31
8. Charging the vehicle battery
Please note:
Delivery does not include a rechargeable battery pack. This must be ordered separately.
The rechargeable battery pack is empty on delivery and must be charged.
Before the rechargeable battery pack delivers its maximum power, several complete discharge and
charge cycles are necessary.
Always drive a NiCd rechargeable battery pack empty, as recharging a "half-full" NiCd rechargeable
battery pack repeatedly may cause a so called memory effect. This means that the rechargeable battery
pack loses its capacity, it no longer releases all of its saved energy, drive time is decreased.
This effect is much slighter in rechargeable batteries with NiMH technology, and recharging partially
discharged rechargeable batteries is less problematic.
High-quality rechargeable battery packs not only have a higher capacity, which allows you to drive your
model vehicle much longer, but also deliver a higher output voltage for extreme situations. This gives
the engine more power and results in better acceleration and a higher speed.
If you are using several rechargeable battery packs or rechargeable batteries, purchasing a high-quality
charger may be worthwhile. They are normally also suitably for the fast charging of rechargeable batteries.
Rechargeable batteries heat up during charging/discharging (driving the vehicle). Wait until the
rechargeable batteries have reached room temperature before charging them. The same applies after
the charging procedure. Do not use the rechargeable battery in the vehicle until it has cooled down
sufficiently after the charging process.