Optronics debuts DC-DC battery charger

Optronics International introduces its Co27 DC-DC Battery Charger, a patent-pending intelligent charging system that solves chronic trailer battery failure caused by inadequate charging through standard trailer wiring.

According to Optronics, batteries on commercial trailers with electric-over-hydraulic power packs, powered landing legs, liftgates and similar equipment routinely fail well before their expected service life. The standard diode-and-fuse connection through the 7-pin connector causes voltage drop that prevents the trailer battery from charging beyond 50 to 60 percent capacity. In cold weather, a lead-acid battery at that state of charge is effectively dead.

The Co27 eliminates that cycle. Installed in the trailer and connected through the existing 7-pin plug, Optronics states it activates when it detects 13.2 volts or higher from the towing vehicle’s alternator. Its software-driven algorithm delivers a three-stage charging cycle: bulk charging to rapidly restore a deeply depleted battery, absorption charging that monitors recovery as the battery approaches capacity and float charging that maintains 100 percent state of charge. For lithium-iron-phosphate batteries, the Co27 delivers an optimized two-stage cycle. Chemistry selection is managed through a simple wiring configuration at installation, allowing trailer manufacturers and fleets to support both lead-acid and lithium systems with the same Co27 units.

“The cost of not having this product is significantly higher than the cost of having it,” says Mathew Jenkins, president and CEO of Optronics International. “One bad experience, a failed dump cycle, a stalled liftgate or a battery replacement that pulls an operator off the road, can easily exceed $1,000 when you factor in the battery, the service call and lost productivity. The Co27 is equivalent to the cost of just one battery.”

Optronics is launching the Co27 alongside a new Dump Trailer Wiring Harness Kit from its USA Harness division, engineered with the charger in mind to minimize voltage drop and maximize charging performance. By combining the charger, modular wiring harness and lighting into a single package, Optronics states it offers trailer manufacturers a complete, factory-ready electrical system from one source, a level of vertical integration unavailable from any other supplier.

“The Co27 is the first of many focused product launches bringing more intelligence to trailer electrical systems,” Jenkins says. “Our vision is to help fleet managers and trailer builders create a steady, reliable stream of income that keeps them profitable and in business.”