Magnum Energy Battery Monitor Kit ME-BMK - Manual (Page 13)

9 © 2010 Magnum Energy, Inc.
Using the ME-RC50 Remote with the BMK
3.0 Using the ME-RC50 Remote with the BMK
This section discusses how to set up and operate the BMK using the ME-RC50 re-
mote. It also shows what BMK menu options are available using this remote.
The fi rst section provides information about Charge Effi ciency and how to
manually access/adjust this setting. Normally, the ME-BMK battery monitor
automatically calculates the battery’s effi ciency.
Info: The factory default charge effi ciency setting is Auto. This set-
ting allows the charging effi ciency to be automatically calculated.
In most circumstances, the Auto setting will determine the best
charge effi ciency.
CAUTION: If you do not know your battery’s charging effi ciency,
leave it at the factory default setting. If the setting is manually set
but incorrect, the state-of-charge information will become more
inaccurate with every charge.
What is Charge Effi ciency? When a certain amount of energy is removed or
discharged from the battery, this removed energy will need to be returned to
keep the batteries at a 100% state of charge. As batteries are being charged,
they lose energy; either in the form of heat, or while gassing. This loss of
energy while charging means the battery will not be fully charged if you only
return the current that was removed. To compensate for the battery’s inef-
fi ciencies while charging, a charge effi ciency setting is provided. The charge
effi ciency setting compensates the AH I/O (Amp-Hrs In/Out) reading by
ensuring the amp-hrs returned to the battery are greater than the amp-hrs
removed.
For example, if your AH I/O display reads 000 and you begin powering a 25
amp load for two hours, the display will show -050. This indicates that you
have discharged 50 amp-hrs (2 x 25) from the battery. If the charge effi ciency
setting is set to 95%, then as you begin charging and return 50 amp-hrs, the
AH I/O reading will be less than zero, indicating that the amp-hours removed
have not been fully returned. The 95% charge effi ciency setting requires 52.5
amp-hours (50/95) to be returned before the AH I/O returns to 0.
3.1 Accessing the Charge Effi ciency Menu Item
On the ME-RC50 remote, press the METER pushbutton and rotate the
SELECT knob until the 05 BM: Setup menu appears. Once the 05 BM: Setup
menu appears, press the SELECT knob to access the BM Charge Eff menu
item (see Figure 3-1).
Info: For additional information on navigating the remote display,
see the ME-RC50 (PN: 64-0003) Owner’s Manual. See Figure 3-4 for
a complete map of the menu items and adjustable settings available
for the ME-BMK when using the ME-RC50 remote control.
METER
press
Status…
05 BM: Setup
rotate
to
press to
select
Figure 3-1, Accessing the Charge Effi ciency Menu Item (ME-RC50)