comply with your battery manufacturer’s guidlelines when charging using any FMA Direct rapid
charging products.
CAUTION
: When using the CHARGEALL, always set it on a stable, non-flammable surface
along with the batteries connected to the unit. When the CHARGEALL has completed rapid
charging, fully charged batteries will feel warm to the touch. Do not be alarmed, this is a
normal outcome of rapid charging nicad batteries. As current flows through the battery,
exciting electrons, excess energy as a result of certain inefficiencies in the battery charging
process, will cause heat to escape from the interior of the batteries. Should the batteries
connected ever become “too hot to touch”, remove them from the charger immediately to
prevent the possibility of fire or explosion. Re-check your battery manufacturer’s guidelines for
charging this battery pack. If the problem continues, call FMA Direct at (301) 831-8980 for
service information.
•
CONNECTING THE CHARGEALL TO +12V POWER SOURCE
Connect the CHARGEALL to a +12V power source capable of at least 10A consumption by
using the supplied alligator clips. Automotive batteries or field box batteries work quite well as
a power source. The RED cable is +Volts and the BLACK cable is ground. The yellow
POWER indicator LED will glow.
•
CHARGING A TRANSMITTER BATTERY PACK
Verify that your transmitter battery pack is nicad and contains from 6 to 10 cells. Consult your
battery manufacturer’s guidelines concerning charge rates for your battery type. Make certain
that your battery is designed to handle a rapid charge rate of 1A. Remember, for a 500 mAh
pack, this is a 2C charge rate. Connect the bare wire ends of the supplied 2.5mm-to-bare wire
connector to the spring activated quick wire connections on the right side of the unit at the
ouput marked TX on the front face. Typically, the RED wire goes to the RED connector and
the BLACK wire to the BLACK connector; however, this may not be the case for your
transmitter.
CAUTION: If you unsure about the polarity of your transmitter charging jack,
consult your transmitter manufacturer’s literature. Standard convention is to make tip positive,
and sleeve negative. Most JR transmitters are the reverse of this standard!
Insert the barrel
connector end of this cable into the charge input on your transmitter. Make certain the
transmitter power switch is turned off. An alternate method of connecting your transmitter
pack to the CHARGEALL is illustrated in Figure 1. Note that the transmitter battery pack is
removed from the transmitter and attached to the FMA Direct “Versatile Adapter” (PN 501MC).
The barrel cable is then plugged into the Versatile Adapter. The Versatile Adapter enables
one to interface any of the popular connectors to FMA Direct battery chargers and can be
purchased separately at a local FMA Direct dealer or direct from FMA. Press and hold the
START button for three seconds. The red CHG indicator LED for channel one will glow. When
Figure 1 - Battery Connections
the battery has reached full charge, the peak detection circuit will automatically switch the unit
from rapid charge to trickle charge. The red CHG indicator LED will go out and the green TRC
indicator LED for channel one will glow. The unit will remain in trickle mode until the battery is
disconnected. To monitor the charge current on the ampere meter, adjust the METER
SELECT switch (located on the left side of the unit) to TX. The meter will read 1A in rapid
charge mode.
•
CHARGING A RECEIVER BATTERY PACK
Verify that your receiver battery pack is nicad and contains from 4 to 7 cells. Consult your
battery manufacturer’s guidelines concerning charge rates for your battery type. Make certain
that your battery is designed to handle rapid charging. At this point, you will need to calculate
the amperage required to rapid charge your battery at the charge rate recommended for your
battery type. Remember, for a 500 mAh pack, a 1C charge rate is 500 mA and will charge a
fully discharged pack in one hour. Connect the bare ends of a charge pigtail to the spring
activated quick wire connections on the right side of the unit at the output marked RX on the
front face. If you do not have a charge pigtail, you may purchase one separately from FMA
Direct as PN 212. Make sure you order the correct version for your brand of equipment. Make
certain the RED or + wire goes to the RED connector and the BLACK or ground wire to the
BLACK connector. Plug the battery to be charged into the other end of the charge pigtail. An
alternate method of connecting your receiver pack to the CHARGEALL is via the FMA Direct
“Versatile Adapter” (PN 501MC) in combination with the 2.5mm-to-bare wire barrel cable (PN
302BC) supplied with the unit. The Versatile Adapter enables one to interface any of the
popular connectors to FMA Direct battery chargers and can be purchased separately at a local
FMA Direct dealer or direct from FMA. Turn the OUTPUT ADJUST knob to the fully counter-
clockwise position. Adjust the METER SELECT switch (located on the left side of the unit) to
RX so that you will be able to monitor the charge current on the ampere meter. Press and hold
the START button for three seconds. The red CHG indicator LED for channel two will glow.
Now slowly adjust the OUTPUT ADJUST knob by turning it in the clockwise direction while
reading out the charge current on the ampere meter. Stop when the meter reads the proper
charge rate in amperes. When the battery has reached full charge, the peak detection circuit
will automatically switch the unit from rapid charge to trickle charge. The red CHG indicator
LED for channel two will go out and the green TRC indicator LED for channel two will glow.
The unit will remain in trickle mode until the battery is disconnected.
•
CHARGING A GLOW BOOSTER
Plug your glow booster into the dummy, panel mounted, glow plug on the face of the unit as
illustrated in Figure 1. The CHARGEALL will immediately begin to charge the glow booster at
1.2A and the red CHG LED for BOOSTER will glow. After approximately 20 minutes, this
charge cycle will be completed and the red CHG LED for BOOSTER will go out. One glow
booster charge cycle corresponds to a total charge of about 400 mAh. Depending on the
capacity of your glow booster and its initial charge state, it may require more than one pass to
completely charge the battery. You can determine the state of the battery by touching it with
your hand. If the battery is warm, remove it from the CHARGEALL. NOTE: IF YOU DECIDE
TO INITIATE A SECOND CHARGE CYCLE ON THE GLOW BOOSTER, YOU MUST
DISCONNECT THE BATTERY FROM THE DUMMY GLOW PLUG AND RECONNECT IT
AFTER TWO MINUTES. TWO MINUTES IS REQUIRED FOR THE GLOW BOOSTER
CIRCUITRY TO RE-SET. To monitor the charge current on the ampere meter, adjust the
METER SELECT switch (located on the left side of the unit) to BO. The meter will read 1.2A
during charge mode.
•
CHARGING A POWER PACK:
Although the CHARGEALL is ideally suited for use as a field charger for transmitter and
receiver battery packs, it is not limited to these tasks alone. The CHARGEALL is capable of
charging
any
nicad battery pack with a cell count that conforms to those specified in this
manual, provided that the battery manufacturer’s guidelines allow for rapid charging ot the
battery in question. For instance, the CHARGEALL will properly charge any 4 to 7 cell power
pack at the 0.5A to 4A adjustable charge rate when connected to the RX output and any 6 to
10 cell power pack at the fixed 1A charge rate when connected to the TX output. Never
exceed the maximum cell count limits of the CHARGEALL or damage could result to the unit
not covered by warranty.
•
ACCESSORIES:
Various adapter cables, the Versatile Adapter, power cables, and numerous other
accessories as well as a full line of batteries, other chargers and cyclers are available for use