Lithium type battery packs:
All packs ship at the 40% charged level, this is a safe level for shipment purposes and also for storage.
If not needed right away, it is ok to leave at 40% for 4 months. It is also ok to charge to 80% and let sit for 6 months plus.
Charge pack to 80-100% when display shows 45-60%. Do not charge pack after every use, use the charge % on the display and plan your charging per use accordingly.
Expect 120 spins before re-charging both the 24 and 48 volt type packs.
There is no monthly trickle charging required, the lithium-ion cells are ok to sit for long periods of time without maintenance.
Always be present when charging. Lithium-ion cells are extremely volatile.
Lead Acid type battery packs:
All packs ship at the 100% charged level.
Charge every month to maintain battery condition. It is ok to charge this pack after each use or after the event, it just depends on battery age/usage/charge maintenance schedule.
Expect 80 spins before re-charging.
There are a few charger model versions from over the years of building:
First generation has a digital read out. When plugged in, it will read TEST for a short amount of time then cycle a 60-minute count down starting with H060, then H059, etc.
Second generation has a set of lights representing 25%/50%/75%/100%, this unit will also enter a trickle charge routine if left plugged in with all lights lit. If all lights are blinking, check the connector and make sure the wiring/contacts are not compromised. If the connections look ok, you will need to take the pack apart and see if a battery has a bad cell by load testing each battery individually.
Third and fourth generations simply show red when charging and green when charged.
At every season’s end, remove the handle and lid to inspect the batteries posts. Apply grease and/or remove all buss bars to clean any corrosion. This is a great time to load test each battery to see if a bad cell has developed.