CHARGE - TEST Mode:
The CHARGE-TEST mode tests the present capacity of a
rechargeable battery. The maximum capacity is determined
by first fully charging the battery, then discharging the
battery while measuring discharge current and time. The
battery is then charged to full. After completion of the
CHARGE-TEST mode, tested battery capacity is displayed
in mAh or AH alternating with the FULL indication.
Example: Insert battery into a slot. Press the MODE
button until CHARGE - TEST is displayed in that
channel. Press the CURRENT button to select 200, 400,
600, 800, 1000, (1200 or 1400) charge rate. If CURRENT
button is not pressed the current will automatically
default to 400 mA.
QUICK TEST Mode:
The charger will analyze the dynamic internal battery
resistance by applying a load current and this current
reading is referred to the voltage drop detected on the
battery. Within 10 seconds the tested battery resistance will
be displayed in the unit of milliohms (thousandths of an
ohm). Only fully charged batteries should be tested for
internal resistance. Please note that the internal battery
resistance can be very small, and contact resistance can
be a major factor; thus with the same battery tested in a
different slot or even in the same slot with different contact
conditions, measurements can vary by up to 20%.
Example: Insert battery into a slot. Press the MODE
button until QUICK TEST is displayed in that channel.
This symbol will appear in that channel -- --. Wait for
a number or numbers to appear in place of the symbol
-- --; this may take 30 seconds or longer. This will be
the battery internal resistance in milliohms. A reading
of 55 represents 55 milliohms or 0.055 ohms.
NOTE: Due to greater contact resistance, measuring
internal resistance of high capacity C and D cells with the
optional C&D to AA adapters is unreliable. Typically internal
resistance of high capacity C and D cells is very low. In this
case contact resistance is much greater than the internal
resistance of the cell. The added contact resistance of the
adapter contacts renders the measurement invalid.
6.2 CURRENT Selection
After the Mode is selected press the CURRENT button to
toggle between available charge/discharge current selections.
Default charge current is 400 mA. Available selections are
200 mA, 400 mA, 600 mA, 1000 mA. If batteries are inserted
in only slots 1 and 4 the charging current can be further
selected to 1200 mA or 1400 mA for channels 1 or 4. If charge
current is selected to 1200 mA or 1400 mA for channels 1 or 4
and batteries are then inserted into slots 2 and 3, the charge
current in slots 1 or 4 will be reduced to 1000 mA maximum.
Discharge current is automatically selected at one half of the
charge current. Maximum discharge current is 500 mA . If
battery slots 2 or 3 are not occupied then 600 or 700 mA
discharge current may be programmed for discharge current.
However actual discharge current may be lower depending on
battery internal resistance.
6.3 DISPLAY Selection
Press the DISPLAY button to toggle among the display
parameters Voltage, Current, Capacity and Time.
Charge/Discharge Current: the instantaneous current is
displayed.
Time Elapsed: The charging/discharging time of the last
cycle is displayed.
Accumulated Capacity: The accumulated charge or
discharge capacity is displayed in mAh or Ah.
Voltage: The instantaneous battery voltage is displayed.
Quick Test: displays the measured internal battery
resistance in milliohms.
Full: Battery full charge detected. After the rechargeable
battery is fully charged maintenance charging will be
started automatically. Maintenance charging prevents
the rechargeable batteries from being overcharged when
left in the charger and compensates for self-discharging
of the batteries. FULL will flash in the display when full
charge is detected.
Backlight function: To turn the backlight on continuous press
and hold the DISPLAY button for more than 5 seconds. The
backlight will remain on continuously. Press the DISPLAY
button for more than 5 seconds to return the backlight to
Auto-Off function.
6.4 SLOT Selection.
Pressing the SLOT button will start the slot selection process
in the sequence; Slot 1, Slot 2, Slot 3, Slot 4, All 4 Slots, Exit.
Flashing display segment indicates slot selection. If all four
display slot segments are flashing, this indicates all four slots
selected. Mode and Current selection will then be for the
selected slots.
7. Temperature
Monitoring
Battery temperature and charger internal temperature are
monitored during operation. Battery temperature of 60
degrees Celsius (140 degrees F) or controller board
temperature of 77 degrees Celsius (171 degrees F) will
cause operation to be suspended. Four batteries are
temperature monitored individually. Two controller board
sensors monitor charger internal temperature. If controller
board over temperature is detected, current will be
suspended for the corresponding two battery slots. If battery
over temperature is detected only the affected channel
current will be suspended accordingly. The
charging/discharging process will only resume once the
temperature of the batteries drops below 40 degrees Celsius
(104 degrees F) or charger controller board temperature
drops below 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees F) as
appropriate.
As a fail-safe method battery temperature may cause charge
termination as full charge event if other parameters are met
as well.
