OptiMATE TM274 Lithium 4s 10A Battery Charger Instruction Manual
- June 4, 2024
- OptiMATE
Table of Contents
OptiMATE TM274 Lithium 4s 10A Battery Charger
Automatic charger for 12.8V LiFePO4 batteries
IMPORTANT SAFETY
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
AUTOMATIC CHARGER ONLY FOR 12.8V LIFEPO4 (LITHIUM FERROUS PHOSPHATE / LITHIUM
IRON PHOSPHATE) BATTERIES. DO NOT USE FOR NiCd, NiMH, Lead-Acid or any other
type of Li-Ion or NON-RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES.
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CAUTION : DO NOT CONNECT TO GROUND.
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For indoor use only. Do not expose charger to rain or snow.
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Use of an attachment not recommended or sold by the battery charger manufacturer may result in a risk of fire, electric shock,or injury to persons.
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To reduce risk of damage to electric plug and cord,pull by plug rather than cord when disconnecting charger.
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An extension cord should not be used unless absolutely necessary. Use of improper extension cord could result in a risk of fire and electric shock.If extension cord must be used make sure that :
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pins on plug of extension cord are the same number, size and shape as those of plug on charger,
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the extension cord is property wired and in good electrical condition,and
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the conductor wire size is large enough for the AC ampere rating of the charger as specified in the table below.
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Do not operate charger with damaged cord or plug – replace the cord or plug immediately.
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Do not operate charger if it has received a sharp blow, been dropped,or otherwise damaged in any way; take it to a qualified serviceman.
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Do not disassemble charger; take it to a qualified serviceman when service or repair is required.
Incorrect reassembly may result in a risk of electric shock or fire. -
To reduce risk of electric shock, unplug the charger from outlet before attempting any maintenance or cleaning. Turning off controls will not reduce this risk.Clean only with slightly moist,not wet, cloth.Do not use solvents.
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warning – risk of explosive gases. a) working in vicinity of a lead-acid battery is dangerous. Batteries generate explosive gases during normal battery operation. for this reason, it is of utmost importance that you follow the instructions each time you use the charger. b) To reduce risk of battery explosion,follow these instructions and those published by the battery manufacturer and manufacturer of any equipment you intend to use in vicinity of the battery. Review cautionary marking on these products and on engine.
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PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS.
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Someone should be within range of your voice OR close enough to come to your aid when you work near a battery.
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Have plenty of fresh water and soap nearby in case battery acid contacts skin, clothing or eyes.
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Wear complete eye protection and clothing protection. Avoid touching eyes while working near a battery.
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If battery acid contacts or enters eye, flood eye with cold running water for at least 10 minutes and get medical attention immediately. If battery acid contacts skin or clothing, wash immediately with soap & water. If acid enters an eye , immediately flood eye with running cold water for at least 10 minutes & get medical attention immediately.
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NEVER smoke or allow a spark or flame in vicinity of battery or engine.
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Be extra cautious to reduce risk of dropping a metal tool onto battery. It might spark or short-circuit battery or other electrical part that may cause explosion.
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Remove personal metal items such as rings, bracelets ,necklaces , and watches when working with a battery. A battery can produce a short-circuit current high enough to weld a ring or the like to metal, causing a severe burn. i) NEVER charge a frozen battery.
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PREPARING TO CHARGE
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If necessary to remove battery from vehicle to charge,always remove grounded terminal from battery first.
Make sure all accessories in the vehicle are off, so as not to cause an arc. -
Be sure area around battery is well ventilated while battery is being charged. Gas can be forcefully blown away by using a piece of cardboard or other non-metallic material as a fan.
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Clean battery terminals.Be careful to keep corrosion from coming in contact with eyes.
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Study all battery manufacturer’s specific precautions such as removing or not removing cell caps while charging and recommended rates of charge.
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Determine voltage of battery by referring to vehicle or other user’s manual and before making the battery connections, make sure that the voltage of the battery you are going to charge matches the output voltage of the charger.
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CHARGER LOCATION.
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Locate charger as far away from battery as DC cables permit.
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Never place charger directly above batterv being charged; gases from battery will corrode and damage the charger.
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Never allow battery acid to drip on charger when reading gravity or filling battery. Do not operate charger in a closed-in area or restrict ventilation in any way.
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Do not set a battery on top of charger. IMPORTANT : Place charger on a hard flat surface or mount onto a vertical surface. Do not place on plastic, leather or textile surface.
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DC CONNECTION PRECAUTIONS
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Connect and disconnect DC output clips only after removing AC cord from electric outlet. Never allow clips to touch each other, however should this happen no damage will result to the charger circuit & the automatic charging programme will just reset to «start».
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Attach clips to battery and chassis as indicated in 15(e), 15(f), and 16(b) through 16(d).
NOTE : This battery charger has an automatic safety feature that will prevent it from operating
if the battery has been inversely connected.
Remove AC cord from electrical outlet, disconnect the battery clips, then reconnect correctly according to the instructions below. -
FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY IS INSTALLED IN VEHICLE. A SPARK NEAR A BATTERY MAY CAUSE BATTERY EXPLOSION. TO REDUCE RISK OF ASPARK NEAR BATTERY :
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Position AC and DC cords so as to reduce risk of damage by hood, door or moving engine part.
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Stay clear of fanblades, belts,pulleys,and other parts that can cause injury to persons.
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Check polarity of battery posts.POSITIVE (POS, P, +) battery post usually has larger diameter than NEGATIVE (NEG, N,–) post.
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Determine which post of battery is grounded (connected) to the chassis. If negative post is grounded to chassis (as in most vehicles),see
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If positive post is grounded to the chassis,see
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For negative-grounded vehicle, connect POSITIVE (RED) clip from battery charger to POSITIVE (POS, P, + ) ungrounded post of battery. Connect NEGATIVE (BLACK) clip to vehicle chassis or engine block away from battery. Do not connect clip to carburetor, fuel lines, or sheet-metal body parts. Connect to a heavy gage metal part of the frame or engine block. f) For positive-grounded vehicle, connect NEGATIVE (BLACK) clip from battery charger to NEGATIVE (NEG. N , -) ungrounded post of battery. Connect POSITIVE (RED) clip to vehicle chassis or engine block away from battery. Do not connect clip to carburetor, fuel lines, or sheet-metal body parts. Connect to a heavy gage metal part of the frame or engine block.
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When disconnecting charger, turn switches to off, disconnect AC cord,remove clip from vehicle chassis,and then remove clip from battery terminal.
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See operating instructions for length of charge information.
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FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY IS OUTSIDE VEHICLE. A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY MAY CAUSE BATTERY EXPLOSION. TO REDUCE RISK OF A SPARK NEAR BATTERY
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Check polarity of battery posts. POSITIVE (POS, P, +) battery post usually has a larger diameter than NEGATIVE (NEG,N, -) post.
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This battery charger has an automatic safety feature that will prevent it from operating if the battery has been inversely connected. The charger does allow charge current unless a voltage of at least 0.5V is sensed.
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Connect POSITIVE (RED) charger clip to POSITIVE (POS, P, +) post of battery.
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Connect NEGATIVE (BLACK) charger clip to NEGATIVE (NEG, N, -) battery post of the battery.
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Do not face battery when making final connection.
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When disconnecting charger, always do so in reverse sequence of connecting procedure & break first connection while as far away from battery as practical.
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A marine (boat) battery must be removed & charged on shore. To charge it on board requires equipment specially designed for marine use.
DO NOT USE FOR NiCd, NiMH, Lead-Acid or any other type of Li-Ion or NON- RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES.
IMPORTANT : READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE OPERATING THIS CHARGER.
This appliance can be used by children aged from 8 years and above and persons with reduced physical,sensory or mental capabilities or lack of experience and knowledge if they have been given supervision or instruction concerning use of the appliance in a safe way and understand the hazards involved. Children shall not play with the appliance. Cleaning and usermaintenance shall not be made by children without supervision. SAFETY WARNING AND
NOTES : BATTERIES EMIT EXPLOSIVE GASES – PREVENT FLAME OR SPARKS NEAR BATTERIES. CHARGE BATTERY IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA. Use the charger only if the input and output leads and connectors are in good, undamaged condition. If the input cable is damaged, it is essential to have it replaced without delay by the manufacturer, his authorised service agent or a qualified workshop, to avoid danger. Protect your charger from damp and humid conditions both during use and in storage. Damage resulting from corrosion, oxidation or internal electrical short-circuiting is not covered by warranty. Distance the charger from the battery during charging to avoid contamination by or exposure to acid or acidic vapours. If using it in the horizontal orientation, place the charger on a hard, flat surface, but NOT on plastic, textile or leather. Use the fixing holes provided in the enclosure base to attach the charger to any convenient, sound vertical surface.
EXPOSURE TO LIQUIDS : This charger is designed to withstand exposure to liquids accidentally spilled or splashed onto the casing from above during indoor use. Prolonged exposure to falling rain is inadvisable and longer service life will be obtained by minimizing such exposure. Failure of the charger due to oxidation resulting from the eventual penetration of liquid into the electronic components, connectors or plugs, is not covered by warranty.
CONNECTING THE CHARGER TO THE BATTERY
- Disconnect AC power supply before making or breaking DC / battery connections.
- If charging a battery in the vehicle with the battery clips, before making connections, first check that the battery clips can be safely and securely positioned clear from surrounding wiring, metal tubing or the chassis. Make connections in the following order First connect to the battery terminal not connected to the chassis (normally positive), then connect the other battery clip (normally negative) to the chassis well away from the battery and fuel line. Always disconnect in reverse sequence.
- When charging a battery out of the vehicle with the battery clips, place it in a well ventilated area. Connect the charger to the battery: RED clamp to POSITIVE (POS, P or +) terminal and BLACK clamp to NEGATIVE (NEG, N or –) terminal. Make sure the connections are firm and secure. Good contact is important.
PROCEEDING TO CHARGE
CHARGING TIME
For batteries rated from 2.5Ah to 10Ah: 60 to 120 minutes to progress to the
voltage retention test. For batteries rated above 10Ah: approximately 20% of
the battery’s Ah rating, so a 50Ah battery should take no more than about 10
hours to progress to the voltage retention test. Deep discharged batteries may
take longer. safeTº – The safeTº program limits charge current if the
temperature measured at the OptiMate Lithium is below 0ºC / 32ºF or above 45ºC
/ 113ºF. If the temperature was initially below 0ºC / 32ºF charge current is
limited only for the first hour after which the battery is expected to have
increased it’s internal temperature within the normal temperature zone. See
page 2 for temperature (°C/°F) and corresponding Ampére (A) values. Within the
normal temperature range the ampmatic™ LiFePO4 specific program automatically
determines the most efficient rate of charge current for the connected
battery, according to its state of charge, state health, and electrical
storage (Ah) capacity. The delivered current may be anywhere from 2.5A to
9.5A.
VERY FLAT NEGLECTED BATTERIES : Pay particularly close attention to the following A LiFePO4 battery left deep-discharged for an extended period may develop permanent damage in one or more cells. Such batteries may heat up excessively during charging. During the SAVE mode the program limits charge current if the voltage is below nomimal (12.8V) and the program should detect obvious cell damage and will automatically suspend charging, but the higher the cell count in parallel the more difficult it is to detect a bad cell. ALWAYS monitor the battery temperature during the first hour, then hourly there-after. If at any time the battery is uncomfortably hot to touch or you notice any unusual signs, DISCONNECT THE CHARGER IMMEDIATELY.
NOTES ON TEST RESULTS : The voltage of a cooled battery is directly proportional to its State Of Charge percentage (SOC%). Immediately following charging a battery may briefly hold a higher voltage, as charging raises the temperature of chemical elements within the battery. A battery recovered from a deep discharged state may need longer to cool and voltage to settle and reflect its true state of charge (SOC%).
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For any test result other than green #6, disconnect the battery from the electrical system it supports, and reconnect the OptiMate Lithium. If a better test result is now obtained, this suggests that the power losses are partly due to an electrical problem in the electrical system and not in the battery itself.
NOTE : A sudden load being switched on while the charger is connected can cause the battery voltage to reduce significantly and test result to worsen. -
TEST LED #8 (red) flashing rapidly – Charging is suspended. If it occured during –
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a BMS reset: The battery has suffered damage (internal short circuit) or the connected circuitry is not allowing the BMS pulse to be delivered to the battery.
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STEP 3 – The charger cannot deliver current as the ambient temperature may be out of safe charging range for the battery. See page 2 for temperature (°C/°F) and corresponding Ampére (A) values.
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STEP 4 SAVE mode: The charger has sensed that the battery is not accepting charge as expected. Try once more and if the result repeats, do not charge again! A professional assessment is required.
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STEP 9: STATE OF HEALTH TEST – the voltage reduced below 12.8V within the first 30 minutes, indicating the battery cannot hold charge and may be damaged. A professional assessment is required.
More information on OptiMate TEST or MONITOR products can be found at www.optimate1.com.
MAINTAINING A LITHIUM BATTERY FOR EXTENDED PERIODS: A LiFePO4 battery can be left connected to the OptiMate Lithium for any extended period of time. The OptiMate Lithium maintenance program is fully automatic, it continuously monitors the battery voltage and delivers current only if it sensed the battery has lost charge (possibly through connected vehicle or other circuitry or self discharge). The OptiMate Lithium’s maintenance program guarantees the battery will remain at or close to full charge, but never overcharged.
ECO POWER SAVING MODE WHEN THE CHARGER IS CONNECTED TO AC SUPPLY:
The power converter switches to ECO mode when the charger is not connected to
a battery resulting in a very low power draw of less than 0.5W, equivalent to
power consumption of 0.012 kWh per day. When a battery is connected to the
charger power consumption depends on the current demand of the battery and its
connected vehicle / electronic circuitry. After the battery has been charged
and the charger is in long term maintenance charge mode (to keep the battery
at 100% charge) the total power consumption is estimated to be 0.024kWh or
less per day.
LIMITED WARRANTY
TecMate (International) SA, B-3300 Tienen, Belgium, offers this limited
warranty to the original purchaser at retail of this product. This limited
warranty is not transferable. TecMate (International) warrants this battery
charger for three years from date of purchase at retail against defective
material or workmanship. If such should occur the unit will be repaired or
replaced at the option of the manufacturer. It is the obligation of the
purchaser to forward the unit together with proof of purchase (see NOTE),
transportation or mailing costs prepaid, to the manufacturer or its authorized
representative. This limited warranty is void if the product is misused,
subjected to careless handling, or repaired by anyone other than the factory
or its authorized representative. The manufacturer makes no warranty other
than this limited warranty and expressly excludes any implied warranty
including any warranty for consequential damages.
THIS IS THE ONLY EXPRESS LIMITED WARRANTY AND THE MANUFACTURER NEITHER ASSUMES
NOR AUTHORIZES ANYONE TO ASSUME OR MAKE ANY OTHER OBLIGATION TOWARDS THE
PRODUCT OTHER THAN THIS EXPRESS LIMITED WARRANTY. YOUR STATUTORY RIGHTS ARE
NOT AFFECTED.
NOTE : Details at www.tecmate.com/warranty.
WARRANTY in Canada, USA, Central America and South America: TecMate North America, Oakville, ON, Canada, as a wholy owned subsidiary of TecMate International, assumes the responsibility for product warranty in these regions. More information on TecMate products can be found at www.tecmate.com.
References
- Home - OptiMate
- Home - OptiMate
- TecMate – High Performance Battery Chargers, Tools & Accessories
- Service and Warranty – TecMate