Redarc BMS1215S2 User Manual

Battery Management

System

BMS1215S2

THE BMS1215S2

The Redarc BMS1215S2 Battery Management System is a complete charging solution
for you Auxiliary or House battery. The system incorporates 240V AC, 12/24V DC and 12V
Solar inputs to provide a 12V charging output at a maximum 15A rating.
The system also includes a Remote Monitor which provides information such as current,
voltage and temperature as well as a simplifi ed battery percentage and charge rate.

WARNING & SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

This manual contains important information relating to the safe installation and operation
of the BMS. Please read and understand these instructions before attempting to install
or use the BMS.

WARNING



Throughout this manual, warnings like this will appear to identify conditions or
practices that could result in harm to the user and/or damage to the BMS or other
equipment.

IMPORTANT

i

Throughout this manual, important information that the user should know will be
denoted like this.

For indoor use.

Keep electrical appliances out of reach from Children or infi rm persons. Do not let them
use the appliances without supervision.

Do NOT disassemble the BMS - the internal circuitry contains hazardous voltages.
Attempting to service the unit yourself may result in electric shock or fi re and will void
the unit warranty.

Do NOT use the BMS to charge non-rechargeable batteries. Doing so may result in harm
to the user and/or damage to the BMS. Only use the BMS for charging Standard Lead
Acid, Calcium content, Gel & AGM type 12V batteries.

Batteries on charge in ‘Storage’ mode should be checked at regular intervals.

2009/19/EC adapting to Council Directive 72/245/EEC relating to radio interference
(electromagnetic Compatibility) of vehicles, clauses 6.5, 6.6, 6.8 & 6.9 only.
2004/104/EC: 14th October 2004 adapting to technical progress of Council Directive
72/245/EEC relating to radio interference (electromagnetic compatibility) of vehicles.

IEC 60335-2-29:2002 (Fourth edition) + A1:2004 in conjunction with

RoHS

Compliant

SAL.FOR.Instruction Manual.BMS1215S2 – DOC386 – Version 6

IEC 60335-1:2001 (Fourth edition) +A1:2004 +A2:2006
EN 60335-2-29:2004 in conjunction with
EN 60335-1:2002+A1+A2+A11+A12+A13

1

CONTENTS

Table of Contents Page

Warnings and Safety Instructions 01
Contents 02
Features and Benefi ts 03

1 Introduction 04

1. General Description 04

2. The Remote Monitor 04

3. The Kit Includes 04

4. Specifi cations 05

5. Multi-stage Charging Process 07

2 INSTALLATION Guide 10

1. System Layout 10

2. Mounting Instructions 10

1. Mounting the Main Unit 11

2. Mounting the Remote Monitor 12

3. Installing the Current Shunt & Battery Sensor 15

3. DC Cable Size Requirements 16

4. Connections to Main Unit 18

5. Batteries 21

6. MPPT Solar Regulator 22

3 USER Guide 24

1. Remote Monitor 24

2. Understanding the Display 24

3. Navigating the Menu 25

4. Troubleshooting 31

5. FAQs 33

4 Two Year Warranty 34

2

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

1. The BMS incorporates fi ve products in one, negating the need for separate AC 240V
charger, solar regulator, DC-DC charge system, battery monitor and vehicle battery
isolator. The BMS will automatically select between charging sources, requiring no
input from the operator during its operation.

2. The BMS has no fan, which makes it SUPER quiet and very reliable.

3. The BMS is designed and manufactured in Australia, for Australian conditions, using
the latest electronic and design technologies. It is manufactured with high-quality
components to ISO9001 quality and ISO14001 environmental standards and backed
with Redarc’s quality service and two-year warranty.

4. The BMS’s DC-DC charging enables optimal charging of house batteries, even if they
have different chemical characteristics from the vehicle battery. The input voltage
can be above, equal to or below the output voltage.

5. State of Charge (SOC) indication means you will always know how charged the
battery is and how much longer it will need to achieve full charge. An easy to operate,
high-quality, user friendly liquid crystal display (LCD) module lets you know what’s
going on at all times.

6. The BMS is very reliable and includes in-built non-sparking battery connection,
reverse polarity protection (without depending on fuses) and short circuit protection.
The unit has undergone stringent safety & electrical compliance testing.

7. The unit’s easily selectable charging profi les make it suitable for charging all battery
types commonly used in modern caravans and motorhomes.

8. The unit disconnects automatically from the vehicle battery, so there is always power
to start the car.

9. Sophisticated fault detection monitors the house battery condition during all stages
of charge, keeping you and your caravan/ camper/ RV safe.

10. The BMS has a separate battery temperature sensor for automatic temperature
compensation and cut-out.

3

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 General Description

The BMS is designed to offer a complete solution to battery charging and
maintenance needs for recreational automotive applications.

The BMS incorporates AC, DC and Solar inputs to achieve the best charge to a
house battery.

1.2 The Remote Monitor

The BMS comes with a Remote Monitor designed to give you house battery
information and charge status along with critical system information while
charging is in progress.

With the Remote Monitor, you can customise how your house battery is charged
and monitor where the charge is coming from, keeping you in control at all times.

The Remote Monitor can be surface mounted on a wall, or recessed (into the
dashboard of an RV for example).

1.3 The Kit Includes

Main Unit

1

Current Shunt

2

Remote Monitor

3

Temperature Sensor

4

Shunt Wire

5

Remote Monitor Cable

6

Power Cable

7

4

1 INTRODUCTION

1.4 Specifi cations

Electrical Specifi cations
Inputs
AC Input

Input Voltage Range 220 - 240V AC, 50 - 60Hz
Power Rating 280W
Effi ciency 92%
Connection Mains Plug

DC Input

Input Voltage Range 9 - 32V
Turn ON/OFF Threshold 12V (24V) 13.2V/12.7V (26.4V/25.4V)
Power Rating 260W
Effi ciency 94%
Connection Terminal Block (See fi gure 2.4.3)

Solar Input

Input Voltage Range 9 - 30V
Turn ON 14V
Turn OFF above 19V
Turn OFF below 9V
Power Rating 260W
Effi ciency 93%
Connection Terminal Block (See fi gure 2.4.3)

Max Charging Volts @ Battery Terminals

Storage Mode Touring Mode

Gel Setting 14.4V 14.4V
AGM Setting 14.4V 14.4V
Calcium Setting 16.0V 15.2V
Standard Lead Acid Setting 15.5V 14.8V
Float Voltage 13.5V
Output Voltage Ripple <15mV
Output Current (Nominal) 15A
Temperature Compensation -5mV / Battery Cell / °C
Limit Temperatures 0°C - 75°C (5°C Hysteresis)
Over Temperature Shutdown Yes
Recommended Total Battery Capacity 40 - 400Ah
Required Number Of Cells in Series 6 (12V Battery)
Non-sparking Connection Yes
Memory Save on Battery Disconnect Yes

Output Protection

Short Circuit Protection Ye s
Surge Protection Yes
Reverse Polarity Protection Yes
Overload Protection Yes

Compliance

CE 2009/19/EC

2009/104/EC
Safety IEC60335
Environmental RoHS Compliant

General Specifi cations

Main Unit Dimensions 350x185x79mm
Remote Dimensions 196x74x29mm
Kit Weight 2.43kg
Warranty 2 years

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1 INTRODUCTION

350
309

82185

27

186

334

Figure 1.4.1 - Main Unit Dimensions

21 29

6

79

74

BATTERY MANAGEMENT

SYSTEM

Figure 1.4.2 - Remote Monitor Dimensions

6

1 INTRODUCTION

1.5 Multi-stage Charging Process

The BMS incorporates two different multi-stage charging profi les – Touring
(3-stage) and Storage (5-stage) – which can be selected in the Battery Mode
menu on the Remote Monitor.

Touring Mode

Touring mode is designed for use when ‘on the road’. Touring mode offers a
3-stage charging profi le consisting of Boost, Absorption and Float stages (see
Figure1.4.1). In Touring mode, the house battery is monitored to detect only a
limited number of faults such as short circuit, over current and over voltage.
This allows the BMS to operate correctly even when loads are connected to the
house battery. This mode will always produce an output (unless a fault condition
is detected) and will cycle through the three stages as required to maintain the
house battery as outlined in Figure 1.4.1.

IMPORTANT

i

Touring mode will achieve its best charge level if a Storage mode charge has
been recently performed.

3 - Stage Charging Process

FloatAbsorptionBoost

Voltage

Current

BOOST

Figure 1.4.1 - 3-Stage Charging Process

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ABSORPTION

FLOAT

1 INTRODUCTION

Storage Mode

Storage mode is designed to charge the house battery to its optimal level and
maintain that level while your caravan is in storage. This mode requires all loads
to be switched off or disconnected from the house battery before charging. It
uses a 5-stage charging profi le consisting of Boost, Absorption, Equalise, Float
and Maintenance stages (see Figure1.4.2). Storage mode is designed to detect
a wide range of battery fault conditions, for more information on these fault
conditions, please refer to the Troubleshooting section of this manual. Unlike
Touring mode, Storage mode does not cycle. This means that when the charging
process is completed, the BMS will always remain in either Float or Maintenance
stages. Float stage will provide the house battery with a ‘trickle’ charge whenever
the house battery voltage drops below a predetermined threshold to ensure the
battery stays charged. Maintenance stage turns the BMS output off, but continues



to monitor the house battery and will revert to Float stage when necessary.

NOTE: If the BMS is set to Storage mode and the vehicle is started the BMS will
automatically switch to Touring mode once it senses an increase in input voltage
from the alternator.

WARNING

Remove all loads from the house battery before starting a Storage mode
charge. Failure to do so could result in an insuffi cient charge on the house battery
or damage to sensitive loads connected to the house battery.

5 - Stage Charging Process

Maintenance MaintenanceFloatFloatEqualiseAbsorptionBoost

Voltage

Current

BOOST

Figure 1.4.2 - 5-Stage Charging Process

ABSORPTION

EQUALISE

8

FLOAT

MAINTENANCE

FLOAT

MAINTENANCE

1 INTRODUCTION

IMPORTANT

When the BMS is set to ‘Storage’ mode and no valid charging sources are
connected, it will enter a ‘Sleep’ mode after 2-3 seconds. The sleep mode is
designed to limit the amount of current drawn from the output battery by the
system whilst in Storage mode and does this by switching the screen and all
non-essential functions off. The BMS will ‘wake-up’ from its Sleep mode if any
valid input source is sensed, though this may take 30-60 seconds to occur after
the source in connected. This delay can be avoided by disconnecting the output
before connecting an input source however the State of Charge of the output
battery will not be retained (i.e. SOC screen will return to ‘Analysing’ until a
charge cycle in completed).

9

2 INSTALLATION GUIDE

2.1 System Layout

Solar Panels

(Not Supplied)

Vehicle
Battery

(Not Supplied)

Mains Power

DC - DC

Power Source

240VAC

BMS1215S2

Main Unit

Battery

Monitor

Remote
Monitor

To Loads

(Not Supplied)

House Battery

(Not Supplied)

2.2 Mounting Instructions

This section describes how to mount the four major components of the BMS: the
Main Unit, the Remote Monitor, the Current Shunt and the Battery Sensor.

Figure 2.1.1 - System Layout

Figure 2.2.1 - The BMS System

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