Omnicharge Ltd
P.O. Box 3009 ~ Littlehampton ~ West Sussex ~ BN17 5SJ
Tel. +44(0)1903 718001 Fax +44(0)1903 713777
email : sales@omnicharge.info

Switched mode ABC chargers from LEAB
come in 12, 24, 36 & 48 volt versions with
outputs from 15 to 60 amps.

 

The crucial characteristics of a good charger are that:

  • It must be able to be set to match the characteristics of the battery (open-topped, wet lead / acid; sealed absorbed glass mat; sealed with a gelled electrolyte)
  • It must be able to be set to match the capacity of the battery. This defines the level of current at which the charge switches to 'float'
  • It must be able to read its own current so that it knows when the moment comes to switch to float voltage
  • It must have the facility of a temperature sensor, so that when the battery is subjected to big swings in temperature, the charge voltage can be adjusted accordingly.
  • It must be able to respond to load increases when it is in 'float' mode and increase its output up to a maximum as required.

Each charger has 5 capacity bands for each type of battery - hence 15 settings.

For example, two customers bought ABC1230 chargers - that is 12 volt units with a maximum output of 30A. The first one had a wet, lead acid battery of 150Ah capacity. The appropriate setting would allow the charge voltage to rise to 14.4 and cap it at that level until the charge current had fallen to 3A, then the charge would float at 13.5v. The second one had a sealed, absorbed glass mat battery bank of 250Ah total. This setting would cap the voltage at 14.1 and when the charge current had fallen to 2.5A, the charger would float at 13.6v.

All this accuracy makes the difference between long battery life and use of full capacity and a short, under-performing life.

The system charging characteristics are extremely important and can make the difference between your battery lasting for its designed service life, or only a year or two.
LEAB Charging Characteristics

LEAB chAmp II 1206 Charger
12v 6 amp and 24v 3 amp

Same intelligent switch to float as its big brother - the ABC.

Tough water resistant chargers for Marine and Leisure applications, coated in a resilient epoxy-filled case.

The low heating effect switched-mode technology means the charger can be completely covered, with no overheating problems.

Same precision voltage regime to suit any battery type.

New! LEAB chAmp II 1217 charger
12v 17amp, 24v 8 amp and 12 amp

These new LEAB chAmp chargers can handle batteries up to 120Ah.

LEAB chAmp Chargers are extremely small, light, units, with a high power to weight / size ratio, specially designed primarily for poor environmental conditions.

Option of Magcode connection to fit all latest VW group vehicles.
NASA BM - 1 battery monitor

Battery capacity is measured in Amperehours, hence it must be monitored in the same values. The BM - 1 gives battery capacity at any time as a percentage of total Ahs. Usable capacity is only 50% of nominal total. Hence a battery should only operate between 40% and 90% if long life is to be assured. This instrument allows control of the system to ensure that the low limit is not exceeded.

The display also shows voltage and current flow in the system at any time. This enables the effect of individual power-consuming elements to be seen in terms of current draw. They can then be switched in and out to adjust the time that the battery can deliver the load, before reaching its low limit.

Any charging of the system should be able to bring the battery to its top level safely and efficiently. The art is to bring the charge level high enough to use the full capacity of the battery, but not so high as to 'gas' the battery and possible damage the cells. The BM-1 shows the performance of each charging method and the point at which the battery should 'float' on a safe, trickle charge.

 
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