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12. NiMH and NiCd batteries
a) General information
The programs for NiMH and NiCd batteries have the same menu settings. The only difference is the internal charging
specifications.
The charger must display the main menu.
Use the "INC." or "DEC." buttons to select the battery type (NiMH or NiCd, see
right-hand screenshots).
Press the "ENTER/START" button to confirm your selection.
Use the "INC." and "DEC." buttons to select the desired battery program:
•
"CHARGE": Charge the battery
•
"Auto CHARGE": Charge the battery, the charging current is selected
automatically
•
"DISCHARGE": Discharge the battery
•
"RE-PEAK": Recharge a full battery
•
"CYCLE": Multiple charge/discharge or discharge/charge cycles
Press the "BATT./STOP" button to return to the main menu.
b) Charging a battery ("CHARGE")
The charging current depends on the battery capacity and should normally be 1C (see section 7). High-quality batter-
ies can also tolerate a charging current of up to 2C. Always refer to the battery specifications.
"1C" means that the charging current is equivalent to the battery's capacity. For example, this equates to a
current of 3 A for a 3000 mAh NiMH battery.
A value of 0.5C means that the charging current is half of the battery's capacity. This equates to a charging
current of 1.5 A for a 3000 mAh NiMH battery.
In general, smaller batteries (individual cells) have a lower maximum charging current.
For example, conventional NiMH AA cells with a capacity of 2000 mAh do not permit a charging current
of 1C (equivalent to 2 A). To charge these types of cells quickly (e.g. In receiver batteries), the charging
current must not exceed 0.5C.
To charge a NiMH or NiCd battery, proceed as follows:
•
From the main menu, use the "INC." and "DEC." buttons to select the battery type (NiMH or NiCd, see section 12a),
and then press the "ENTER/START" button.
•
Use the "INC." and "DEC." buttons to select the "CHARGE" program.
The number on the bottom-right of the display indicates the selected charg-
ing current.
Use the "INC." and "DEC." buttons to select another battery program; press the "BATT./STOP" button to go
back to the main menu.
BATT/PROGRAM
NiMH BATT
BATT/PROGRAM
NiCd BATT
NiMH CHARGE
CURRENT 2.0A
NIMH CHARGE
CURRENT 2.0A