Alber PSC-10A User manual

PSC-10A
Programmable Smart Charger
User's Guide
7775 West Oakland Park Blvd
Sunrise, FL 33351
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
www.alber.com
4200-017R2.2

PSC-10A
Programmable Smart Charger
User's Guide
7775 West Oakland Park Blvd
Sunrise, FL 33351
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
www.alber.com

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1. WARRANTY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
LIMITED WARRANTY
Albércorp warrants that the software product will perform in accordance with the accompanying written
materials for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of receipt. Some states and jurisdictions do not
allow limitations on duration of an implied warranty, so the above limitation may not apply to you. To the
extent allowed by applicable law, implied warranties on the software product, if any, are limited to ninety
(90) days.
CUSTOMER REMEDIES
Albércorp's entire liability and your exclusive remedy shall be, at Albércorp's option, either return of the
price paid, or replacement of the software product that is returned to Albércorp with proof of purchase. This
Limited Warranty is void if failure of the software product has resulted from accident, abuse or
misapplication. Any replacement software product will be warranted for the remainder of the original
period or thirty (30) days, whichever is longer.
Albércorp shall not be liable for any data or programs stored in or used in conjunction with this software
product. Without prejudice to the foregoing generality, Albércorp shall not be liable for the loss or
corruption of data or programs stored in or used in conjunction with this or any other software product, nor
shall Albércorp be liable for the cost of retrieving or replacing lost or corrupted data.
Albércorp's sole and exclusive liability, for any and all losses and damages arising out of any cause
whatsoever, shall in no event exceed the purchase price of the software product purchased.
NO LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.
ALBÉRCORP SHALL NOT IN ANY CASE BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING
SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, EXEMPLARY, COLLATERAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL,
ARISING FROM BREACH OF WARRANTY, BREACH OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR UNDER
ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY ARISING FROM THE WARRANTY HEREIN STATED OR THE
PURCHASE OF PRODUCT, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOSS OF PROFITS, USE OR
GOODWILL.
Some states and countries do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages;
therefore, the above exclusion or limitation may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal
rights, and you may also have other rights which vary state to state and country to country.
Albércorp
7775 West Oakland Park Blvd
Sunrise, FL 33351
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
PSC-10A Single Cell Charger Instruction Manual,
Part Number 4200-017R2.2, Book Revision 2.2
2015 Albércorp, 7775 West Oakland Park Blvd, Sunrise, FL 33351 USA
This manual may not be copied in whole or in part without express written permission from Albércorp.
Printed in the United States of America.

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Table of Contents
1. SAFETY INFORMATION ............................................................................................................................ 1
1.1. If You Have Questions ................................................................................................................... 1
2. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................ 2
2.1.Charger Modes ............................................................................................................................... 2
2.2. Selecting Menu Items..................................................................................................................... 2
3. POWER UP............................................................................................................................................... 3
4. CONNECTING TO THE CELL ..................................................................................................................... 3
5. CELL VOLTAGE DISPLAY FUNCTION....................................................................................................... 3
6. POWER SUPPLY MODE ............................................................................................................................ 4
7. FLOAT VOLTAGE..................................................................................................................................... 5
8. TIMED EQUALIZATION MODE.................................................................................................................. 6
9. GENERAL TEST NOTES............................................................................................................................ 8
10. CALIBRATION...................................................................................................................................... 9
10.1. Cell Voltage Calibration............................................................................................................. 9
10.2. Charge Current Calibration......................................................................................................... 9
Table of Figures
Figure 1. Power Up Screen............................................................................................................................. 3
Figure 2. Cell Voltage Mode.......................................................................................................................... 3
Figure 3. Power Supply Mode........................................................................................................................ 4
Figure 4. Power Supply Mode........................................................................................................................ 5
Figure 5. Set Voltage Equalization................................................................................................................. 6
Figure 6. Set Time Equalization..................................................................................................................... 6
Figure 7. Parameters During Charge Cycle.................................................................................................... 6
Figure 8. Charge History................................................................................................................................ 8
Figure 9. PSC-10A Control Board ................................................................................................................. 9
Drawings in this manual may be for reference only or superseded by later drawings. For the latest
information, refer to the drawings supplied with your system.

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1. Safety Information
•Except as explained in this manual, do not attempt to service Albér equipment
yourself. Opening the equipment may expose you to dangerous voltages. Refer
servicing beyond that described in this manual to authorized personnel.
•Do not allow liquids or moisture to get into the equipment. If liquid does get into the
equipment, unplug it immediately and contact your nearest authorized service center
or Albér directly.
•Ensure equipment is provided adequate ventilation. Do not block equipment
ventilation openings.
•Do not exceed equipment voltage or power ratings and capabilities.
•Make sure that equipment is properly grounded.
•Do not let unauthorized persons operate the equipment.
•Do not energize the system or any component with 115VAC or battery voltage until
after the installation is complete.
•Use of this product in a manner not specified could compromise the designed-in
safety of this product.
•High voltage or current may be present inside the equipment and on the equipment
terminals. Only qualified personnel should perform the operations described in this
manual. Calibration must be performed only by technically qualified persons.
Observe electrical safety precautions when removing and installing equipment
covers, and when connecting leads and making adjustments.
•Proper installation is essential to the correct functioning of your system. If you have
any questions about installation, please contact Albér for assistance.
•This manual describes the general installation and use of the PSC-10A system. If
your system has features or accessories not addressed in this manual, please contact
Albér.
•Drawings in this manual may be for reference only or superseded by later drawings.
For the latest information, refer to the drawings supplied with your system.
1.1.If You Have Questions
Proper installation and testing are essential to the correct functioning of your system. If you
have questions, contact Albér at [phone] or fax [phone]. Request PSC-10A
assistance.

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2. Introduction
The PSC-10A Programmable Smart Charger is designed for charging a single, 2-volt cell, either
on-line or off-line. The standard PSC-10A includes the following items:
•The PSC-10A charger.
•A set of 8 foot test leads.
•An AC power cord.
•This instruction manual.
2.1.Charger Modes
The PSC-10A can be used in either the Power Supply or Timed Equalization mode.
WARNING: To prevent arcing, only connect/disconnect the PSC leads to the battery posts
when the PSC is in the Cell Voltage mode or when instructed to do so in this manual.
Power Supply Mode
Power Supply mode lets you control the float voltage level by setting the PSC output voltage
to any level up to 3.00 volts. After this target or final voltage (float voltage) is set, the PSC
charges the cell to that level. If the cell is initially substantially below the target level, the
power supply limits current to 10 amps until the cell voltage rises to near the programmed
value. NOTE: The cell must be above 0.7 volts before charging will begin.
Timed Equalization
Timed Equalization mode lets you program the PSC to the final voltage desired (equalization
voltage) and the time that voltage will be applied. After the time expires, the PSC voltage
returns to the float voltage set in Power Supply mode.
To automatically equalize a cell, first set the float voltage in Power Supply mode, then
program the equalization voltage and time in Timed Equalization mode. The PSC first
equalizes the cell to the programmed voltage for the programmed time, then adjusts the
voltage to the float voltage level and leaves it there until you intervene.
Charger output is routed through a relay controlled by the microprocessor-based system.
When the PSC is first connected to a cell, the charger output voltage is automatically adjusted
to equal the cell voltage. This way, when the relay closes, there is no initial current flow and,
therefore, no arcing.
2.2.Selecting Menu Items
The PSC-10A menus let you select options using soft keys. The Up/Down Arrows, Mode,
and Enter keys are soft keys, which means their functions depend upon the menu displayed.
Soft key functions appear on the screen in brackets above the Mode and Enter keys and left of
the Arrow keys. For example, the Cell Voltage screen (Figure 2) shows only one active soft
key that lets you select the Power Supply [PwrSply] mode. This manual refers to the Mode,
Enter, and Arrow keys by their soft key names.

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3. Power Up
Set the rear panel power switch to Off, then connect the PSC-10A to a 115VAC outlet, attach the
charger leads to the front panel, and set the power switch to On.
At power up, the PSC displays the Albércorp logo and program revision level, then performs a
self-diagnostic and calibration check. If diagnostics detects a problem and a message appears,
cycle the power off then on. If the problem still exists, power down the unit and contact Albér.
If the self-test is good, the following screen appears:
Cell Voltage
Volts = x.xx
Data
Attach Battery Leads
Figure 1. Power Up Screen
4. Connecting to the Cell
WARNING: Only connect or disconnect the PSC leads to the battery posts when the PSC is in
the Cell Voltage mode.
After you connect the charger leads to the PSC, connect the red test clamp to the positive terminal
of the cell being charged, and the black test clamp to the negative terminal of the cell.
5. Cell Voltage Display Function
After you connect the leads to the cell, the Cell Voltage screen appears. The cell voltage
displayed is the voltage of the cell being charged and is accurate to ±0.1% of reading, ±0.01 volt.
Cell Voltage Where Volts = 2.xx is the
Volts = 2.xx actual cell voltage.
Data
[PwrSply]
Figure 2. Cell Voltage Mode
In Cell Voltage mode, the cell voltage sense leads are connected to the cell, but the PSC internal
relay disconnects the current carrying charger leads. Also, the charger supply automatically
adjusts to equal the cell voltage, so when the current leads internally close, there is no initial
current flow.
[PwrSply] Power Supply - This is the only function available on the Cell Voltage screen. This
function selects the Power Supply mode described in the next section.

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6. Power Supply Mode
Use the Power Supply mode to float a cell to a level or to equalize a cell to a level by controlling
voltage level and charge time. To select Power Supply mode, press the [PwrSply] key on the Cell
Voltage screen. In this mode, you can set the charger output voltage to any value up to 3.00 volts.
Float Voltage Inc
Vfl = 2.15v 2.15 Values shown on screens
Ifl = 0.00a Dec are for example only.
[Veq] [Data]
Figure 3. Power Supply Mode
The Power Supply mode screen shows two voltages. Vfl = 2.15v is the actual cell voltage
measured at the test clips. The value with the arrow pointing to it (2.15) is the target voltage to
which the cell will be charged.
When Power Supply mode is selected, the target voltage automatically sets to actual cell voltage.
Since the cell voltage initially equals target voltage, the charge current (Ifl) is zero.
The functions available on the Power Supply screen are Veq and Data.
[Veq] Voltage Equalization - The timed equalization function described in the Time
Equalization Mode section.
[Data] - This function lets you scroll through data stored during a timed equalization charge.
There are ten data points taken at equal intervals during a charge. For more about [Data], refer to
the General Test Notes chapter.
If you want to return to Cell Voltage mode from Power Supply mode, press [Data] then
press [Cell-V].

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7. Float Voltage
In Power Supply mode, to set the target float voltage, press the Inc (Increment) or Dec
(Decrement) arrow keys. When the target voltage is raised above the actual cell voltage, current
starts to flow and the cell voltage begins to increase. The charger current is limited to a maximum
of 10 amps.
NOTE: The target value should be the normal float voltage for that cell.
Float Voltage Inc
Vfl = 2.15v 2.15 Values shown on screens
Ifl = 0.00a Dec are for example only.
[Veq] [Data]
Figure 4. Power Supply Mode
To perform a timed equalization function (described next), use Power Supply mode to set the
float voltage to which the cell should return following the equalization charge. When the timed
equalization charge finishes, the PSC returns to the Power Supply mode.
If you want to return to Cell Voltage mode from Power Supply mode, press [Data] then
press [Cell-V].

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8. Timed Equalization Mode
In Power Supply mode, to program a timed charge, press the [Veq] Voltage Equalization key.
The following screen appears.
Set Veq Inc Where Volts = 2.yy is the
Volts = 2.yy desired voltage that the
Dec cell is to be charged to.
[Teq] [Accept]
Figure 5. Set Voltage Equalization
To set the end voltage to which the cell will charge (Veq), press the Inc or Dec (Increment or
Decrement) key, then press [Accept] to enter that value. After the voltage level is accepted, press
the [Teq] Time Equalization key.
Set Teq Inc
Time = 000 Hrs
Dec
[StartChg] [Accept]
Figure 6. Set Time Equalization
To set the length of charge time (Teq), press the Inc or Dec key, then press [Accept] to enter that
value.
To start the timed charge cycle, press the [StartChg] Start Charge key. The screen displays the
following parameters.
Veq = 2.13 2.16
Ieq = 2.83 10.00 Values shown are for
Teq = 000:00 001.00 example only.
[Pause] [Abort]
Figure 7. Parameters During Charge Cycle
The Veq, Ieq, and Teq parameters show the present cell voltage, charge current, and charge time.
The values to which the arrows are pointing are the programmed (target) values. The voltage and
time (Veq and Teq) are the values you entered in previous steps. (Ieq) is the maximum current
limit of the power supply.
A normal charge cycle terminates when actual time reaches programmed time. At that time, the
system changes to Power Supply mode, and the cell float voltage adjusts to the target value set in
Power Supply mode. NOTE: The target value should be the normal float voltage for the cell.

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[Pause] [Abort] [ResumeChg] - If a problem develops during the charge cycle, you can pause or
end (abort). Pausing the charge by pressing [Pause] opens the charge control relay and stops the
timer until the cycle is resumed. To resume charging after pausing, press [ResumeChg]. Pressing
[Abort] to stop a cycle causes the same action as a normal time out, with the mode returning to
Cell Voltage. Basically, [Abort] short cycles the charge timer.

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9. General Test Notes
The Data function lets you scroll through data stored during a timed equalization charge. Ten data
points are taken at equal intervals during a charge. NOTE: The data is stored in RAM, which
means it will be lost when the PSC is powered off.
To access data stored during the timed discharge, press the [Data] key while in Power Supply
mode. The following shows a typical Charge History screen with sample data.
Charge History Inc
Veq = 2.25 Ieq = 06.7
T(02) = 001.25 Dec
[Cell - V]
Figure 8. Charge History
The sample data is for the second of ten stored data points (T02). To scroll through the other data
points, press the Inc or Dec key.
To return to Cell Voltage mode from Data (charge history) mode, press [Cell-V].
WARNING: To safely remove the PSC test leads from the cell, the PSC must be in Cell Voltage
mode to prevent arcing. To return to Cell Voltage mode from Power Supply mode, press [Data]
then press [Cell-V].
If the test leads are disconnected during an active charge function, the PSC will detect the loss of
voltage and display an error message. When the message is cleared by pressing the [Continue]
key, the operating mode changes to Cell Voltage.

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10. Calibration
The stable measuring circuits in the PSC-10A should not require adjustment for several years.
However, Alber recommends that you compare the displayed values to known good standards to
verify calibration is within acceptable limits. Acceptable limits should be defined by the user. In
typical battery applications, acceptable tolerances are:
Vcell = ±0.01 volt Icharge = ±0.25 amps T = ±1%
Voltage and current readings are calibrated using a potentiometer to set the upper level of the
input range. The circuit uses an auto zero feature, so there is no adjustment for that end of the
range. Time is based on a crystal oscillator as the reference, so there are no adjustments. Time is
either correct or there is a problem with the PSC.
WARNING: Remove power before opening the unit. Opening the equipment may expose you to
dangerous voltages. Do not let unauthorized persons service this equipment.
To access the voltage and current calibration potentiometers, remove the top cover of the charger.
Refer to Figure 9 for the locations of potentiometers P1 and P2. After removing the top, perform
calibration as follows.
10.1.Cell Voltage Calibration
Power up the charger, and connect it to a nominal 2 volt battery of at least 25 ampere hours
rating, using a calibrated, 10 amp shunt in series with the positive test lead. Select the Cell
Voltage display mode on the PSC.
Read the actual cell voltage with a known calibrated 3½-digit voltmeter, and adjust P1 until
the value displayed by the PSC matches that of the digital voltmeter.
RV1
RV2
Figure 9. PSC-10A Control Board
10.2.Charge Current Calibration
Set the PSC to Power Supply mode and increase the charger voltage until the charge current
reaches a stable level at or close to 10 amps.
Read the actual charge current flowing through the calibration shunt, and adjust P2 until the
value displayed by the PSC matches this current reading.
End of calibration.