LAMAR CA-1550-CML User manual

Manual No LI-4159-CML Rev A
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
CA-1550 – CML
BATTERY CHARGER / ANALYZER
PLEASE NOTE: This Manual applies to Power Products Serial Numbers Q900 and higher,
and all Power Products by Lamar serial numbers.
Lamar Technologies LLC
14900 40th Ave NE
Marysville, WA 98271
Cage Code: 3RCD2
Ph: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
SYSTEM OVERVIEW ... ............................................................ .1
1.1 SYSTEM OVERVIEW.................................................................. .1
1.2 DISPLAYS AND CONTROLS...................................................... .2
2 INSTALLATION........................................................................ .3
2.1 LINE VOLTAGE ............................................................................. .3
2.2 TERMINALS ... ........................................................................... ...4
2.3 SPACE REQUIREMENTS......................................................... ...4
3 OPERATING GUIDE - CHARGING ... ................................... ...5
3.1 CHARGE CHARACTERISTICS ................................................. ...5
3.2 CHARGING METHODS ............................................................. ...6
3.3 PREPARATION FOR CHARGING ............................................... ..7
3.4 CHARGE TIME ............................................................................. ..9
3.5 SETTING CHARGE VOLTAGE AND CURRENT.......................... .9
4 OPERATING GUIDE - DISCHARGING ................................. .13
4.1 DISCHARGE CHARACTERISTICS ............................................ .13
4.2 DISCHARGE CAPACITY TESTING ... ......................................... .15
4.3 PREPARATION FOR TESTING ... ............................................... .16
4.4 DISCHARGE TIME .................................................................... ...18
4.5 CUTOFF VOLTAGE .................................................................. .18
4.6 SETTING DISCHARGE CURRENT ............................................ .21
4.7 TEST COMPLETION AND ANALYSIS...................................... ...22
5 CALIBRATION AND MAINTENANCE ... .............................. ...24
5.1 OVERVIEW OF CALIBRATION ................................................. .24
5.2 VOLTMETER CALIBRATION ...................................................... ..24
5.3 AMMETER CALIBRATION ........................................................ ...28
5.4 SHUNT VERIFICATION ............................................................ .31
5.5 DISCHARGE CURRENT OPERATING RANGE ....................... ...32
5.6
MAINTENANCE... .................................................................... ..32
6 TROUBLE-SHOOTING ......................................................... ..34
7 SPECIFICATIONS ................................................................... .36
WARRANTY ................................................................................. .37
CERTIFICATION OF CALIBRATION... ....................................... ..38

1. SYSTEM OVERVIEW
1 SYSTEM OVERVIEW
1.1 SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The CA-1550 Charger/Analyzer is a self-contained unit for charging and discharge
capacity testing of rechargeable batteries. It has been designed to accurately test,
charge and guarantee the emergency capacity of sealed or vented lead-acid or
nickel-cadmium batteries. Guaranteed emergency capacity is especially important for
aircraft batteries.
The unit comes in a convenient protective carrying case. It is very easy to move
around to accommodate flexibility in the work environment, whether used portable or
in the hangar or battery shop. The flexibility of charge and discharge parameters of
the CA-1550 makes it usable for a wide variety of batteries and voltages. The unit
accurately charges and tests lead-acid batteries of 12 or 24 volts, as well as nickel-
cadmium batteries of a single cell to 24 volts.
The charge unit of the CA-1550 allows charging at both constant potential and
constant current to give maximum flexibility in selection of charge method. The
charger has an adjustable charge current from 0 to 25 amperes, and an automatic
timer for charge time selection.
The discharge unit of the CA-1550 enables battery capacity testing with a constant
current of 0 to 50 amperes (usually set to 80-100% of the battery's capacity rating) for
a preset time. The unit automatically analyzes the discharge characteristics and
passes or fails the battery depending on the battery’s ability to maintain the
specified minimum voltage for the duration of the test.
1.2 DISPLAYS AND CONTROLS
The CA-1550 has been designed to have very simple and easy to understand
controls and displays.
Two digital panel meters allow viewing of charge and discharge current and
voltage. A digital electronic timer displays elapsed time and can be set to any fixed
duration period. Light indicators display if the unit is in charge or discharge mode and
also indicate battery pass or reject status after a discharge test (see Figure 1-
1).
CA-1550 CHARGER / ANALYZER - OPERATING MANUAL LI-4159-CML Rev A Page 1

1. SYSTEM OVERVIEW
Figure 1-1. Controls and displays of CA-1550
CA-1550 CHARGER / ANALYZER - OPERATING MANUAL LI-4159-CML Rev A Page 2
Meter Calibration
Test points
12 volt CP Adjust 24 Volt CP Adjust
Adjustment Tool
Timer
Voltmeter
Ammeter
Battery Voltage selector
Voltage cutoff adjuster
Voltage Cutoff View
Discharge Current Adjust
Charge/Discharge selector
Pass/Fail Indicators
Charge Current Adjust
Mains On/Off/Reset