Answer to Question 4.

4. What is temperature compensation and when is it required?

Temperature compensation is used to raise or lower the voltage and/or current applied to a battery in order to ensure that the cells are fully charged regardless of ambient temperature.

Batteries have less ability to store energy in cold conditions and need to be recharged at a slightly higher voltage. Conversely, during the summer months the charger output voltage needs to be reduced in order to prevent overcharge and subsequent electrolyte loss which in itself reduces the batteries capacity.

Temperature compensation must be employed whenever the batteries connected to the charger housed in an area, which is exposed to the external temperature fluctuations encountered throughout the year.