User manual GRAUPNER ULTRAMAT 14 PLUS

[. . . ] Introduction 24 Warnings and safety notes, please read and observe!25 General notes on using the charger 26 Recommended charge leads, polarity 27 Controls, using the charger, starting the charge process 27 Charge and discharge programs 28 Program flowchart 28 Selecting the charge program group 29 Using the charger for the first time 29 Starting the charge process 30 Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) charge programs 31 Nickel-Metal-Hydride (Ni-MH) charge programs 33 Lithium-Ion / Lithium-Polymer / Li-Mn / LiFePO4- charge programs 36 Lead-acid (Pb) charge programs 38 Screen displays, cycle data display 40 Monitor displays 40 Error messages, warnings 42 Cleaning and maintenance 44 Notes on handling rechargeable batteries 44 Specification, Environnemental Protection Notes 45 Guarantee certificate Back cover Please study these instructions, reading them completely and attentively, before using the unit for the first time. This will guarantee that you will be able to exploit all the facilities of your new battery charger. The warnings and safety notes are particularly important. [. . . ] 20 V, the battery cells lose capacity, so the pack must be charged to around 60% capacity before being stored for a protracted period. Cells with a higher cell voltage are discharged at around 100 mA (balancing current). However, Ni-MH batteries have a less pronounced voltage drop than Ni-Cd cells, and a practical range has proved to be 5 . If the trigger voltage is set higher, there is a danger of overcharging the battery; if set lower, there is a danger of premature termination. We recommend that you carry out a series of test charges to establish the ideal trigger value for your batteries. These programs are only suitable for charging and discharging LiFePO4 batteries with a voltage of 3. 3 V / Cell , Lithium-Ion batteries with a voltage of 3. 6 V / cell, and Lithium-Polymer and Lithium-Manganese batteries with a voltage of 3. The outstanding feature of Lithium batteries is their much higher capacity compared to other battery types. However, this important advantage is offset by the need to adopt different handling strategies: they must be charged and discharged using specific methods, otherwise they will be damaged, and can be dangerous. The directions in these instructions must be observed at all times when handling these batteries. Specific information and safety notes will also be found in the battery manufacturer's technical information. The fundamental rule is that Lithium-based batteries may ONLY be charged using voltage special chargers, and the charge program must be set up correctly in terms of final charge voltage and capacity for the battery type in use. Because some types can be charged with upt to 2C or 4C charging current, the charging current and the capacity of the battery must be set seperately. When the battery on charge reaches the specific final voltage which is appropriate to the battery type, the charger automatically reduces the charge current in order to prevent the battery exceeding the final permissible voltage. If the battery manufacturer states a charge current lower than the 1C rate, then the capacity (charge current) must be reduced accordingly. We recommend the use of the balancer connector, which ensures that your Lithium batteries are charged optimally, and therefore increases safety and their useful life. Problems caused by mistreating batteries: It is very dangerous to overcharge Lithium-Ion batteries, as they tend to react by gassing, overheating and even exploding. 2 V / cell (Lithium-Polymer and Lithium-Manganese) is exceeded by more than 1%, the lithium ions in the cell start to change into metallic lithium. This material reacts very violently with the water in the electrolyte, and this can result in the cell exploding. On the other hand it is also important to avoid terminating the charge process before the final charge voltage is reached, since this reduces the effective capacity of the Lithium-Ion cell markedly. 1 V under the threshold means a capacity loss of around 7%. [. . . ] 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. [. . . ]