Leclanche AlfaBat Pro User manual

V2.0
AlfaBat Pro manual

p1/42
1. TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Table of Contents.......................................................................................................................................................... 1
2. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 3
2.1. Contents ................................................................................................................................................................. 3
2.2. Top panel of the AlfaBat ..................................................................................................................................... 4
2.3. Panel of the AlfaBat Pro...................................................................................................................................... 5
3. Different Test Setups.................................................................................................................................................... 6
3.1. Capacity Test Setup ............................................................................................................................................. 6
3.2. Charger / Cycle Test Setup................................................................................................................................ 7
3.3. 24V, 36V, 48V Charger Test Setup .................................................................................................................. 7
a. One AlfaBat............................................................................................................................................................ 8
b. An equal amount of AlfaBats and batteries .................................................................................................... 8
3.4. 24V, 36V, 48V charger test with one AlfaBat ................................................................................................ 8
a. Charger test:.......................................................................................................................................................... 8
b. Cycle test:............................................................................................................................................................... 8
3.5. 24V, 36V, 48V charger test with several AlfaBats....................................................................................... 10
3.6. Record Test Setup.............................................................................................................................................. 10
3.7. Only Adaptor....................................................................................................................................................... 11
4. Stand Alone ................................................................................................................................................................... 13
4.1. Simple Capacity test........................................................................................................................................... 13
4.2. How to perform a cycle test?.......................................................................................................................... 14
4.3. Start a Test........................................................................................................................................................... 18
4.4. Test is running..................................................................................................................................................... 19
4.5. Test stopped ........................................................................................................................................................ 20
4.6. How to end a Test?............................................................................................................................................ 20
4.7. Read out results.................................................................................................................................................. 21
4.8. Meaning of results............................................................................................................................................... 22
a. Capacity test ........................................................................................................................................................ 22
b. Charger test......................................................................................................................................................... 23
c. Cycle test.............................................................................................................................................................. 23
d. Record test........................................................................................................................................................... 24
5. Interfacing With PC..................................................................................................................................................... 25
5.1. Use Of Profiles.................................................................................................................................................... 26
a. Battery Voltage Auto Detection..................................................................................................................... 27
b. Voltage (6V / 8V / 12V) ..................................................................................................................................... 27
c. User Preset Mode............................................................................................................................................... 27
d. Preset Mode (Discharge / Charge / Cycle / Record) ................................................................................. 27
e. Save Voltage......................................................................................................................................................... 28
f. Save Current........................................................................................................................................................ 28
g. Capacity Value..................................................................................................................................................... 28
h. Capacity Unit ....................................................................................................................................................... 28
i. Peukert Factor..................................................................................................................................................... 29
j. Peukert Calculation Test .................................................................................................................................. 29
k. Temperature........................................................................................................................................................ 30
l. Temperature Unit (°C / °F).............................................................................................................................. 30
m. Max Charging Time / Recording Time ...................................................................................................... 30
n. Number Of Cycles In Cycle Mode................................................................................................................. 31
o. Offset..................................................................................................................................................................... 31
p. Bad Cell Timer .................................................................................................................................................... 31
q. Bad Cell Voltage High........................................................................................................................................ 32
r. Bad Cell Voltage Low ........................................................................................................................................ 32
s. End Of Test Voltage........................................................................................................................................... 32
t. Needs Charging Voltage.................................................................................................................................... 33
u. Pass / Fail Threshold........................................................................................................................................... 33
v. Max Discharge..................................................................................................................................................... 34
w. Discharge Current.............................................................................................................................................. 34
x. Detect Start of Charge...................................................................................................................................... 34

p2/42
y. Detect End of Charge........................................................................................................................................ 35
6. Trouble Shooting ......................................................................................................................................................... 36
6.1. Self-power down of the AlfaBat...................................................................................................................... 36
6.2. No power up ....................................................................................................................................................... 36
6.3. Error: Over Temperature ................................................................................................................................ 37
6.4. Error: No Adaptor ............................................................................................................................................. 37
6.5. Error: Battery Low............................................................................................................................................. 37
7. Technical specifications .............................................................................................................................................. 38
7.1. Technical specifications of the AlfaBat Pro................................................................................................... 38
8. Safety Instructions........................................................................................................................................................ 39
9. Clarification of symbols .............................................................................................................................................. 40
10. Maintenance .................................................................................................................................................................. 41
11. Warranty........................................................................................................................................................................ 42

p3/42
2. INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of the unique battery and charger tester: ‘The AlfaBat Pro’.
The following topics will proof your professionalism when testing batteries and/or chargers:
-With the included BITS software, you can create professional, printed reports
-The AlfaBat is a highly accurate capacity tester
-Different battery technologies can be tested: flooded lead acid batteries, AGM, GEL, …
-Tests both 6V and 12V batteries
-Selectable capacity 0.8 –400 Ah
-Three tests can be recorded in the internal memory
-Microprocessor controlled
-Reliable and qualitative
-24V, 36V, … chargers can also be tested
2.1. CONTENTS
You should find following contents in the cardboard box:
-AlfaBat Pro
-USB stick with BITS software & manuals
-USB connection cable
-Getting started document
-Battery connection cable

p4/42
2.2. TOP PANEL OF THE ALFABAT
Displays information about the test.
Enables you to set the most important parameters (battery capacity, kind of test battery, voltage,)
1. Display screen
2. Down button: decrease number, scroll in menu, etc.
3. Up button: increase number, scroll in menu, etc.
4. Enter/Power Up button: ON/OFF, Confirm a selection.

p5/42
2.3. PANEL OF THE ALFABAT PRO
You can connect the following to the AlfaBat Pro:
-RS 232: interface with Computer or the external printer
-Charger: Charger –connector
-Battery: Battery –connector
-Power Supply: for connecting the power adaptor.
It is also possible to replace the fuse:
-This must be an UL-approved 50A MAXI-fuse.

p6/42
3. DIFFERENT TEST SETUPS
Use one of the following hardware setups:
-Capacity Test Setup
-Charger / Cycle Test Setup
-24V, 36V, 48V Charger Test Setup Record Test Setup
-Printer Connection Only Adaptor
3.1. CAPACITY TEST SETUP
Use this test set-up if you want to perform a Capacity test on a battery or read out the results of a test.
You should connect the clamps properly to the battery (Check polarity! Red = positive, Black = negative).
The other side of this cable should be connected at the ‘battery – connector’ of the AlfaBat.
This set-up can also be used with an adaptor. This has the following advantage: there is no standby current,
thus the battery will not further discharge after the test is finished. A 6V battery with a bad cell can be better
detected because the battery can be discharged to a lower voltage.

p7/42
3.2. CHARGER /CYCLE TEST SETUP
Use this test set-up if you want to perform a Charger-, or a Cycle test on a Battery.
You should connect the clamps properly to the battery (Check polarity! Red is positive, black is negative).
The other side of this cable should be connected at the ‘Battery – INPUT’ of the AlfaBat.
Connect the charger with the ‘Charger – INPUT’ of the AlfaBat (Check polarity! Red is positive, Blue is
negative). This must be a 6V or a 12V charger, corresponding to the battery.
This set-up only works with an adapter; otherwise the test will not start. Without an adaptor, the
consumption of the AlfaBat would disturb the measurements.
3.3. 24V, 36V, 48V CHARGER TEST SETUP
There are two possible ways to perform a ‘Charger Test’ on a battery:
-With one AlfaBat
-An equal amount of AlfaBats and batteries corresponding to the charger voltage.

p8/42
a. One AlfaBat
-Charge current measuring
-Voltage measured on ONE battery
-Max one cycle!
b. An equal amount of AlfaBats and batteries
-Charge current measuring
-Voltage measuring of all batteries
-Multiple cycle test is possible
3.4. 24V, 36V, 48V CHARGER TEST WITH ONE ALFABAT
With only one AlfaBat you can do a charger test on a 24V, 36V, 48V battery.
a. Charger test:
These steps must be followed:
1. Discharge all batteries.
2. Use the connection schematic as showed below.
3. Upload or use the correct Profile in the AlfaBat.
4. Start the test on the discharged batteries.
b. Cycle test:
These steps must be followed:
1. Discharge all batteries, except the battery on which the AlfaBat is connected.
2. Use the connection schematic as showed below.
3. Upload or use a correct Profile in the AlfaBat.
4. Start a test on the batteries.
5. Push the UP-button directly after start-up, so "cycle first charge" will be skipped.
Only one cycle is possible!

p9/42
24V connection example
36V connection example