FAQs
Q. What happens if the Charge-O-Matic TM loses power or there is a power outage?
A. Whether for just a brief instant, or several weeks, Charge-O-Matic TM will remember the values and programming it had when it lost power and automatically resume from those values once power is restored without any user intervention. This means peace of mind as your devices are taken care of even if you're asleep and the power briefly cuts out or if you're out of town on vacation and there is a prolonged power outage. You don't need to worry because Charge-o-matic TM will automatically pickup where it left off once power is restored.
Q. Does Charge-O-Matic TM automatically set the voltage and current?
A. The Charge-O-Matic TM controls only the timing of the charge procedure. You plug your device's supplied power cord (or a dedicated battery charger) into the Charge-o-matic TM and then set the charge duration and off duration on the Charge-o-matic TM.
Q. What is the max amperage / current the Charge-O-Matic TM will support?
A. The Charge-O-Matic TM will support 15A at 125V AC input / output. For inductive loads (starting and running a motor), there is a 3A max. Note: While not unheard of, using Charge-O-Matic TM for inductive loads is not common. For most uses, Charge-O-Matic TM safely supports a full 15A continuous output at 125V AC.
Q. Can I plug a power strip or multi-USB device to have the Charge-O-Matic TM handle multiple devices at once?
A. Yes, as long as the total load is within 125VAC / 15A. In this case, all devices connected to the distribution device will follow the same schedule/routine.
Q. Will the Charge-O-Matic TM run its program indefinitely?
A. Yes, the Charge-O-Matic will run and repeat its program indefinitely unless unplugged or manually powered off.
Q. Why wouldn't I just use a trickle / float charger?
A. One primary benefit of using a Charge-o-matic instead of a trickle charger is energy savings. Further, while trickle / float chargers may work in some cases, these chargers are rarely recommended by device manufacturers for long term battery maintenance. Most devices will not accommodate these types of chargers due to the requirement of having to have specific access to positive and negative terminals. Charge-O-Matic TM allows the use of manufacturer supplied charging cables / hardware to easily automate the manufacturer specified charging routines, all while saving energy by not unnecessarily energizing device indicator leds and topping the charge off constantly—which can shorten battery life span and capacity over time.
Q. Is there any way to turn off the display while the Charge-O-Matic TM is running?
A. No. The display remains on so that the remaining time / status can be seen at all times. The display does automatically dim shortly after power is activated.
Q. How can I tell where in its routine the Charge-O-Matic TM is?
A. The displays on the Charge-O-Matic TM are dynamic and show in real-time the remaining times. For instance, if the left (hours) display shows 8, there are 8 hours remaining in that power on cycle. If it is blank, that power on cycle is over and the remaining number of days in the power off cycle will be displayed in the right (days) display. Note the left (hours) display has a green LED directly below it that blinks as the power on cycle elapses. The green LED stops blinking when the power on cycle finishes and then the LED directly beneath the right (days) display blinks, denoting the power off days are counting down.
Q. Can I locate the Charge-O-Matic TM outdoors or in wet locations?
A. No. The Charge-O-Matic TM is designed to be located indoors only as it is not weatherproof. If your device is located outdoors, but its cord allows it to be powered from an indoor location, this would be acceptable provided an adequate drip loop is employed.
Q. Can I use the Charge-O-Matic TM for purposes other than charging?
A. Yes. The Charge-O-Matic TM can be used for any device within its output capacity of 125VAC / 15A. Note that if you intend to use Charge-O-Matic TM with an inductive load (starting and running a motor, for instance), there is a 3A max. Use your imagination and please let us know what creative uses you come up with!