FMA Direct Versapulse FC600 Owner's Manual

Do so at your own risk, and recognize you may harm a pack that has too much internal
resistance. WARNING: We all have a tedency to "pop the start button" a second time just to
"be sure we have a full charge", BAD PRACTICE, especially with the smaller packs. The
VERSAPULSE has been tested to as low as two cells and found functional; however, FMA
Direct does not guarantee that VERSAPULSE will work reliably on less than four cells. The
user must conduct at least one carefully monitored cycle with the battery under test to ensure
that the pack does not overheat and that cut-off actually occurs.
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SELF-LIMITING FEATURE
VERSAPULSE is protected from abuse and mistakes by being self-limiting as noted on the
face of the unit. Consult the unit label for maximum charge rates versus cell count. You
need not worry about these limits, the unit does the work. If you wish to charge a battery that
falls within the MAX RATES parameters, turn the knob fully clockwise and current will not
increase above the limit for the number of cells that the charger senses as being connected.
SPECIFICATIONS:
SIZE: 4.93" X 5.60" X 3.42"
WEIGHT: 3.1 POUNDS.
FUNCTION: SINGLE CHANNEL, NICAD BATTERY RAPID CHARGER /
MAINTENANCE CHARGER
INPUTS / CONNECTIONS: 110V AC VIA P.C. TYPE CABLE OR
+13.5V D.C. OR LEAD ACID BATTERY VIA ALLIGATOR CLIPS
OUTPUT CAPABILITIES: AC INPUT:
1 NiCD PACK:
(0.5A TO 2.8A) FOLLOWED BY SLOW CHARGE (200 mA), PEAK
DETECTION CUT-OFF
DC INPUT:
1 NiCD PACK: 4 TO 7 CELLS, VARIABLE CHARGE RATE (0.5A
TO 4.2A) FOLLOWED BY SLOW CHARGE (200 mA), PEAK
DETECTION CUT-OFF
PROTECTION: 7.5A AUTO FUSE AND REVERSE POLARITY PROTECTION
MAXIMUM CHARGE RATES:
AC INPUT: 4-7 CELL (2.8A); 8 CELL (2.2A); 9 CELL (1.5A); 10
CELL (1A)
DC INPUT: 4-6 CELL (4.2A); 7 CELL (3.0A)
FMA LIMITED WARRANTY ON RAPID CHARGER PRODUCTS
THE WARRANTY
FMA, Inc. warrants this charger to be free of manufacturing defects for the term of one year from
the date of purchase. Should any defects covered by this warranty occur, the charger shall be
repaired or replaced with a unit of equal performance by FMA, Inc., or an authorized FMA service
station.
LIMITS AND EXCLUSIONS
This warranty may be enforced only by the original purchaser, who uses this charger in its original
condition as purchased, in strict accordance with the VERSAPULSE owner's manual and battery
manufacturer's guidelines for charge rates applicable to any batteries connected to the unit.
Chargers returned for warranty service to an FMA service center will be accepted for service when
shipped post-paid, with a copy of the original sales slip or warranty registration form, to the service
station advised by FMA, Inc.
THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT APPLY TO
1. Consequential or incidental losses resulting from the use of this charger.
2. Damage resulting from accident, misuse, abuse, neglect, electrical surges, reversed
polarity on connectors, lightning or other acts of God.
3. Damage from failure to follow instructions supplied with the product.
4. Damage occurring during shipment of the product either to the customer or from the
customer for service (claims must be presented to the carrier).
5. Damage resulting from repair, adjustment, or any alteration to product by any one
other than an authorized FMA technician.
6. Installation or removal charges, or damage caused by improper installation or
removal.
CALL (301) 668-7614 FOR INFORMATION ABOUT SERVICE AND WARRANTY REPAIRS.
4 TO 10 CELLS, VARIABLE CHARGE RATE
OWNER'S MANUAL
NOTE: PLEASE READ MANUAL COMPLETELY BEFORE OPERATION
INTRODUCTION:
Thank you for purchasing the FMA Direct / RCLine VERSAPULSE rapid charger.
VERSAPULSE is one product in a family of quality battery management devices from FMA,
Inc. The VERSAPULSE is an affordable, yet highly flexible AC/DC rapid charger with delta
peak cutoff. The VERSAPULSE utilizes a standard personal computer type, AC power cord
that quickly disconnects from the back of the charger for convenient field use.
VERSAPULSE can charge a 4 to 10 cell NiCD pack using AC input or a 4 to 7 cell NiCD pack
using +13.5 V DC input. Alligator clips are provided for DC input connection. Self–limiting,
variable charge rates from 0.5A all the way to 4.2A, a rugged plastic enclosure, a heat sink,
fuse, and reverse polarity protection make VERSAPULSE a great value.
variable charge rate set via a knob, not a two or three position switch, lets you carefully
control the charge current for cell capacities ranging from relatively small packs (250 mAh)
up to 5 AH or higher. When used as a complement to the FMA EINSTEIN Deluxe, you get the
most economical and complete battery management system made for shop and field use.
OPERATION:
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OVERVIEW
A vast array of different battery manufacturers and cell configurations are available to the
model builder today. The VERSAPULSE is capable of safely rapid charging most NiCd
batteries. Using delta peak detection circuitry, the VERSAPULSE will safely monitor and
cutoff high-rate charging when the peak, or maximum charge voltage, is detected for the
battery being charged. WARNING: VERSAPULSE IS NOT DESIGNED OR INTENDED
FOR CHARGING LITHIUM CELLS OF ANY TYPE. VERSAPULSE will not safely charge the
single cell used in glow drivers. Typically, most modern NiCD batteries are capable of
withstanding a moderate 1C charge rate. Some will handle 2C, and fewer will accept up to
4C. A 1C charge rate is defined as 1 times the mAh capacity of your battery pack. As an
example, at a 1C charge rate, a 500 mAh battery pack charges at 500 mA (0.5A). This
equates to a 1 hour charge time on a battery that is completely dead at start of charge. A 2C
charge rate for this same 500 mAh pack would be 1000 mA (or 1A) and the battery would be
fully charged in 1/2 hour from a completely dead state. It is generally good practice to
charge a pack at no more than the minimum rate that will have it ready when you need it.
Please also recognize that rapid charging inevitably shortens pack life, even if just a little bit
as compared to normal charging (C/10). Rapid charging with peak detector cutoff is an
efficient method of putting a full charge into a battery without overcharging it because the
electrons within the battery become more active with greater current flow. CAUTION: It is
FMA, Inc.
5716A Industry Lane
Frederick, MD 21704
Sales: (800) 343-2934 -Technical: (301) 668-7614
VERSAPULSE
MODEL FC600 AC/DC VARIABLE
RATE RAPID CHARGER
Continuously