PFC chargers are being replaced by UHF chargers but some models are still available
Frequently Asked Questions About Elcon PFC Chargers
What are the 10 selections I can make on my Elcon PFC charger?
Elcon PFC chargers can be programmed to provide 10 different Amp Hour selections (Battery Sizes), or 10 different Cell Count selections (Charge To Voltages), based on customer request at the time of purchase.
How do I change the selection on my charger?
When the charger is powered up, the red LED blinks from 1 to 10 times to show the current selection. To change this selection, peel off the left edge of the Model Number label (nearest the end of the charger) and look through the small oval hole underneath. There should be a black plastic button near the surface, or a metal button further down below. For the metal button you will need to use a wooden or plastic stick to hold it down. Hold down the selection button while powering up the charger. The green LED will start blinking slowly. Count the number of blinks (1 to 10) that you need and release the selection button. The red LED will blink the same number of times to confirm your selection and then start charging.
How do I know which selection to choose?
With your charger you should have received a programming sheet that describes the 10 Amp Hour or Cell Count selections you have available. On newer chargers, this sheet is also duplicated in a large white label on the side of the charger. If your battery size has changed, you would look up the new battery size (20 hour capacity rating in Amp Hours) on the sheet and set the charger to the corresponding selection. If you are adding or deleting cells or fine tuning your final voltage, you can look up the new cell count or final voltage in the programing sheet or label and set the charger to the corresponding selection.
What is the best way to mount my Elcon PFC charger?
Your owners manual shows the proper orientation to mount your charger. In general, the best orientation is when the cooling fins are vertical with open space above and below them. Mounting the charger on a metal wall or frame will provide additional conductive cooling and also ground the frame. If the charger is in an enclosed area, make sure there are adequate holes in the bottom and top of the enclosed area for adequate cooling while charging. AC fans could be added to the top and bottom of the enclosure (both blowing upwards) to provide additional ventilation. Make sure the charger is not in the same area as flooded batteries to prevent corrosion due to battery acid fumes produced while charging. This is not a concern with AGM, Gel or Lithium batteries.
What kind of batteries can be charged with a Elcon PFC charger?
We support all battery chemistries currently available commercially such as Flooded, Gel and Advanced Glass Mat (AGM) lead acid, and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4). Every Elcon PFC charger is programmed specifically for the customer’s exact application, battery chemistry, battery capacity and environmental conditions. Our charging algorithms are approved by the major battery manufacturers. Please contact us below with a detailed description of the batteries you are considering or have already purchased.
How do I take care of my flooded lead acid batteries?
Make sure batteries are mounted firmly in a battery box with adequate space between them for cooling. Use AC fans for cooling them while charging if necessary. Flooded batteries should have a metal pan underneath to catch any battery acid condensation or spill over. Check the water in flooded batteries at least once a month and top it off with distilled water. Make sure flooded batteries are adequately ventilated while charging and the acid fumes are directed out into open air, not into the vehicle or toward sensitive electronic equipment (including the charger). Keep flooded batteries fully charged when not in use. If after 2 or 3 years of regular use, the charger starts timing out (LED error message RGR – – – – -) during charging, the batteries may be getting too old and may need to be replaced.
How can I change the charging algorithm in my charger?
If you have changed to different type of batteries, or have added or removed significant number of cells, and your charger was not programmed to accommodate any cell count changes, or the change is more than the cell count range allows, you will need to send your charger to the address below with details about your batteries for reprogramming.
How can I verify that my Elcon PFC charger is charging properly?
You will need a voltmeter or multimeter and a clamp-on ammeter to verify that the charger is following the charge curve that was shipped with your charger. The voltmeter should be connected across the charger DC output terminals and the clamp-on ammeter clamped on either the red or black DC output wire. If the battery pack is very low (i.e. between V1 and V2), the current will be I1 (1 second blinking red LED). Between V2 and V4, the current will be I2 (solid red LED). At V4, the voltage will stay constant while the current drops down to I3 (3 second blinking red LED). If your charge curve has a fourth (equalization) stage, the current will stay at I3 (steady or pulsing) while the voltage rises toward Um (solid yellow LED). Once the voltage stops rising, the charger will stop charging (solid green LED). If the final stage is a float stage, the green LED will be blinking.
How can I control a Elcon PFC charger with my BMS?
We offer several different ways of controlling Elcon PFC chargers using a Battery Management System (BMS) used for charging Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries. The simplest way is to use the charger enable/disable control from the BMS. If your BMS already has a charger enable/disable relay, the normally open contacts of the relay are connected to the charger enable/disable wires provided by us with your charger. If your BMS only provides +12V and ground to enable/disable the charger, you must connect the coil of a small 12V relay (such as G5V-2-12V) to the +12V and ground, and connect the enable/disable wires from the charger to the normally open contacts. If your BMS has a 0 to 5V current control, we provide a method to control the output current of the charger from 0% to 100%. If you have CAN Bus control available on your BMS, we can program the charger for CAN Bus control. The method of control you wish to use must be specified at the time of order so we can program the charger accordingly.
How can I use CAN Bus control with my Elcon PFC charger?
If your Elcon PFC charger has been programmed for CAN Bus control and you received a CAN Bus adapter with your charger, pin 1 of the adapter must be connected to CAN-Lo from your BMS and pin 2 to CAN-Hi. If your BMS does not already have a 120 ohm termination resistor across CAN-Lo and CAN-Hi, you will need to add one. The charger expects to receive every second a message from the BMS with CAN ID 1806E5F4 and 8-byte data with the voltage and current requested. If the charger doesn’t receive a valid CAN message in 5 seconds, it stops charging until it receives a valid CAN message. The charger sends out every second a CAN status message with voltage, current and status information. Up to 4 chargers with different CAN IDs 1806E5F4, 1806E7F4, 1806E8F4 and 1806E9F4 can be connected to the same CAN bus and be controlled by one BMS.
What is the function of the thin green wire bundled with the DC output wires?
The thin green wire bundled with the thick red and black DC output wires, and with a small fast-on connector on the end, is called the interlock wire and is used by some controllers to disable the vehicle while the battery is being charged. It has full battery voltage on it when the battery is not being charged, and is not connected to anything while the battery is being charged. Most people do not use this wire if they do not have the interlock function on their controller.
What are the normal LED colors on the Elcon PFC charger?
When the Elcon PFC charger is operating normally, it will blink red 1 to 10 times at the start to indicate your Amp Hour or Cell Count selection, then blink green once and start charging. Depending on the charging algorithm programmed into your charger, there will be three or four charging stages. The first constant current stage (if the battery is very low) is fast (one second) red blinking. The main charging stage (constant current) is solid red LED. The third (constant voltage) stage is slow (three second) red blinking. The fourth (constant current or pulsing current) equalization stage (if present) will be solid yellow. When charging ends, the LED will turn solid green. If there is float charge, the LED will be blinking green.
If the charger is programmed for CAN Bus control, it will blink red-green-red-green at the start and then wait for a CAN command from the BMS with a blinking green LED. Once it receives a valid CAN command it starts charging and the red LED starts blinking.
What are the LED error messages on a Elcon PFC charger?
If there is an error condition and the charger is not charging, it will repeatedly display one of the following error messages on the Red-Green LED. The dash stands for one second.
RG – – – – – – Wrong battery or battery voltage too high.
RGR – – – – – Time out. There is a time limit for each charging stage. Your batteries may be too big or too old, or the Amp Hour selection is wrong.
RGRG – – – – Battery temperature too high. Put a cooling fan on the batteries while charging or improve ventilation and spacing.
RGRGR – – – AC voltage too high or too low. Should be between 100 and 240VAC.
RGRGRG – – Battery temperature probe is required but is missing or defective.
RGRGRGR – Communication error (CAN Bus only).
R – G – R – G – Battery not connected or out of specification or DC output fuse blown (or waiting for CAN command).
GR – – – – – – Charger overheated. Unplug it and let it cool down. Put a fan on it while charging.
Can I use an extension cord with my Elcon PFC charger?
A long extension cord is not recommended. If an extension cord has to be used, make a custom extension cord that is as short as possible, and uses wires that are as thick as the AC cord on the charger (11AWG for PFC 5000, 14AWG for PFC 2500). Use a new plug and receptacle, tin the ends of the wires, and make sure they are tightly screwed inside the plug and receptacle.
How can I check if the DC output fuse is blown?
If your Elcon charger LED is continuously blinking Red-Green-Red-Green-, either your battery is out of specification (too low or too high) or the charger is not connected to the battery. Make sure you can measure the full battery voltage at the charger DC output connector. (If your charger is programmed for CAN Bus control, continuously blinking Red-Green-Red-Green- also means the charger is waiting for a valid CAN Bus command.) If everything above checks out OK and your battery voltage is within specifications, the DC output fuse on the charger may be blown. Disconnect the charger from AC and DC and check the continuity between the thick red (positive) DC output wire and the thin green interlock wire with a small fast-on connector on the end which is bundled with the DC output wires. If there is no continuity, the DC output fuse is blown and the charger needs to be sent to the address below for repair.
How can I check if the AC fuse inside the charger is OK?
If the AC fuse is OK, you will hear a faint click inside when you plug in the charger. Also if the charger shows any LED colors, the AC fuse is OK. The cooling fans (if any) run even if the internal AC fuse is blown. If there are no LED colors, the charger needs to be sent to the address below for repair.