hot through ventilation blockage or extreme ambient temperature. AccuMate
PRO has a built-in cooling fan which diverts air away from it’s thermal ambient
sensor which varies charging voltage settings. Both also have thermal fuses in
the transformer.
OptiMate IIISP
– the UNIQUE desulfating
6-step automatic charger and battery maintainer
THE CIRCUIT CHECKS IF THE BATTERY RETAINS
AT LEAST 1 VOLT. (BELOW THIS VOLTAGE NO
BATTERY IS RECOVERABLE TO A USEABLE STATE).
1a.
BATTERY > 1V
BATTERY < 1V
RECYCLE
TEST OF BATTERY CONDITION TO DETERMINE
CORRECT CHARGE CYCLE FOR THE BATTERY
1b.
BATTERY SULFATED
BATTERY DISCHARGED
2.
RECOVERY CYCLE, MAXIMUM 2
HOURS : VOLTAGE OF UP TO
20V DRIVES FIXED 200mA,
3.
BATTERY DISCHARGED: CONSTANT CURRENT
BULK CHARGE TILL VOLTAGE REACHES 14,3V
NOT
OK
4.
5.
6.
UNIQUE
TIMED VERIFICATION STAGE
CHECKS DURING 30 MINs
FOR REAL FULL CHARGE
OK
30 MINs CHECK IF BATTERY RETAINS CHARGE OK
FLASH
UNIQUE
WEAK
GOOD
9
SUSPECT BATTERY, BATTERY CHARGED
OR FAULT IN THE
& READY.
VEHICLE ELECTRICS. RETESTED HOURLY
NO FURTHER TESTS
√
MAINTENANCE CYCLE : 13,6V FLOAT CHARGE:
THE BATTERY CAN DRAW UP TO 0,6A IN EVERY
OTHER ½-HOUR, THEREBY MINIMISING WATER LOSS
UNIQUE
UNIQUE
UNIQUE
UNIQUE
OptiMate, its recovery mode, BMW Gel batteries, and incorrect suggestions that the up to 20V delivered by
the OptiMate in recovery mode ro restore very flat batteries can damage vehicle electronics.
Yuasa Battery (Inc., USA) explicitly state that to recover a deep-discharged battery a voltage of up to 25V is
required).
Some quarters have made insinuations that OptiMate's high voltage recovery mode could cause damage to a
vehicle's electronics).... we gather this is based on some statement emanating from BMW Motorcycles and/ or
Panasonic who apparently will not accept any claims for warranties if the user has used a charger with high
voltage. This warranty policy is a general policy, not anything specific to the OptiMate, and we know that thousands
of BMW riders have OptiMates, yet we have never received any claims of damaged batteries or vehicle electronics.
In situations where the user suspects that the battery is deep-discharged, or where OptiMate indicates a deepdischarged battery, we recommend that the battery is removed from the motorcycle. There are 2 main reasons for
this:
1 - OptiMate will not engage its recovery mode if it senses vehicle circuitry or if an alarm (or other accessory) is
fitted which has a high current requirement.
2 - a battery which appears to be deep-discharged may actually have an internal defect – as the defect is an
unknown quantity it is common sense to remove the battery from the bike as defective batteries are unpredictable.
An (extremely rare) example is a battery with a hairline crack in a connecting plate which can in rare circumstances
produce internal sparks – it is important to note that this is not in any way due to OptiMate’s recovery charge – this
can equally happen under load from the bike (e.g. starter), or when being charged by the bike’s alternator or by an
unregulated charger.
The following text explains why OptiMate’s recovery circuit will not damage the bike’s electrical
components –
In order for the recovery mode to engage, the OptiMate circuit needs to "see" a high resistance across the battery
terminals. In the case where the battery remains connected to the vehicle's wiring system, any battery-supported
accessories will automatically lower the overall resistance (battery plus accessories) that the OptiMate is going to
"read" when it tries to pass the limited maximum 200 mA to the battery. Therefore the OptiMate will not read the
battery resistance as being high enough to indicate deep discharge / sulphation and therefore will not engage the
recovery mode.
Normally a motorcycle's electronics would be disconnected from the battery when the key switch is in the off
position, otherwise the battery would be discharged quite soon. In the case of a deep-discharged or sulphated
battery, with the key switch off & no high-current draining accessory (e.g. alarm) connected, the recovery mode
would engage. However, the moment the key switch is turned to "on", (in other words thereby bringing the vehicle
electronics into the circuit and thereby exposing them to the supposed risk of damage), the overall resistance
across the battery drops and the OptiMate will immediately go to normal charge mode, thereby automatically
anulling any risk. Technically this occurs because the vehicle electronics will require a support current exceeding
200mA whereas the OptiMate in recovery mode cannot deliver more than 200mA.
Any good alarm system, and CERTAINLY any costly electronics component such as the ECU will incorporate
protection against voltage spikes that could be caused by a battery or regulator / alternator malfunction. OptiMate
will sense such protection and disable the recovery mode.
Finally, since OptiMate was introduced (1995) TecMate has yet to receive a claim from any user or manufacturer of
damage to vehicle electronics.
Storage and maintenance of batteries during periods of
non-use.
Batteries of older design types such as lead-antinomy (such as often found on “classic” vehicles)
tend to self-discharge in storage more quickly than the more modern lead-calcium or sealed “MF”
batteries which retain their charge for several months if stored in a cool ambient.
Sealed “MF” or “AGM” motorcycle batteries (whose acid electrolyte is held by “Absorbent Glass
Mat” separators) retain their charge in storage better than starter batteries with filler caps, but are
more difficult to recover once truly deep-discharged. The warmer the ambient temperature of the
storage area the faster the battery’s tendency to self-discharge. Batteries not in regular use which
for any reason cannot be maintained by a good maintenance charger are thus best stored in cold
ambient, BUT NOT FREEZING !
If you know not be used for several weeks or months it is best to remove it from the vehicle for
maintenance by an appropriate charger as described below in isolation from the vehicle’s wiring
system.
However most motorcycles are now fitted with alarms or immobilizers which require the battery to
be maintained while remaining connected to the vehicle’s wiring system. In such cases it is vital
to select a maintenance charger whose parameters are “gentle” enough to avoid causing
problems with the vehicle’s electronic systems. An in-line fuse between charger & positive battery
terminal is wise to protect alarms from disablement by thieves & where a failing car bonnet or
other accident could short a charger cable.
Battery manufacturers recommend that engine-start batteries are best kept fully charged at all
times. All batteries have finite life-spans, often referred to by manufacturers in terms such as “so
many duty-cycles” (under certain specified procedures of se & recharging). Maintaining the
battery fully charged throughout periods of non-use therefore avoids using up some of the
battery’s “lives”. Some chargers sold as “battery conditioners” for medium term maintenance,
which charge, then stop, then “kicks in” again only when a battery has discharged to a certain
level, are therefore not recommended. Far better are more advanced chargers such as OptiMate
(12V), AccuMate (selected 6V/12V), & AccuMate PRO (selectable 12V/24V), which by a
combination of both voltage & current sensing during & following the main constant current
charging stage, automatically “double-check” that the battery is truly fully charged at the
conclusion of the main (constant current) charging stage & then only proceed into “float charge”
to offer the battery whatever current it needs periodically, but continuously, thereby ensuring a
permanently fully charged battery. The important advantages are firstly that these chargers do
ensure the battery IS fully charged BEFORE passing to a (lower voltage limit) “float charge
mode”, and that in this mode it is the battery which signals to the charger and draws from it just
the amount of current needed to support the load of alarms, accessories or current “leaks” in the
vehicle wiring.
Only by both current & voltage sensing can “truly smart” circuitry be sure the battery is fully
charged before passing into the lower voltage-limited “float charge” stage. Sensed voltage alone
may indicate a “full” battery in cases of abnormal resistance due to deep discharge. The OptiMate
& AccuMate circuits which monitor both current & voltage, check that the battery does not “draw”
significant current during trial initiation of the maintenance “float charge” stage, BEFORE fully
engaging this stage, (& indicating “battery ready” – green LED). Both chargers thus revert
automatically to constant current mode if the monitored parameters indicate that the charging
mode has prematurely passed into maintenance mode. This ensures the battery is really ready
for the maintenance stage even in cases of an irregularly rising voltage characteristic during the
constant current stage.
Removal of filler caps of non-sealed batteries connected to an AccuMate or OptiMate in
unnecessary.
Automatic charging current regulation according to monitored charger temperature (such as with
the AccuMate) enhances charger service life while providing most effective charging. Charging
voltage variation according to the battery’s casing temperature is the best way to ensure perfect
long term maintenance for sealed batteries. This feature is offered as an option with TecMate’s
AccuMate Pro, which comes as standard with an ambient temperature sensor which varies the
charge voltage. The Accumate PRO has a built -in fan which blows away any heat that might
otherwise influence the sensor. Even better technically, an optional 2m long sensor allows
monitoring of the actual battery casing which accordingly automatically varies charging voltage
settings.