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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.
• Batteries can explode or burn, if they overheat. We suggest to use a LiPo-security hard case
Order-No. 8370 or 8371 with all Li-battery types and with NiCd und NiMH-batteries for
charging.
• 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 to 0.9...1.1V and then charging up 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.
