LAMAR Power Products ACTIVATOR 282 User manual

Revision 2.2September 2019
OPERATINGMANUAL
AIRCRAFTBATTERYMAINTENANCECHARGER
Power Products
by
Technologies LLC
Lamar

LI- 282 Rev 2_2.docx
NOTICE:
This Operator Manual applies to the Activator 282 with a Liquid Crystal Display
starting with Serial Number Q24632 (manufactured 2013 and newer)
For older Activator 282 units, contact Lamar Technologies
for the appropriate manual.
© Copyright 2019 Lamar Technologies LLC.
Lamar Technologies LLC
14900 40th Ave. NE
Marysville, WA 98271
360-651-8869 office
360-651-6677 fax
www.lamartech.com/powerproducts/
[email protected]

Table of Contents
Page i
Table of Contents
1. Introduction .................................................................................... 1
2. Preparation for use ......................................................................... 2
3. Principles of operation ................................................................... 3
4. Operating instructions.................................................................... 6
4.1 Charging a Battery ...................................................................... 8
4.2 Activator 282 Charging Cycles ................................................... 9
4.3 Unexpected Loss of Power ........................................................ 11
4.4 Disconnecting from a Battery ................................................... 12
4.5 Emergency Shutdown ................................................................ 12
5. Maintenance and servicing (preventive and corrective) ........... 13
5.1 Verifying Charge Voltage ......................................................... 13
5.2 Verifying Fan Operation ........................................................... 14
6. Preparation for shipment ............................................................. 15
7. Storage ........................................................................................... 15
8. Parts List ....................................................................................... 16
8.1 Power Cord ................................................................................ 16
8.2 Fan .............................................................................................. 16
9. Troubleshooting ............................................................................ 17
10. Specifications .............................................................................. 19
11. Certificate of Calibration .......................................................... 20
12. Warranty .................................................................................... 21
13. Revisions ..................................................................................... 22

Warnings
Page ii
List of Warnings
DANGER
The Activator 282 enclosure does not have electrical interlocks. Contact
with the primary power input lines can be lethal. Only qualified electronics
technicians should open the enclosure. There are no user-serviceable parts
inside.

Introduction
Page 1 LI-282 Rev. 2.2 September 2019
Activator 282 Aircraft Battery Maintenance Charger
1. Introduction
The Activator 282 is a compact aircraft battery maintenance charger, intended to
be connected to an aircraft battery and left unattended for an extended time. It is
lightweight and compact and connects directly to the aircraft battery terminals.
It uses an IEC60320 power inlet and can operate from any global line/mains AC
power source. No other tools or equipment are required to use the Activator 282.
The unit will charge a 24 Volt lead-acid or nickel-cadmium aircraft battery using
the standard MS3509-compatible connector. DO NOT use it on any other
battery voltage or chemistry, such as lithium ion. The Activator 282 displays the
battery voltage on its Liquid Crystal Display and shows its status with three
lights on the front panel. The unit charges at about 2 to 3 Amperes maximum
current and regulates the battery voltage to prevent overcharge. After the battery
is fully charged, a short “topping” charge is applied to reduce sulfation in lead-
acid batteries and to equalize cells in nickel-cadmium batteries. Then the unit
shuts off all charging and monitors the battery open-circuit voltage. As the
battery self-discharges to a low charge level, the Activator 282 starts another
charge cycle. All operation is completely automatic and requires no user
interaction.

Introduction
Page 2 LI-282 Rev. 2.2 September 2019
The Activator 282 is intended for sheltered use (no water into the enclosure) at
temperatures from -20°C to +50°C.
Items furnished Note
Activator 282
Line cord for North
America
Line cords available for other
countries – contact distributor or
factory.
Storage case
Operator Manual
The Activator 282 is warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for
one (1) year after shipment.
2. Preparation for use
Inspect the shipping carton for obvious signs of damage or dampness.
Open the shipping carton and remove the contents. Check the contents against
the shipping list and be sure all items are included.
When not in use, store the Activator 282 safe from shock, vibration, moisture,
and excessive heat.

Principles of Operation
Page 3 LI-282 Rev. 2.2 September 2019
3. Principles of operation
The Activator 282 plugs into any global power outlet of 100 ~ 240 VAC, 50 ~ 60
Hz. It uses a switching power supply to efficiently convert the line/mains
voltage to 24 ~ 32 Volts DC, regulated by its microcontroller.
Voltage limits stated in this section are for a Lead Acid battery. See the table in
the section “Activator 282 Charging Cycles” for Nickel Cadmium voltage levels.
When AC line power is applied, the display will light up with a white backlight
and all three indicator lights will illuminate for several seconds. The Activator
282 will display the battery voltage for approximately five seconds if one is
present, otherwise it will show a low voltage coming from its own power supply.
If a battery is connected, the unit will begin charging the battery. If no battery is
connected, the unit will display “Er1” and a red FAULT light. The power must
be turned off to clear the error message “Er1”.
During charging, a yellow “CHARGING” light is on.
When the battery reaches its nominal charge voltage of 28.2 Volts the Activator
282 continues with a “topping” charge for a short time. Voltage is regulated by
the microcontroller to prevent over-charging. Counting from when AC power is
first turned on, the first topping charge is about one hour.

Principles of Operation
Page 4 LI-282 Rev. 2.2 September 2019
After the topping charge is complete or when the battery reaches 28.6 Volts, the
Activator 282 turns off the charge current and just monitors the open-circuit
battery voltage. The green “READY” light is on. The Activator 282 draws its
operating power from the AC and draws only 125 micro-amps (0.000125 Amps)
from the battery while monitoring the self-discharge of the battery. As the
battery self-discharges below 25.30 Volts the Activator 282 will automatically
begin another charge cycle, lighting the yellow “CHARGING” light. At the end
of this second charge cycle, the topping charge time is approximately 30
minutes. The battery is allowed to self-discharge again, and a third charge cycle
will occur. The topping charge for third and subsequent charge cycles is only
two minutes.
In the event the battery is sulfated or has some other problem, it may heat up
even at the modest 2 to 3 ampere charging rate. A thermostat mounted in the
battery connector will close at about 50°C (122°F). The Activator 282 will show
a red “OVERTEMP/FAULT” light flashing about once per second, display the
voltage detected and the message “Er3” on the LCD, and will suspend charging.
When the battery terminals have cooled by about 5°C (9°F) the thermostat will
open. However, the Activator 282 will not resume charging after a temperature
fault until the AC power is cycled “OFF”, then back “ON”.
This heating is very unusual with a good battery unless the environment is close
to 50°C (122°F). If the flashing red light and error code “Er3” are observed in a
cool environment, it is suggested the battery condition be independently tested.

Principles of Operation
Page 5 LI-282 Rev. 2.2 September 2019
The Activator 282 has an internal timer set for 26 hours. If a battery fails to
reach a full charge within 26 hours, the Activator 282 will show a flashing red
“FAULT” light and the error message “Er2”. Charging will be suspended.
Cycling AC power on the Activator 282 will reset the timer and restart the
charge cycle.

Operating Instructions
Page 6 LI-282 Rev. 2.2 September 2019
4. Operating instructions
D
E
F
A B
C
G

Operating Instructions
Page 7 LI-282 Rev. 2.2 September 2019
Refer to the preceding figure.
Callout Description
A Voltmeter. Displays battery voltage when connected to a
battery, or shows “Er1” when powered on but not connected.
Shows “Er2” if battery has not completed a charge in 26 hours.
Shows “Er3” if the battery terminals reach 50ºC (122ºF).
B Power switch. Turns the AC power on or off.
C NiCad-Lead Acid switch. Set this recessed switch for the type
of 24 Volt aircraft battery to be charged. This switch affects the
maximum battery charging voltage.
D Charging light. Shows yellow when charging is taking place.
E Ready light. Shows green when the Activator has turned off all
charging current and is monitoring the battery open-circuit
voltage.
F Over-temperature / Fault light. Flashes red about once per
second if the battery has not completed a charge in 26 hours
time since power was applied. Flashes red about once per
second when the battery terminals are overheated. Cycle power
to clear.
G Connector knob. Insert into the battery connector and turn the
knob clockwise to secure the Activator 282 to the battery. Turn
counter-clockwise to remove the Activator 282 from the battery.

Operating Instructions
Page 8 LI-282 Rev. 2.2 September 2019
4.1 Charging a Battery
CAUTION
Connect the Activator 282 to the battery before applying AC
power, to prevent a spark when connecting to the battery.
Disconnect any battery connections. Connect the Activator 282 directly to the
aircraft battery terminals with its integral connector, twisting the connecting
knob clockwise to secure the Activator 282 to the battery.
Connect a power cord to the Activator 282 and to a suitable power outlet.
A suitable power outlet will stay continuously powered for the time
that the Activator 282 is in use. It will not be turned off periodically,
such as a lighting circuit or a circuit that is shut down every weekend.
Observe that the voltmeter backlight comes on with all the lights ON and the
battery voltage is displayed on the screen, then the yellow “CHARGING” light
comes on. The display shows only battery voltage.
A full charge of a healthy but fully discharged battery may take up to 24 hours.
Of course, partially charged batteries will finish charging more quickly. When
the battery has reached full charge, the Activator 282 will provide a topping
charge for a few more minutes, then automatically stop charging and just

Operating Instructions
Page 9 LI-282 Rev. 2.2 September 2019
monitor battery voltage. At this time the green “READY” light will come on
and the yellow “CHARGING” light will go off.
4.2 Activator 282 Charging Cycles
The Activator 282 charges a battery to full charge, then disconnects completely
to let the battery alone until the battery self-discharges to below 25.3 Volts open
circuit. The Activator 282 then wakes up and recharges the battery. The cycles
and voltage setpoints are shown in the following table.
Note that this sequence restarts every time power is applied or re-
applied to the Activator 282. For example, if the Activator 282 is
plugged in to a circuit that gets turned off every night (or every
weekend), then when power is re-applied the Activator 282 will start
over with a full charge of the battery. This is not the desired
protocol, it is better to avoid regularly recharging the battery until it
has self-discharged to below 25.3 Volts.

Operating Instructions
Page 10 LI-282 Rev. 2.2 September 2019
Indication Lead Acid Nickel Cadmium
First time
charging
Yellow
“CHARGING”
Charge to 28.20
Volts, then charge
for another 60
minutes OR until
battery reaches
28.60 Volts. Then
shut down.
Charge to 28.50 Volts,
then charge for another
60 minutes OR until
battery reaches 30.00
Volts. Then shut
down.
First Idle
Period
Green
“READY”
Watch battery self-
discharge until it
drops below 25.30
Volts.
Watch battery self-
discharge until it drops
below 25.30 Volts.
Second
time
charging
Yellow
“CHARGING”
Charge to 28.20
Volts, then charge
for another 30
minutes OR until
battery reaches
28.60 Volts. Then
shut down.
Charge to 28.50 Volts,
then charge for another
30 minutes OR until
battery reaches 30.00
Volts. Then shut
down.
Second
Idle
Period
Green
“READY”
Watch battery self-
discharge until it
drops below 25.30
Volts.
Watch battery self-
discharge until it drops
below 25.30 Volts.

Operating Instructions
Page 11 LI-282 Rev. 2.2 September 2019
Indication Lead Acid Nickel Cadmium
Third and
more
times
charging
Yellow
“CHARGING”
Charge to 28.20
Volts, then charge
for another 2
minutes OR until
battery reaches
28.60 Volts. Then
shut down.
Charge to 28.50 Volts,
then charge for another
2 minutes OR until
battery reaches 30.00
Volts. Then shut
down.
Third and
more
times Idle
Green
“READY”
Watch battery self-
discharge until it
drops below 25.30
Volts.
Watch battery self-
discharge until it drops
below 25.30 Volts.
4.3 Unexpected Loss of Power
If the AC power is removed unexpectedly, the Activator 282 draws no current
from the battery.
When AC power is re-applied, the Activator 282 will automatically resume the
charge cycle, and will reset its internal 26 hour maximum charge timer.

Operating Instructions
Page 12 LI-282 Rev. 2.2 September 2019
4.4 Disconnecting from a Battery
Turn off the Activator 282. Remove the power cord from the power outlet.
Remove the Activator 282 from the battery by twisting its knob counter-
clockwise.
4.5 Emergency Shutdown
Remove AC power either from the power outlet or from the Activator 282.

Maintenance and Service
Page 13 LI-282 Rev. 2.2 September 2019
5. Maintenance and servicing (preventive and corrective)
5.1 Verifying Charge Voltage
Equipment Example
Calibrated high-impedance
digital voltmeter for 30 Volts
DC.
Fluke 179, many other meters with
4-1/2 digits or more resolution.
This test is to be done with a battery and with AC power connected. This
verification procedure is recommended once per year.
Set the meter to read a DC voltage near 30 Volts. Connect the meter leads to the
red (positive) and black (negative) test points on the Activator 282.
Apply power to the Activator 282.
Note the voltmeter reading and note the display reading. The display may
bounce up and down by a few digits, but the average reading must agree with the
voltmeter reading within ±0.20 Volts.

Maintenance and Service
Page 14 LI-282 Rev. 2.2 September 2019
The voltage reading that the Activator 282 uses to regulate the battery charge is
the same as the displayed voltage. If the voltmeter reading is more than ±0.20
Volts different from the display, it may be necessary to calibrate or repair the
Activator 282. This is best done by the distributor or factory.
5.2 Verifying Fan Operation
It is recommended this be performed each time the unit is switched on.
It does not matter if the Activator 282 is connected to a battery. Connect AC
power and check for air movement through the top fan vent holes. Use a
flashlight or strong room light to verify that the fan is rotating. Listen for any
ticking or grinding sounds that indicate a bad fan bearing.
The fan is very small, and the airflow is not strong. That is normal.
A bad fan can be replaced by the distributor or by the factory.

Shipment/Storage
Page 15 LI-282 Rev. 2.2 September 2019
6. Preparation for shipment
Place the Activator 282 and power cord into the supplied case, if available.
Place into a plastic bag and seal it to prevent moisture from getting into the
Activator 282.
Place the bagged Activator 282 into a cardboard carton with at least 1” of
resilient padding on all sides.
7. Storage
Store the Activator 282 sheltered from moisture and from severe shock and
vibration, at a temperature of -28°C (-18°F) to +70°C (+158°F). The Activator
282 must be cooled below 45°C (113°F) before use.

Parts List
Page 16 LI-282 Rev. 2.2 September 2019
8. Parts List
8.1 Power Cord
The only user-replaceable part is the power cord. This is a standard cord with
IEC60320 type C13 connector on one end and the appropriate country power
plug on the other end. The smallest gauge power wire available is adequate, as
the Activator 282 draws less than 1 Ampere under all conditions and all AC
voltages.
8.2 Fan
The internal fan may be replaced by the distributor or the factory. It is an Orion
OD4010-24HB with a TE Connectivity 1375820-2 connector and 1375819-2
contacts. The red fan wire (positive) goes to pin 1 of the connector.
The connector from the fan being replaced may be cut off and re-used, with the
new fan wires spliced onto the old wires, soldered, and insulated. Match colors
to keep the fan polarity correct.
Test the fan for proper rotation after replacing. The fan will not operate on
reversed polarity power, but it will not be damaged.