Battery Performance - DeWalt DW073 Instruction Manual

DW073/611118-01 5/13/02 4:37 PM
2. Insert the battery pack into the charger, making sure the pack is fully
seated in the charger. The red light will blink and the charger will
beep once indicating the charging process has started.
3. The battery pack will be fully charged in less than 15 minutes under
most conditions. This will be indicated by the red light remaining ON
and 3 beeps. The pack is fully charged and may be used at this time
or left in the charger.
4. WEAK BATTERY PACKS: The 15 minute charger can also detect
a weak battery. Such batteries are still usable but should not be
expected to perform as much work. In such cases, about 10
seconds after battery insertion, the charger will beep rapidly 8 times
to indicate a weak battery condition. The charger will then go on to
charge the battery to the highest capacity possible.
ALL CHARGERS
Leaving the battery pack in the charger: When the red light remains
ON, the charger has switched to its "equalize charge" mode which
lasts approximately 4 hours, after which the charger will switch to
"maintenance charge" mode. The battery pack can be removed at
any time during these charge cycles, but will only be fully charged if the
red light is continuously ON. The charger and battery pack can be left
connected with the red light glowing indefinitely. The charger will keep
the battery pack fresh and fully charged. A battery pack will slowly
lose its charge when kept out of the charger. If the battery pack has not
been kept on maintenance charge, it may need to be recharged before
use. A battery pack may also slowly lose its charge if left in a charger
that is not plugged into an appropriate AC source.

BATTERY PERFORMANCE

Some chargers have a tune-up feature optimizes battery pack
performance. Your charger may provide Automatic Tune-Up™ Mode
or manual (i.e. push button) Tune-Up™ mode. For information on this
feature, please see the appropriate section below. Because batteries
slowly lose their charge when they are not on the charger, the best
place to keep your battery pack is on the charger at all times.
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Using Automatic Tune-Up™ Mode
The Automatic Tune-Up™ Mode equalizes or balances the individual
cells in the battery pack allowing it to function at peak capacity.
Battery packs should be tuned up after every 10th charge/ discharge
cycle or whenever the pack no longer delivers the same amount of
work. To use the automatic tune-up mode, simply place the battery
pack in the charger and leave it for at least eight hours. The charger
will cycle through the following modes.
1. The red light will blink continuously indicating that the 1-hour
charge cycle has started.
2. When the 1-hour charge cycle is complete, the light will stay on
continuously and will no longer blink. This indicates that the pack
is fully charged and can be used at this time.
3. Whenever the pack is left in the charger after the initial 1-hour
charge, the charger will begin the Automatic Tune-Up™ Mode.
This mode continues up to 8 hours or until the individual cells in
the battery pack are equalized. The battery pack is ready for use
and can be removed at any time during the Tune-Up™ Mode.
4. Once the Automatic Tune-Up™ Mode is complete the charger
will transition to a maintenance charge; no indicator light shows
the completion of the Automatic Tune-Up™ Mode.
Using the Manual Tune-Up™ Mode
The manual Tune-up™ mode equalizes or balances the individual
cells in the battery pack at its peak capacity. This mode takes up to 8
hours to complete. Battery packs should be tuned up weekly or after
10 to 20 charge/discharge cycles or whenever the pack no longer
delivers the same amount of work.
1. To tune up your battery pack, place the battery in the charger as
usual. The red light will blink continuously indicating that the
charge cycle has started.
2. Press the Tune-Up™ Mode button any time after the charge cycle
has started. The red light will stop blinking momentarily, blink