1. What kind of batteries can be charged with a Steady-load Battery chargers?
2. What is the best way to mount my Steady-load battery chargers?
3. How can I change the charging algorithm in my battery chargers?
4. How can I verify that my Steady-load battery charger is charging properly?
5. What are the LED error messages on the Steady-load charger?
6. How can I control the Steady-load battery chargers with BMS?
7. How can I use  my Steady-load battery chargers with CAN BUS control?
1. What kind of batteries can be charged with a Steady-load Battery chargers?

All commercial available rechargeable battery could be supported.  such as Flooded, Gel and Advanced Glass Mat (AGM) lead acid, Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) and Nickel–Metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery.  Every Steady-load battery charger is programmed specifically for the customer's exact application, battery chemistry, battery capacity and environmental conditions.  Our charging algorithms are approved by the major battery manufacturers.  Please contact us below with a detailed description of the batteries you are considering or have already purchased.

2. What is the best way to mount my Steady-load charger?

    The manual shows the proper orientation to mount your charger.  In general, the best orientation is when the cooling fins are vertical with open space above and below them.  Mounting the charger on a metal wall or frame will provide additional conductive cooling and also ground the frame.  If the charger is in an enclosed area, make sure there are adequate holes in the bottom and top of the enclosed area for adequate cooling while charging.  AC fans could be added to the top and bottom of the enclosure (both blowing upwards) to provide additional ventilation.  Make sure the charger is not in the same area as flooded batteries to prevent corrosion due to battery acid fumes produced while charging.  This is not a concern with AGM, Gel or Lithium batteries.

3. How can I change the charging algorithm in my charger?

If you have changed the batteries types, or  added/removed significant number of cells, your charger is probably not compatible with the new situation, as the voltage range and capacity characteristics of new battery are different. You are suggested to ship your charger to the nearest dealer, or to factory for reprogramming. For our dealer, the charger is integrated with RS-232 port for re-programmed. We provide the necessary hardware and software for update the charging algorithm and CAN protocol.

4. How can I verify that my Steady-load battery charger is charging properly?

You will need a voltmeter or multi-meter and a clamp-on ammeter to verify that the charger is following the charge curve, which is integrated inside your charger.  The voltmeter should be connected across the charger DC output terminals,  and the clamp-on ammeter clamped on either the red or black DC output wire.  If the voltage of battery pack is very low (i.e. SOC<80%), the current will be I1 (1 second blinking red LED).  If the voltage is between V2 and V4 ( 80%<SOC<100%), the current will be I2 (1 second blinking yellow LED).  The voltage will stay  constant at V4 while the current drops down to I3 (1 second blinking green LED).  If your charge curve has a fourth (equalization) stage, the current will stay at I3, while the voltage rises toward Um (solid yellow LED). Once the voltage stops rising, the charger will stop charging (solid green LED). 

5. What are the LED error messages on a Steady-load battery chargers?

If there was an error,  the charger will not charge, it will repeatedly display one of the following error messages on the Red-Yellow-Green LED.  The " - " stands for one second pause;

RGRGRG : Without load. Check if the connection of battery and charger is loose, or reversed, or the battery voltage is too low;

Red Green Red  - - -: Over voltage or over current. If the error happens  again after restart, return the battery charger to factory;

Red Green Red Green  - - : The ambient temperature is too high or too low. Please check if the ambient temperature is too high, the ventilation of battery is good and the position of battery temperature sensor is right;

Green Red - - - -: Charger overheating. Please check whether ambient temperature is too high and if ventilation of battery charger is good. Unplug the charger and let it cool down.  Put a fan on it while charging;

Red Green - - - -: Output Uner-volatge. Please return the battery charger to factory;

Red Green Red Green - -: Input AC abnormal. Please check the input voltage and the contact condition of power plug;

Green-Red-Green - - - : If Any of the above-mentioned faults repeats five times, then it appears. Re-plug the electricity, and match the indicator state to the above-mentioned faults to get the corresponding solution;

6. How can I control the Steady-load battery charger with BMS?

We offer several different ways of  controlling Steady-load battery chargers  with battery management system(BMS).  1) The simplest way is to use the enable/disable function of the charger.  The charger stopped when the two pins of enable/disable are disconnected, and it start working when two pins  are connected again . If your BMS already has a control relay inside, the two contacts of the relay should be connected to the enable/disable pins.  When the relay is contacting, the charger will work, and when not contacting, the charger stopped.

2) If your BMS only provides +12V and GND,  you should connect the 12V and GND to the coil of a small 12V relay (such as G5V-2-12V) . Then the relay is connected to the enable/disable pins. The charger would start and stop when the relay is contacted or dis-contacted.

3)   If your BMS is with CAN Bus control features, the charger could be contolled by CAN Bus protocol.

  The control method you choose must be specified at the time of order, so we can program the battery charger accordingly.

7. How can I use  my Steady-load charger with CAN BUS control?

If your battery charger has been programmed for CAN Bus control, then you would receive a CAN Bus adapter for connecting the charger's signal port. Pin 1 in the adapter is defined as  CAN-L and pin 2 as CAN-H.  The charger expects to receive a message from the BMS per second period.  The message is supposed with CAN ID 1806E5F4 and 8-byte data with requested voltage and current parameters.  If the charger didn't receive a valid CAN message in 5 seconds, it stopped charging unless error corrected.  The charger sends out every second a CAN status message with voltage, current and status information.  Up to 4 chargers with different CAN IDs can be connected to the same CAN bus and be controlled by one BMS.