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c) Charging a battery
•
The charger has four independent charging channels that can charge up to four batteries at the same
time. Each charging channel has a connection (XH socket) for a 3 or 4-cell LiPo battery.
•
Do not connect more than one battery to each terminal. The two sockets on each channel cannot be
used at the same time.
Do not short circuit the contacts on the unused socket, as the pins for the first 3 cells are connected to
each other. This may cause the battery to catch fire or explode!
•
There are different types of balancer plug. Do not attempt to force the plug into the socket. If necessary,
purchase a suitable adapter to connect the balancer plug to the charger.
Occasionally, some batteries with more than one cell have separate connections for each cell. These
batteries are not strictly speaking ‘multi-cell’ batteries. Always refer to the design and voltage specifica
-
tions provided by the battery manufacturer.
•
When using self-assembled batteries, always ensure that the balancer plug is connected correctly. The
black cable is the negative pole for the first cell. The next connection pin is the positive pole for the
first cell; the subsequent connection pins are the negative poles for the second, third and fourth cells
(depending on the number of cells).
The last connection pin on the balancer plug is the positive pole of the last cell. This means that the
voltage between the two outer pins on the balancer plug is the same as the voltage on the two battery
connections.
• The charging current depends on the battery capacity (see section 6. b). Always refer to the specifica
-
tions in the manufacturer's instructions.
The charging process for LiPo batteries consists of two stages. During the first stage, the battery is charged with a
constant current. When the maximum permitted cell voltage is reached (e.g. 4.2 V), the voltage is kept constant, which
causes the charging current to drop. When the charging current drops below a certain threshold, the battery stops
charging and the charging process is complete.
To charge a battery, follow the steps below:
• Connect the charger to the power supply. The charger conducts a short test and the four LEDs will flash green.
•
Open the cover (4) for the desired charging channel.
•
Connect the battery to the XH socket.
4-pin XH-socket = Connection for 3-cell LiPo battery (rated voltage = 11.1 V)
5-pin XH-socket = Connection for 4-cell LiPo battery (rated voltage = 14.8 V)
•
To set the charging current, press the control button (1) next to the cover. The LED indicator on the button shows
the selected charging current:
Green LED = 2 A charging current
Yellow LED = 3 A charging current
Red LED = 5 A charging current
