Smart IP43 Charger

The advanced settings (with expert mode disabled) include:

1. Battery preset

   The ‘Battery preset’ dropdown allows selection from the following options:

   1. Built-in preset

      Selection of a standard integrated pre-set (same as the general settings menu)

   2. User defined

      Reselection of the last ‘user defined’ charge settings

   3. Select preset

      Selection from an extended range of integrated battery charging pre-sets, including new user defined charging pre-sets

   4. Create preset

      A new charging preset to be created and saved from user defined settings

   5. Edit presets

      An existing preset to be edited and saved

2. Maximum charge current

   The maximum charge current setting allows selection between the default and a significantly reduced charge current limit preset; Maximum, Low (50% of maximum) or Minimum (25% of maximum) current. Alternatively a user defined maximum charge current (between the minimum and maximum limits) can be configured.

3. Charge voltage

   The charge voltage settings enable the voltage setpoint for each charge stage to be independently configured and some charge stages (recondition and float) to be disabled or enabled.

   The charge voltage setpoint for the following charge stages can be configured:

   1. Absorption

   2. Float

   3. Storage

   4. Recondition

4. Voltage compensation

   1. Temperature Compensation

      The temperature compensation setting enables the charge voltage temperature compensation coefficient to be configured, or temperature compensation to be totally disabled (such as for Li-ion batteries). The temperature compensation coefficient is specified in mV/°C and applies to the entire battery/battery bank (not per battery cell).

5. Battery limits

   1. Low temperature cut-off

      The low temperature cut-off setting disables charging in low temperature conditions to protect Lithium batteries from damage; this setting requires battery temperature to be provided by a compatible battery monitor via VE.Smart networking.

The ADDITIONAL expert mode settings include:

1. Charge voltage

   1. BatterySafe

      The BatterySafe setting allows the BatterySafe voltage control to be enabled or disabled. When BatterySafe is enabled, the rate of battery voltage increase during bulk stage is automatically restricted to a safe level. In cases where the battery voltage would otherwise increase at a faster rate, the charge current is reduced to prevent excessive gassing.

2. Bulk

   1. Bulk time limit

      The bulk time limit setting restricts the maximum time the charger can spend in bulk stage as a protection measure, since the absorption voltage should have been achieved by this time. If the bulk time limit is satisfied the charger will move directly to float stage.

   2. Re-bulk voltage offset

      The re-bulk voltage offset setting is used to determine the re-bulk voltage threshold that will trigger a new charge cycle; the offset is relative to the configured 'Storage voltage' (re-bulk voltage = storage voltage - re-bulk voltage offset). If the battery voltage falls below re-bulk voltage threshold while the charger is in float or storage stage and remains below it for one minute, the charger will move back into bulk charge stage.

3. Absorption

   1. Absorption duration

      The absorption duration setting allows selection between adaptive absorption time (calculated based on the bulk time / level of discharge) or a fixed absorption time.

   2. Maximum absorption time / Absorption time

      The maximum absorption time / absorption time setting enables the maximum adaptive absorption time or the fixed absorption time to be configured (depending if adaptive or fixed absorption time is selected). Note that regardless if adaptive or fixed absorption time is selected, the absorption phase can end early based on the tail current setting (if enabled).

   3. Tail current

      The tail current setting enables the absorption stage to be ended early based on charge current. If the charge current drops below the tail current threshold for one minute, the absorption stage will immediately end and the charger will move to float or storage stage.

   4. Repeated absorption

      The repeated absorption setting enables the elapsed time between each automatic refresh charge cycle (1h in absorption stage) to be configured. Repeated absorption is enabled by default and can be disabled which results in the battery staying in storage mode indefinitely.

4. Recondition

   1. Recondition current percentage

      The recondition current percentage is used to establish the charge current limit while the charger is in recondition stage; the percentage is relative to the configured 'Maximum charge current'. The charger will limit charge current to this lower level while in recondition stage.

   2. Recondition stop mode

      The recondition stop mode setting allows selection between the recondition stage being ended upon the battery voltage reaching the recondition stage voltage setpoint or a fixed time period.

   3. Maximum recondition duration

      The recondition time setting enables the maximum recondition time or the fixed recondition time to be configured (depending on the recondition stop mode selected).