Victron energy Blue Smart IP65 User manual

Manual
EN
Appendix
Blue Smart IP65 Charger 120V
12/7
12/10
12/15
24/8

1
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
1. SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS – This manual contains
important safety and operating instructions for Blue Smart
Charger models.
2. Use of an attachment not recommended or sold by Victron
Energy may result in a risk of fire, electric shock, or injury to
persons.
3. To reduce risk of damage to electric plug and cord, pull by
plug rather than cord when disconnecting charger.
4. An extension cord should not be used unless absolutely
necessary. Use of an improper extension cord could result
in a risk of fire and electric shock. If extension cord must be
used, make sure:
a) That pins on plug of extension cord are the same
number, size, and shape as those of plug on charger;
b) that extension cord is properly wired and in good
electrical condition; and
c) that wire size is large enough for ac ampère rating of
charger as specified in “Technical Specifications”
5. Do not operate the charger with damaged cord or plug;
contact your service agent or the manufacturer.
6. Do not operate the charger if it has received a sharp blow,
been dropped, or otherwise damaged in any way; contact
your service agent or the manufacturer.
7. Do not disassemble the charger; contact your service agent
or the manufacturer when service or repair is required.
Incorrect reassembly may result in a risk of electric shock or
fire.
8. To reduce risk of electric shock, unplug charger from outlet
before attempting any maintenance or cleaning. Turning off
controls will not reduce this risk.
9. WARNING – RISK OF EXPLOSIVE GASES.
a) BATTERIES GENERATE EXPLOSIVE GASES
DURING NORMAL BATTERY OPERATION. FOR
THIS REASON, IT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE
THAT EACH TIME BEFORE USING YOUR
CHARGER, YOU READ THIS MANUAL AND
FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY.

2
b) Follow these instructions and those published by the
battery manufacturer and manufacturer of any
equipment you intend to use in vicinity of the battery.
10. PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS
a) Consider having someone close enough by to your
aid when you work near a lead-acid battery.
b) Have plenty of fresh water and soap nearby in case
battery acid contacts skin, clothing, or eyes.
c) Wear complete eye protection and clothing protection.
Avoid touching eyes while working near a battery.
d) If battery acid contacts skin or clothing, wash
immediately with soap and water. If acid enters eye,
immediately flood eye with running cold water for at
least 10 minutes and get medical attention
immediately.
e) NEVER smoke or allow a spark or flame in vicinity of
a battery or engine.
f) Be extra cautious to reduce risk of dropping a metal
tool onto battery. It might spark or short-circuit the
battery or an other electrical part that may cause
explosion.
g) Remove personal metal items such as rings,
bracelets, necklaces, and watches when working with
a lead-acid battery. A lead-acid battery can produce a
short-circuit current high enough to weld a ring or the
like to metal, causing a severe burn.
h) Do not use the battery charger for charging dry-cell
batteries that are commonly used with home
appliances. These batteries may burst and cause
injury to persons and damage to property.
i) NEVER charge a frozen battery.
11. PREPARING TO CHARGE
a) If it is necessary to remove the battery from a vehicle
prior to charging, always remove the grounded
terminal from the battery first. Make sure all
accessories in the vehicle are off, so as not to cause
an arc.
b) Be sure that the area around the battery is well
ventilated while the battery is being charged.

3
c) Clean battery terminals. Be careful to keep corrosion
from coming in contact with eyes.
d) Add distilled water in each cell until battery acid
reaches level specified by battery manufacturer. Do
not overfill. For a battery without cell caps, such as
valve regulated lead acid batteries, carefully follow the
charging instructions of the manufacturer.
e) Study all battery manufacturer’s specific precautions
while charging and recommended rates of charge.
f) Determine the nominal voltage of the battery by
referring to the owner’s manual of the vehicle and
make sure it matches the output rating of the battery
charger.
12. CHARGER LOCATION
a) Locate the charger as far away from the battery as
DC cables permit.
b) Never place charger directly above battery being
charged; gases from battery will corrode and damage
the charger.
c) Never allow battery acid to drip on the charger when
reading gravity or filling the battery.
d) Do not operate the charger in a closed-in area or
restrict ventilation in any way.
e) Do not set a battery on top of the charger.
13. DC CONNECTION PRECAUTIONS
a) Connect and disconnect the DC output clips only after
removing the AC cord from the electric outlet. Never
allow clips to touch each other.
b) Attach clips to battery and chassis as indicated in
14(e), 14(f), 15(b), and 15(d).

4
14. FOLLOW THE FOLLOWING STEPS WHEN THE BATTERY
IS INSTALLED IN A VEHICLE. A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY
MAY CAUSE A BATTERY EXPLOSION. TO REDUCE RISK OF
A SPARK NEAR BATTERY:
a) Position AC and DC cords to reduce risk of damage by
hood, door, or moving engine part.
b) Stay clear of fan blades, belts, pulleys, and other parts that
can cause injury to persons.
c) Check polarity of battery posts. POSITIVE (POS, P, +)
battery post usually has larger diameter than NEGATIVE
(NEG, N,–) post.
d) Determine which post of battery is grounded (connected) to
the chassis. If the negative post is grounded to the chassis
(as in most vehicles), see (e). If the positive post is
grounded to the chassis, see (f).
e) In case of a negative-grounded vehicle, connect the
POSITIVE (RED) clip from the battery charger to the
POSITIVE (POS, P, +) ungrounded post of the battery.
Connect the NEGATIVE (BLACK) clip to the chassis or
engine block of the vehicle, away from battery. Do not
connect the clip to the carburetor, fuel lines, or sheet-metal
body parts. Connect to a heavy gage metal part of the
frame or the engine block. Connect the AC cord to the
socket.
f) In case of a positive-grounded vehicle, connect the
NEGATIVE (BLACK) clip from the battery charger to the
NEGATIVE (NEG, N, –) ungrounded post of the battery.
Connect the POSITIVE (RED) clip to the chassis or engine
block of the vehicle, away from the battery. Do not connect
the clip to the carburetor, fuel lines, or sheet-metal body
parts. Connect to a heavy gage metal part of the frame or
the engine block. Connect the AC cord to the socket.
g) When disconnecting the charger, disconnect the AC cord,
remove the clip from the chassis of the vehicle, and finally
remove the clip from the battery terminal.
h) See “charge alogorithms” for length of charge information.

5
15. FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN THE BATTERY IS
OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY
MAY CAUSE BATTERY EXPLOSION. TO REDUCE RISK OF A
SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY:
a) Check the polarity of the battery posts. The POSITIVE
(POS, P, +) battery post usually has a larger diameter than
the NEGATIVE (NEG, N, –) post.
b) Connect the POSITIVE (RED) charger clip to the POSITIVE
(POS, P, +) post of the battery.
c) Do not face the battery when making the final connection.
d) When disconnecting the charger, always do so in reverse
sequence of the connecting procedure and break the first
connection while as far away from battery as practical.
e) A marine (boat) battery must be removed and charged on
shore. To charge it on board requires equipment specially
designed for marine use.

6
1. Quick user guide
A. Connect the charger to the battery.
B. Connect the charger to the wall socket. The TEST LED will indicate that
the mains cable is connected to the wall socket.
All charge status LEDs will flash in case of reverse polarity connection,
short-circuit or if a 12V charger is connected to a 24V battery.
The TEST LED will flash as long as a charge pulse does not increase battery
voltage to more than 12.5V resp. 25V.
When the TEST LED is on continuously, proceed to C.
C. If required, press the MODE-button or use a Bluetooth Smart device to
select another charge program.
When RECONDITION is selected in combination with NORMAL or HIGH;
the RECONDITION LED will be on, and the RECONDITION LED will flash
during reconditioning.
The charger can be switched to low current mode (see technical
specifications) by pressing the MODE button during 3 seconds. The MODE
LED will blink when in low current mode.
The low current mode remains activated until the MODE button is pressed
again during 3 seconds.
D. The battery is about 80% charged and ready for use when the absorption
LED switches on.
E. The battery is fully charged when the FLOAT or STORAGE LED is on.
F. Stop charging at any time by disconnecting the mains cable from the wall
socket.
Explanation icons

7
2. ‘Must know’ features and facts
2.1 Blue Smart version
Set-up, monitor and update the charger (add new features when
they become available) using Apple and Android smartphones,
tablets or other devices.
2.2 Ultra high efficiency “green” battery charger
With up to 95% efficiency, these chargers generate up to four
times less heat when compared to the industry standard.
And once the battery is fully charged, power consumption
reduces to 0.5 Watt, some five to ten times better than the
industry standard.
2.3 Durable, safe and silent
- Low thermal stress on the electronic components.
- Protection against ingress of dust, water and chemicals.
- Protection against overheating: the output current will
reduce as temperature increases up to 60°C (140°F), but
the charger will not fail.
- The chargers are totally silent: no cooling fan or any other
moving parts.
2.4 Reverse polarity protected
Once the battery is connected, the charger immediately detects
voltage and polarity. If the battery is connected incorrectly, all
status-LEDs will start blinking. No sparks will occur.
2.5 Recovery function for fully discharged batteries
Most reverse polarity protected chargers will not recognize, and
therefore not recharge a battery which has been discharged to
zero or nearly zero Volts. The Blue Power Charger however will
attempt to recharge a fully discharged battery with low current
and resume normal charging once sufficient voltage has
developed across the battery terminals.
2.6 Temperature compensated charging
The optimal charge voltage of a lead-acid battery varies inversely
with temperature. The Blue Power IP65 Charger measures

8
ambient temperature during the test phase and compensates for
temperature during the charge process. The temperature is
measured again when the charger is in low current mode during
float or storage. Special settings for a cold or hot environment are
therefore not needed.
2.7 Adaptive Battery Management
Lead-acid batteries should be charged in three stages, which are
[1] bulk or constant-current charge,
[2] absorption or topping
charge and [3] float charge.
Several hours of absorption charge are needed to fully charge the
battery and prevent early failure to sulfation¹.
The relatively high voltage during absorption does however
accelerate aging due to grid corrosion on the positive plates.
Adaptive Battery Management limits corrosion by reducing
absorption time when possible, that is: when charging a battery
that is already (nearly) fully charged.
2.8 Storage mode: less corrosion of the positive plates
Even the lower float charge voltage that follows the absorption
period will cause grid corrosion. It is therefore essential to reduce
the charge voltage even further when the battery remains
connected to the charger during more than 48 hours.
2.9 Reconditioning
A lead-acid battery that has been insufficiently charged or has
been left discharged during days or weeks will deteriorate due to
sulfation¹. If caught in time, sulfation can sometimes be partially
reversed by charging the battery with low current up to a higher
voltage.
Remarks:
a) Reconditioning should be applied only occasionally to flat plate VRLA
(gel and AGM) batteries because the resulting gassing will dry out the
electrolyte.
b) Cylindrical cell VRLA batteries build more internal pressure before
gassing and will therefore lose less water when subjected to
reconditioning. Some manufacturers of cylindrical cell batteries
therefore recommend the reconditioning setting in case of cyclic
application.
c) Reconditioning can be applied to flooded batteries to “equalise” the
cells and to prevent acid stratification.