33
32
20. Specification
Battery:
Charge currents / power
100 mA to 7,0 A / max. 50 W
Discharge currents / power
100 mA to 1 A / max. 5 W
Ni-Cd & Ni-MH batteries:
Cell count
1 - 14 cells
Capacity
min. 0,1 Ah to 7,0 Ah
Lithium batteries:
Cell count
1-5 cells
Cell voltage
3,6 V (LiIo) / 3,7 V (LiPo)
Capacity
min. 0,1 Ah to 7,0 Ah
Lead-acid / lead-gel batteries:
Cell count
1, 3, 6 cells
Battery voltage
2, 6, 12 V
Capacity
min. 1 Ah
General:
Operating voltage range
11,0 to 15 V
Car battery required
12 V, min. 30 Ah
Mains PSU required
12-14V, min. 10 A stabilised
1)
No-load current drain approx
50 mA
Low-voltage cut-off approx
11,8 / 10,5 V
Weight approx.
430 g
Dimensions approx. (WxDxH)
130 x 113 x 40 mm
All data assumes a car battery voltage of 12.7 V.
The stated values are guidelines, and may vary according to battery state, temperature etc.
1 )
When powered by a mains PSU, the charger will only operate correctly if the PSU is suitable in terms of voltage, stability, maximum load
capacity etc. You can avoid problems by using only the PSUs which we specifically recommend.
Environnemental Protection Notes
When this product comes to the end of its useful life, you must not dispose of it in the ordinary
domestic waste. The correct method of disposal is to take it to your local collection point for
recycling electrical and electronic equipment. The symbol shown here, which may be found on
the product itself, in the operating instructions or on the packaging, indicates that this is the
case.
Individual markings indicate which materials can be recycled and re-used. You can make an
important contribution to the protection of our common environment by re-using the product,
recycling the basic materials or recycling redundant equipment in other ways.
Remove batteries from your device and dispose of them at your local collection point for
batteries.
In case of R/C models, you have to remove electronic parts like servos, receiver, or speed
controller from the product in question, and these parts must be disposed of with a
corresponding collection point for electrical scrap.
If you don’t know the location of your nearest disposal centre, please enquire at your local
council office.
The charger is entirely maintenance-free in use, and requires no servicing of any kind. However,
it is in your own interests to protect the unit from dust, dirt and damp.
To clean the charger, disconnect it from the car battery and any other battery, and wipe it clean
with a dry cloth (don’t use cleaning agents!).
18. Cleaning and maintenance
19. Notes on handling rechargeable batteries
• Charging single Ni-Cd or Ni-MH cells, and packs consisting of 1 ... 4 cells, presents the
automatic charge termination circuit with a difficult task. The voltage peak is quite small in
such cases, and it cannot be guaranteed that the cut-off circuit will work reliably. In such
conditions the automatic circuit may not be triggered, or may not terminate the charge at the
correct time. For this reason it is important to carry out a series of monitored test charge
processes with your packs in order to establish whether the charge process is terminated
reliably.
• Warm batteries offer much higher performance than cold ones, so don’t be surprised if your batteries
don’t seem so effective in the winter.
• Overcharging and deep-discharging batteries lead to irreparable damage to the cells, and
permanently reduces their maximum performance and effective capacity.
• Never store batteries for a long time in an uncharged, discharged or partially charged state. Charge
your batteries before storing them, and check their state of charge from time to time.
• When purchasing batteries we recommend that you buy good quality products exclusively. Start
by charging new packs at low rates, and work up gradually towards higher currents.
• Batteries should not be charged until shortly before use, as they are then able to deliver their best
performance.
• Do not solder directly to battery cells. The temperatures which occur during soldering can easily
damage the seals and safety valves of the cells. If this should happen, the battery may lose
electrolyte or dry out, and some of its potential performance will be lost.
• Charging any battery at high currents shortens the life expectancy of the pack. Don’t exceed the
maximum values stated by the manufacturer.
• Overcharging inevitably reduces the capacity of the battery, so do not recharge a hot pack, or one
which has already been charged.
• Charging and discharging any battery at a high current shortens the life expectancy of the pack.
Don’t exceed the maximum values stated by the manufacturer.
• Lead-acid batteries are not capable of being charged at high currents. Never exceed the maximum
charge rate stated by the battery manufacturer.
• Protect batteries from vibration, and do not subject them to mechanical stress or shock.
• Batteries can generate explosive gas (hydrogen) when on charge and when being discharged, so
it is important to provide good ventilation.
• Do not allow batteries to come into contact with water - explosion hazard.
• Never short-circuit battery contacts - explosion hazard.
• Do not open battery cells - corrosion hazard.
• It is best to „balance“, or even up the cells in Ni-Cd and Ni-MH battery packs by first discharging
all the cells separately and then charging up the pack. Individual cells can be discharged using
certain chargers, or they can be „bridged“ using a 100 Ohm resistor over each individual cell in the
pack.
•
Please don’t be surprised if your batteries are not as willing to accept charge in winter as in summer.
The ability of a cold cell to accept and store charge is much lower than that of a warm one.
• Battery disposal: exhausted batteries are not ordinary household waste, and you must not dispose
of them in the domestic rubbish. The retail outlet where you purchase your batteries should have
a battery recycling container for proper disposal. Trade outlets are obliged by law to accept
exhausted batteries for disposal.
