Technical Reference
POWERmini USB User Guide 13 2.0
Voltage and Low Voltage Limit. Now when you recall either Battery Type the settings you stored will be
automatically recalled for the selected type of battery.
Careful setting of these parameters will help ensure that the either type of battery is not overcharged or
allowed to operate below the fully discharged state.
Max Charge Voltage
As a battery charges the terminal voltage rises. The voltage should not be allowed to rise significantly
above the voltage corresponding to the 100% charge state or the battery will be overcharged. This may
damage the battery, and in the case of Lithium ion batteries can be dangerous.
CAUTION: Unless you are sure that the battery manufacturer supports a maximum charge voltage other
than the factory default (14.2V) it is recommended that you do not change the maximum charge voltage
setting.
The maximum charge voltage of a specific type may even vary from brand to brand so if in doubt you
should check with the manufacturer of the battery for the maximum recommended charge voltage.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Some batteries with internal intelligent battery management systems (BMS) have a
strict maximum limit which should not be exceeded. Take this into account when setting the maximum
charge voltage.
Low Voltage Trip
The low voltage trip point must be set to suit the type of battery that you are using. A “12 V” Lithium Iron
Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery pack is considered to be discharged when the terminal voltage is about
11.2V (on load). The State of Charge (SOC) is technically defined under a no load condition and so you
may see a number closer to 13V. A lead acid battery typically has a lower operating voltage and the low
voltage limit would be about 10.2V. These settings are stored individually so when you select the battery
type the correct value for the battery you are using will be automatically loaded.
To store the setting for a Lithium ion battery (for example Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery, first select the
LiFe battery type and then set the Low Voltage limit. Repeat for the Lead Acid battery by first setting the
Pb (PbSO4) battery type and then setting the Low Voltage Limit. When you switch between battery types
the appropriate setting will be automatically recalled.
Low Voltage Reset
The low voltage trip condition will be automatically reset when the voltage rises above the Low Voltage
Reset threshold. The threshold can be set in Threshold Voltages page. Setting the threshold too low may
cause cycling of the shutdown and reset states, whereas too high a setting means you may have to wait
longer before the battery reconnects.
High Voltage Limit
The high voltage limit is intended to prevent damage to your radio equipment. Most amateur radio
equipment is designed to operate from a power source of 13.8 V +/- 15% which is a range from 11.7V to
15.8V. Check the specification for your specific radio as some have an upper limit of 15V and some
operate well at 11 V. Operating at higher voltage than the maximum may cause damage to the equipment
and operating below the minimum voltage may result in below normal performance (especially on
transmit).
Auto Off
The Auto-Off feature allows the POWERmini USB to shutoff the load and the USB charger when the
battery voltage has fallen to the Low Voltage Limit.
To Next Page
Loading...
Need help?
Battery
Power
Ports & Interfaces
Operating Environment
Weight and Dimensions