BatteryMINDer 12248-AA User Manual
BatteryMINDer
®
12248 -AA- Series
12-Volt Aviation-Calibrated
Charger / Maintainer / Desulfator
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
BATTERY TYPE
CONCORDE
FLOODED
GILL FLOODED
CONCORDE
SEALED RG
HAWKERODYSSEY
GILL LT/7000 S3
All Models Include:
• 2’ Battery Clip Cord Set (insulated) with Quick Connector
• One Ambient Temperature Sensor (ATS-1) (see Simple Operating
Instructions)
RECOMMENDED
CHARGER MODEL
S2 S5
S2
S5 ONLY
S3 ONLY
READ AND SAVE THESE
INSTRUCTIONS
VDC Electronics, Inc. • 155 W. Carver St., Ste. 2 • Huntington, NY 11743
www.BatteryMINDers.com • techsupport@vdcelectronics.com
Rev. C-071213 P/N VDC12248-AA-Sx-MNL
BatteryMINDer
®
Aviation-Adjusted Models 12248-AA-S2, S3 & S5
Table Of Contents
Required Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Preparing to Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
DC Connection Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Unit Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Qualifying Your Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Charging a Filler Cap Lead-Acid Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Specific Gravity – Capacity Table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Testing With a Hot/Cold Calibrated Hydrometer Tester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Testing A Sealed, AGM or Flooded (Wet-Cell) Lead Acid Batter y . . . . . . . . . . 7
Use a Digital Voltmeter Only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Common Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Simplified Operating Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
All Unit Labels and Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Battery State of Charge Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
LED Status Table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Detailed Operating Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
OCV/Battery State of Charge Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Charging a Battery in a Tightly Confined Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Temperature and its Effect on Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Charge and Float Voltages at Various Temperature Ranges . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Maintaining Multiple Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Multi-Battery Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20-21
Detailed Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
For Repair or Replacement / Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Guarantee/ Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Glossary of Terms
• Maintain a battery
BatteryMINDer ensures batteries are truly fully charged and will likely
continue improving the condition of the battery to the fullest extent
possible.
• Rested
A battery that has been as fully charged as possible and left disconnected
from charger or any type load overnight.
• Specific Gravity
One of the key parameters of battery operation is the specific gravity of the
electrolyte. Specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of a solution to the
weight of an equal volume of water at a specified temperature. Specific
gravity is used as an indicator of the state of charge of a cell or battery.
• Sulfation
Occurs when the battery sits discharged for a long period of time and large
sulfate crystals build up in the plates. The large sulfate crystals increase
the resistance of the plates and makes the battery harder to recharge.
Rev. C-071213 Page 2 P/N VDC12248-AA-Sx-MNL
BatteryMINDer
®
Aviation-Adjusted Models 12248-AA-S2, S3 & S5
REQUIRED SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING
READ AND FULLY UNDERSTAND BEFORE OPERATING
Contact VDC Electronics if uncertain
about any settings or operation.
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE, ELECTRIC SHOCK, OR
INJURY TO PERSON, OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING:
• This unit is designed for protected use and should never be exposed
to rain.
• Do not attempt to use the unit if it has been dropped or damaged.
• Never attempt to charge a damaged battery, frozen battery or non-
rechargeable battery.
• Do not use the unit in a closed area or poorly ventilated area.
• Never smoke, use an open flame, or create sparks near a battery or unit
during charging operation as this may cause an explosion / explosive
gas.
• Do not operate the unit if the cord or plug is damaged.
• Do not disassemble. VDC Electronics MUST be contacted for repair,
replacement or analysis. Keep away from infants, children and pets.
• Switch off or remove AC power before connecting or disconnecting to
bat ter y.
• Refer to the battery Manufacturer’s specific recommended values to
determine if standard unit settings are correct. Contact VDC Electronics
Tech Support before making any changes
• Check Battery Manufacturer’s specific precautions - such as removing
or not removing battery from aircraft before charging.
• Always remove battery from aircraft before equalizing or desulfating.
• Someone should be within range of your voice or close enough to
come to your aid if working near a lead-acid battery.
• Wear protective goggles and turn your face away when connecting or
disconnecting a battery.
• If battery acid contacts your skin or clothing, wash immediately with
soap and water. If acid enters your eye, immediately flush the eye with
running cold water for at least 10 minutes and seek medical attention
immediately.
• To reduce risk of damaging the battery, avoid dropping any metal tools
onto the battery.
• Never rest your Battery Charger on top of the Battery being charged.
• The Battery Charger / power supply should be kept as far away from
the Battery as the output cables permit.
Rev. C-071213 Page 3 P/N VDC12248-AA-Sx-MNL
BatteryMINDer
®
Aviation-Adjusted Models 12248-AA-S2, S3 & S5
Always follow battery manufacturer’s strict instructions for
proper care, charging and testing of battery. Always use their
FAA Approved “Instructions for Continued Airworthiness” (ICA).
Questions relating to the subject should be referred directly to
the battery manufacturer to be certain of current requirements
that may have been added to or changed since publication of their
instructions.
NEVER CHARGE A FROZEN BATTERY OR ONE AT A TEMPERATURE
ABOVE 123° F.
PREPARING TO CHARGE
A. Always disconnect ground wire first.
B. Be sure area around battery is well ventilated while battery is being
charged. Force gas vapors away by using a fan.
C. Clean battery terminals. Be careful to keep corrosion from contacting
eyes.
D. Study all battery manufacturer’s specific instructions such as
recommended charge rates.
E. Determine condition of battery, by referring to instructions herein,
before ever attempting to charge or desulfate any / all batteries.
F. Make sure unit is as far away from battery as output cables permit.
G. Never place unit directly above battery being charged; gases from
battery will corrode and damage unit.
H. Never allow battery acid to drip on charger when reading specific
gravity or filling.
I. Do not operate unit in a closed-in area or restrict ventilation in any
way.
J. Do not set battery on top of unit.
DC CONNECTION PRECAUTIONS
Note: Steps to be done in a well ventilated area away from aircraft.
A. Connect and disconnect DC output clips from battery only after
removing unit power cord from outlet.
B. Attach clips to battery posts and twist or rock back and forth several
times to make good contact. This tends to keep clips from slipping
off terminals and reduces risk of sparking.
UNIT LOCATION
A spark near the battery may cause battery explosion. To reduce
risk of a spark near battery:
A. Check polarity of battery posts. POSITIVE (POS, P, +) usually has a
larger diameter than NEGATIVE (NEG, N, -) battery post.
Rev. C-071213 Page 4 P/N VDC12248-AA-Sx-MNL
BatteryMINDer
®
Aviation-Adjusted Models 12248-AA-S2, S3 & S5
B. Connect (RED) charger clip to (POS+) post of battery.
C. Position yourself and free end of cable as far away from battery as
possible, then connect NEGATIVE (BLACK) charger clip.
D. Do not face battery when making final connections.
E. When disconnecting unit, always do so in reverse sequence of
connecting procedure and break first connection while as far
away from battery as practical. Do not attempt to permanently
install unit not specifically designed-approved for permanent
installation, especially in a wet high moisture environment.
NOTE: Because some batteries are not easily accessible, for
example located in the wing, tail, under the seat or in a battery box,
it is acceptable to attach the positive alligator clip to the positive
post of the battery relay or solenoid that is directly connected to
the positive terminal of the battery and attach the negative alligator
clip to a suitable aircraft ground connection.
QUALIFYING YOUR BATTERY
Preliminary Requirements
NOTE: The BatteryMINDer has no electrical output unless it is
connected to a healthy battery. Testing the BatteryMINDer with a
voltmeter without the unit being connected across a good battery will
result in a false reading. If you experience any problems, or are not
sure of how to properly use or connect your BatteryMINDer, please
e-mail our Tech Support Dept. at: techsupport@vdcelectronics.com
or call our toll-free technical support line 800-379-5579 x206 (Eastern
Time) (USA & Canada ONLY). Be certain to leave your phone
number with the area code, time zone and the best time to call.
To gain the best result from your unit and to maximize the life and
performance of your batteries we strongly recommend you qualify (test)
your batteries before attempting to either charge-maintain or desulfate
them. Remember, even if you just purchased a “new” battery it may have
been subjected to storage conditions that have caused “sulfation” such
as an extended period at high temperature (≥80°F).
NOTE: If your battery is new and you are certain it was not subject
to conditions that could have caused sulfation*, even before you
purchased it, then you can disregard our recommendations for
qualifying / testing your battery, before using the BatteryMINDer.
*Such as high temperature storage (≥80°F) and/or allowed to self-
discharge to 12.4 volts or lower.
Rev. C-071213 Page 5 P/N VDC12248-AA-Sx-MNL
BatteryMINDer
®
Aviation-Adjusted Models 12248-AA-S2, S3 & S5
CHARGING A FILLER CAP LEAD ACID BATTERY
A. Carefully remove all filler caps from your battery.
B. Check the water-liquid electrolyte level. If the level is low or has ever
been below top of plates, severe lead plate sulfation has taken place.
Significant recharge/reconditioning time is needed to restore these
plates to a condition where the battery may be expected to function
nor mally.
C. Refill each cell with distilled water only to the liquid level indicator found
in each cell. Before proceeding further you must be thoroughly
familiar with the safety and operating instructions.
D. Recharge the battery with the BatteryMINDer to ensure that it is
slowly and completely charged before you determine its condition.
Allow battery to “REST” overnight for a minimum of 12 hours before
testing with a temperature compensated hydrometer and/or digital type
voltmeter only.
E. If the BatteryMINDer battery condition LED lights (YELLOW) within
72 hours (single battery) or no balls float in one or more cells, your
battery may be too far gone to be fully desulfated. Reconnect battery
to your BatteryMINDer. Allow battery to remain in maintenance mode
for a minimum of 72 hours, before re-test. Use a hot/cold calibrated
hydrometer tester for the most accurate results (see table) if you
see an increase in the Specific Gravity (SG) or voltage indicating
that there is an improvement in the battery’s condition, continue
desulfating for an additional 72 hours and retest the battery. Continue
this process until the SG or voltage readings no longer increase.
TESTING WITH A HOT/
COLD CALIBRATED
HYDROMETER TESTER
Read the tester instructions carefully for
most accurate readings.
A. When using the tester the first time
or after a long period of non-use,
Specific Gravity – Capacity
Temperature
Compensated
Hydrometer - meter or
4 ball type
1.270 (4 Balls floating) 100%
Capacity
Percentage
Full
fill the tester with the battery fluid
and let it sit for 1/2 hour or longer.
This will soak the balls in order to
give you more accurate readings.
Failure to do so will give you false
readings indicating a battery that
may not be in as good a condition
as you may have thought.
B. After inserting the tester in a cell,
gently tap the tester several times
Rev. C-071213 Page 6 P/N VDC12248-AA-Sx-MNL
1.250 (3 Balls floating) 75%
1.190 (2 Balls floating) 50%
1.150 (1 Balls floating) 25%
1.120 (0 Balls floating)
May denote shorted cell
or battery that has been
severely discharged and
may not be recoverable
0%
BatteryMINDer
®
Aviation-Adjusted Models 12248-AA-S2, S3 & S5
against the inside wall of each cell to dislodge air bubbles that will
cause more balls to float than should. Failure to do so will yield false
readings that indicate a battery that is not fully desulfated or does not
qualify for desulfation.
C. If no balls float in any cell, the cell is shorted. This means your battery
is beyond the point of being properly recharged or reconditioneddesulfated. Dispose of the battery.
D. If each cell floats three (3) or more balls (or 1250 on gauge-type), your
battery can be reconditioned-desulfated.
E. Always rinse the tester with fresh water after every use. Failure to do
so will cause false readings.
CHARGING A SEALED, AGM OR FLOODED (WET-CELL)
LEAD ACID BATTERY
These batteries have no filler caps or manifold-type covers. Because you
cannot gain access to the interior of your battery you cannot test it with a
hydrometer.
USE A DIGITAL VOLTMETER ONLY
A. Recharge the battery with the BatteryMINDer to ensure it is as
completely charged as possible, before you determine its condition.
Allow battery to “REST ” overnight before checking the open circuit
voltage with a digital voltmeter only. Failure to check a “RESTED”
battery will cause false readings. Be certain to read and understand
all safety related instructions (pages 3 - 7) before proceeding further.
B. Measure battery’s voltage, without any load attached. If the voltage is
less than 12.6 volts (Typically 75% of charge) the battery may be too
heavily sulfated to be fully recoverable. If voltage is 12.6V or higher
recovery can be expected, given sufficient time.
C. Connect the BatteryMINDer to the battery
D. Charge battery to its maximum level. Allow battery to remain for a minimum
of 72 hours before retesting. If improvement is seen, continue until
battery voltage reaches full capacity level or no further increase is seen.
Note: Do not expect to completely dissolve sulfate in a day. Long
established sulfate will require a longer period to be fully dissolved.
Be patient and you will rewarded with a “sulfate-free” battery. If not
seriously damaged by sulfate, battery has a very good chance of
meeting 85% Cap (Airworthy) Test.
Rev. C-071213 Page 7 P/N VDC12248-AA-Sx-MNL
BatteryMINDer
a
b
1
c
®
AVIATION-CALIBRATED
Aviation-Adjusted Models 12248-AA-S2, S3 & S5
6
7
6
3
2
4
5
8
Common Features (All Models)
1 LED indicators (a, b & c) (See Battery Condition and LED Status page)
2 Maintenance Mode ONLY button
3 Temperature Sensor input connector
4 Output cord with quick connect plug
5 Input power cordset
6 Mounting tabs
7 Battery Clip (insulated) BCAA cordset with quick connect plug
8 ATS-1 Ambient Temperature Sensor installed (included)
Rev. C-071213 Page 8 P/N VDC12248-AA-Sx-MNL
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