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5.1 Quick Setup

Click Quick Setup tab to enter Quick Setup mode.

Quick Setup Tab

When using Quick Setup mode there are only 3 inputs required to quickly set up the device with default parameters.

  1. Battery Type: This is the battery chemistry and is usually marked on the battery.
  2. No of Cells: Total number of cells in the battery. This can usually be determined as follows:
    • NiMH- Rated voltage/1.2
    • NiCd- Rated voltage/1.2
    • SLA- Rated voltage/2
    • LiIon- Rated voltage/3.7
    • Primary- Rated voltage/1.5V
  3. Rated Capacity: This is usually marked on the battery. Enter value in AH. Estimate if unknown then revise after measuring.

Using these 3 inputs, default parameters will be assigned as follows:

  • Rated Voltage: Total rated voltage of battery. Total voltage of all cells in series.
    • NiMH- 1.2V/cell
    • NiCd- 1.2V/cell
    • SLA- 2V/cell
    • LiIon- 3.7V/cell
    • LiPO- 3.7V/cell
    • Primary- 1.5V/cell
  • Charge Current: Rated Capacity / 5
  • Discharge Current: Rated Capacity / 5
  • Voltage Cutoff: Lower voltage cutoff value when discharging.
    • NiMH- 1V/cell
    • NiCd- 1V/cell
    • SLA- 1.75V/cell
    • LiIon- 3V/cell
    • LiPO- 3V/cell
    • Primary- 1V/cell
  • No of Cycles: This is always 2. Once cycle is a charge followed by a discharge
  • -dV Termination: Terminate charge after peak voltage detection.
    • NiMH- 0.012V/cell
    • NiCd- 0.015V/cell
    • Others: N/A
  • dT/dt Charge Termination: Terminate charge when rate of temperature reaches this threshold when using optional temperature probe.
    • NiMH- 2°C/Min
    • NiCd- 2°C/Min
    • Others: N/A
  • Min Cur Crg Term: Terminated charge when current drops below this taper current value during Constant Voltage(CV) charging
    • LiIon- Rated Capacity/10
    • SLA- Rated Capacity/10
    • Others: N/A
  • Float Voltage: Maintenance voltage that will be maintained when SLA charge session completes.
  • Trickle Current: Maintenance current that will be maintained when NiCd charge session completes.

After Quick Setup inputs have been made the device can be used by loading the device with selected routine and parameters. Loading the routine is done with the Menu/Routines selections or using the 3 equivalent on screen controls: Charge, Discharge, Cycle. Note that this will not automatically begin a new session. The first 3 controls simply compile and load the routine and parameters into the device. The device is actually controlled by using the other 3 on screen controls: Start, Halt, Stop.

Once the routine is loaded into the device the controls-Start ,Halt, Stop are the only controls that will ever have to be used to control the device and manage the test session. Only if the Quick Setup parameters are changed would the routine have to be loaded again. This is true even when the device is powered off/on.

The following controls can be used once Quick Setup has been set up .

Controls to Load and Operate Device

  • Charge: Load Charge routine into device. This control is not used again unless the parameters have been changed and the routine needs to be reloaded.
  • Discharge: Load Discharge routine into device. This control is not used again unless the parameters have been changed and the routine needs to be reloaded.
  • Cycle: Load Cycle routine into device. This control is not used again unless the parameters have been changed and the routine needs to be reloaded.
  • Start: Route program to Vector step to begin a new session.
  • Halt: Used to momentarily stop current flow and halt the session. Control will change to Resume to continue session
  • Stop: Used to end the session. Session data is still preserved until a new session begins.

Note that most routines are also configured to begin and end sessions when the battery is connected/disconnected. This way the routines can be used even without the use of the host computer once they have been loaded. The hardware Vector push button is equivalent to the on screen Start button.
Once the routine is loaded, it does not have to be loaded again, unless any of the test parameter have been changed. This is also true if the device is power off and Battery Console is closed. The next time the device is powered up and Battery Console is restarted the routine can just be used right away without requiring a reload. Just be sure to always connect the correct battery. If a different battery is used or any test parameters need to be changed then reload the routine after making those changes.
 
Once the routine is loaded, it does not have to be loaded again, unless a different battery type is to be used. This is also true if the device is power off and Battery Console is closed. The next time the device is powered up and Battery Console is restarted the routine can just be used right away without requiring a reload. Just be sure to always connect the same battery type. If a different battery is used then adjust the Quick Select battery inputs then reload the routine.