How does SENS “autoboost” function work?
SENS chargers that include an autoboost function monitor the entire battery string and use feedback loops for both battery voltage and battery current. For a normal battery that has been fully charged, the charger will remain in float mode indefinitely. In this case, the battery current acceptance level is typically quite low (less than 1/2 Amp) and remains approximately constant until something changes, such as a battery discharge event (E.G. a breaker re-closure or engine start). When a battery is discharged, its current acceptance will become high enough to cause the charger to deliver all or most of its maximum output current in order to recharge the battery much faster than would be possible in float mode. The autoboost feature works as follows: when the battery charging current increases from its float level up to the detection threshold (for example 90% of full rated output current) then the charger increases its output voltage from float voltage (for example 2.2 volts per cell)
