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Contents
Chapter
1. Introduction
2. Warnings and safety notes, please read and observe!
5. Charger controls, using the unit, starting the charge process
10. Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) charge programs
11. Nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) charge programs
12. Lithium-Ion (LiIo) / Lithium-Polymer (LiPo) charge programs
13. Lead-acid (Pb) charge programs
15. Screen displays, display of cycle data
17. Error and warning messages, tips on usage
21. Guarantee certificate
1. Introduction
Please study these instructions, reading them completely and attentively, before you use 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.
Please store these instructions in a safe place, and be sure to pass them on to the new owner if you
ever dispose of the charger.
By selecting the ULTRAMAT 25 you have acquired a sophisticated, highly specified product with an
excellent performance. It incorporates the latest semi-conductor technology, controlled by a high-perfor-
mance RISC micro-processor, to provide superior charging characteristics combined with simple operation
and optimum reliability. These features can normally be expected only from much more expensive units.
The ULTRAMAT 25 is capable of charging virtually all the rechargeable batteries which are commonly used
in modelling. These include sintered-cell Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd), Nickel-Metal-Hydride (NiMH), Lithium-Ion
(LiIo) and Lithium-Polymer (LiPo) batteries, and also lead-gel and lead-acid (Pb = Plumbum) types. These
sealed, gas-tight batteries have proved excellent for use in RC modelling. They are mechanically robust,
can be used in any attitude, and are robust and reliable. It is important to prevent them becoming deep-
discharged when in storage, but otherwise no special maintenance measures are necessary. You can also
use the ULTRAMAT 25 to discharge and maintain your packs and measure their capacity. The charger
features a cooling fan for better cooling and improved performance; the fan cuts in automatically when
required.
Note: It is important always to observe the charging notes supplied by the battery manufacturer, and to
keep to the recommended charge currents and periods. Do not fast-charge batteries unless the manufac-
turer states expressly that they are suitable for the high currents which flow during these processes.
Please bear in mind that new batteries do not reach their full capacity until they have been charged and
discharged several times. With new batteries you may also encounter problems with premature charge
termination. Whenever you wish to use a new battery it therefore makes sense to carry out a series of
monitored test charges, so that you can check that the automatic charge termination circuit works correctly
and reliably with your packs, and charges them to full capacity.
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Protect the charger from dust, damp, rain, heat (e.g. direct sunshine) and vibration. It should only
be operated in dry indoor conditions. Provide good ventilation.
22
The case slots and fan serve to cool the charger, and must not be covered or enclosed; set up the
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charger with space round it, so that cooling air can circulate unhindered.
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The charger is designed to be powered by a 12 V car battery only. Do not make any modifications
25
of any kind to the unit.
25
The charger and the battery to be charged should be set up on a heat-resistant, non-inflammable
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and non-conductive surface before use. Never place the charger directly on a car seat, carpet or
26
similar. Keep all inflammable and volatile materials well away from the charging area. Provide good
27
ventilation.
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Connect the charger directly to the car battery using the original cables and connectors supplied.
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The car's engine must be stopped all the time the ULTRAMAT 25 is connected to the car's battery.
30
Do not recharge the car battery at any time when the Charger is connected to it.
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The charge output and connecting leads must not be modified or inter-connected in any way. The
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charge and connecting leads should never be coiled up when the charger is in use. There is a
35
constant risk of short-circuit between the charge outputs and the car bodywork when using a car
battery which is installed in a car, and it is essential to avoid short-circuits between the charge
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output and the car battery or bodywork, as the ULTRAMAT 25 is not protected against such errors.
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For this reason you should never stand the unit directly on the car bodywork.
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Never leave the charger unsupervised when it is connected to its power supply.
40
Do not connect more than one pack to each charge output at any one time.
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The following types of battery must not be connected to the charger:
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- NiCd / NiMH batteries consisting of more than 25 cells, Lithium-Ion / Lithium-Polymer batteries
Back cover
consisting of more than 7 cells, and lead-acid batteries with a nominal voltage higher than 24 V.
- Batteries which require a different charge technique from NiCd, NiMH, Lithium or Lead-Acid
batteries.
- Batteries which require a different charge method from NiCd, NiMH or lead-acid batteries.
- Faulty or damaged cells or batteries.
- Batteries consisting of parallel-wired cells, or cells of different types.
- Batteries consisting of old and new cells, or cells of different makes.
- Non-rechargeable batteries (dry cells). Caution: explosion hazard!
- Batteries which are not expressly stated by the manufacturer to be suitable for the currents
which the unit delivers during the charge process.
- Packs which are already fully charged or hot, or only partially discharged.
- Batteries fitted with an integral charge circuit or charge termination circuit.
- Batteries installed in a device, or which are electrically connected to other components.
To avoid short-circuits between the banana plugs fitted to the charge lead, please always connect
the charge lead to the charger first, and only then to the battery to be charged. Reverse the
sequence when disconnecting.
As a basic rule always check that the charge quantity is approximately the same as you expected
after the charger has indicated that the pack is fully charged. This is your means of detecting a
problem reliably and in good time, should the charge process be terminated prematurely for any
reason. The likelihood of premature termination varies according to many factors, but is at its
highest with deep-discharged packs, low cell counts and particular cell types which are known to
cause problems.
We recommend that you carry out a series of test charges to satisfy yourself that the automatic
termination circuit is working perfectly. This applies in particular when you are charging packs
consisting of few cells. If the cells feature an indistinct peak, the charger may fail to detect their fully
charged state.
Before charging please check: have you selected the appropriate charge program? Have you
set the correct charge / discharge currents? Have you set the vitally important termination sensi-
tivity when charging NiCd and NiMH packs? Are all connections firm, or is there an intermittent
contact at any point in the circuit? Please bear in mind that it can be dangerous to fast-charge
batteries. For example, if there is a brief interruption due to an intermittent contact, the result is
inevitably a malfunction such as a restart of the charge process, which would result in the pack
being massively overcharged.
2. Warnings and safety notes
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