Cub Cadet Fun Runner - Manual (Page 97)

5-29
CHARGER TESTING PROCEDURES
It is important for the charger to operate
properly to completely charge the batteries,
have a full range, provide long battery life,
and do it all safely.
The charger must supply current to the
battery pack to recharge it. As the battery
pack accepts more current, the voltage of
the pack will rise. The voltage cannot go
over a set amount without damage to the
battery and possible excessive gassing of
the battery. As the pack voltage approaches
the maximum value, the charger must begin
to reduce the current to maintain the voltage
at the proper level. When only a small
amount of current is needed to hold the pack
voltage at the maximum value, the batteries
are completely charged and the charger will
go into float mode.
In float mode, the charger will maintain the
voltage at a level a little lower than the
maximum charging voltage. Only a small
amount of current is required to float the
batteries.
While in the main charge mode, the red LED
on the charger will be on. During the time
near the end of the main charge and the
beginning of the float charge when the
transition is being made, both the red and
green LED indicators will be on. Once the
charger is in float mode and is just
maintaining the charge, only the green LED
indicator will be on.
If it is suspected that the charger is not
operating as it should, it can be tested with
the following procedures:
•
Battery must not be at full charge. It is
not necessary that the battery be
completely discharged, but it should be
partially discharged. The more
discharged, the longer the test will take.
•
Connect the voltmeter to the battery
pack main terminals and observe
voltage reading.
•
Plug charger cord in and check to see if
the charge indicator on the instrument
cluster is on.
•
Observe pack voltage, it should start to
rise within a few seconds of starting the
charge.
•
Observe LED indicators on the charger.
The red indicator should be on.
•
Use a clamp on inductive current
sensor to measure charge current.
See Figure 5-19. Clamp the sensor on
the main negative or main positive
battery cable. The current reading
should be between 1 and 6.1 amps.
(The current will reduce as battery
nears a complete charge)
. Figure 5-19
•
Leave charger on and resume other
work. Periodically check the voltage of
the battery pack and the charger LED
indicators.
•
Voltage should eventually climb to
between 56.4 and 58.8 volts. The
charging current will reduce to around 1
amp at this voltage level. At this point
the main charge is nearing completion.
•
Try to observe the LED indicators when
both are on. Both indicators on signals
the transition period from the main
charge to the float charge.
•
At the end of the main charge the
charger will automatically switch to the
float charge. You should observe that
the pack voltage has reduced to 52-
54.4 volts and the current has reduced
to approximately 0.1 amps. During the
float charge, only the green LED should
be on.