General Notes On Using The Charger; Recommended Charge Leads, Polarity - GRAUPNER ULTRAMAT 12 Operating Manual

3. General notes on using the charger

Charging batteries
When a battery is charged, a particular quantity of electrical energy is fed into it. The charge quantity
is calculated by multiplying charge current by charge time. The maximum permissible charge
current varies according to the battery type, and can be found in the information provided by the
battery manufacturer.
It is only permissible to charge batteries at rates higher than the standard (slow) current if they are
expressly stated to be rapid-charge capable. The STANDARD CHARGE CURRENT is 1/10 (one
tenth) of the cells' nominal capacity (e.g. for a 1.7 Ah pack the standard charge current is 170 mA).
• Connect the battery to be charged to the charger output sockets using a suitable charge lead (red
= positive terminal, black = negative terminal).
• Be sure to read the information provided by the battery manufacturer regarding charging methods,
and observe the recommended charge currents and charge times. Do not attempt to fast-charge
batteries unless they are expressly stated to be suitable for the high currents which this charger
delivers.
• Please bear in mind that new batteries do not reach their full capacity until they have undergone
several charge / discharge cycles. You should also be aware that the charger may terminate the
charge process prematurely when connected to new packs, and batteries which have been
deep-discharged.
• A Ni-Cd pack will normally be warm at the end of a rapid-charge process, but if you notice that one
cell of the pack is much hotter than the others, this may well indicate a fault in that cell. Such packs
could fail completely without warning, and should not be used again. Dispose of the battery safely,
preferably taking it to a toxic waste disposal centre.
• Ensure that all connectors and terminal clamps make good, sound contact. 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.
• A common cause of malfunctions is the use of unsuitable charge leads. Since the charger is
incapable of detecting the difference between a pack's internal resistance, cable resistance and
connector transfer resistance, the first requirement if the charger is to work perfectly is that the
charge lead should be of adequate conductor cross-section and should be not be more than
30 cm long Good-quality connectors (gold-contact types) must be fitted to both ends.
• Charging transmitter batteries
A battery installed in a radio control transmitter can usually be recharged via the integral charge
socket which is fitted to the transmitter itself. Transmitter charge sockets generally include a diode
which prevents reverse current flow. This prevents damage to the transmitter electronics should
the charger be connected with reverse polarity, or if a short-circuit occurs between the bare ends
of the charge lead connectors. However, a transmitter battery protected in this way can only be
charged by the ULTRAMAT 12 if the diode is by-passed. Please read your transmitter operating
instructions for information on how to do this. The stated maximum charge current for the transmitter
battery must never be exceeded. To avoid possible damage to the internal transmitter components
due to overheating and heat build-up, we recommend that the battery should be removed from the
transmitter's battery compartment prior to charging. The transmitter must be set to „OFF" and left in
that state for the whole period of the charge process.
Never switch a radio control transmitter on when it is still connected to the battery charger. The
slightest interruption in the charge process may allow the charge voltage to rise to the point
where it immediately ruins the transmitter.
Never attempt to carry out any battery discharge or battery maintenance programs via the
transmitter's integral charge socket. The charge socket is not suitable for this purpose.
When you set a particular current for charging, the charger only supplies that current if the
value does not exceed the unit's technical capacity. If you set a charge current which the
ULTRAMAT 12 cannot deliver because it falls outside its technical limits, the unit automatically
reduces the current to the maximum possible value. In this case the screen displays the
charge current which is actually flowing, alternating with the warning message „MAX".
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Liability exclusion
As manufacturers, we at GRAUPNER are not in a position to ensure that you observe the
correct methods of operation when installing, using and maintaining this charger. For this reason
we are obliged to deny all liability for loss, damage or costs which are incurred due to the
incompetent or incorrect use and operation of our products, or which are connected with such
operation in any way.
4. Recommended charge leads /polarity
The requirements made on rechargeable batteries vary greatly according to their particular
application, and this in turn calls for different types of battery connector. Please note that
connectors, connector names and polarities may vary from one manufacturer to another. For
this reason we recommend that you always use genuine matching connectors of identical
construction. The following charge leads are suitable for battery charging with this unit:
Japan G2 (AMP/G2,5)
Order No. 3371 Order No. 3011 Order No. 3037
Be sure to use genuine charge leads fitted with cable of adequate conductor cross-section.
All charge leads should be cut down to a maximum lenght of 30 cm.
5. Charger controls / Using the charger / Starting the process
Screen
All the charger's functions are controlled by means of just four buttons.
The - / DEC and + / INC buttons are used to change the current and voltage values. The function
of the other two buttons varies according to the presence or otherwise of a battery at the charge
sockets:
Bedien-Taste Funktion
No battery PROGRAMM/MODE Select charge programs and sub-groups
connected: ENTER/START Select the (charge) program group
Battery PROGRAMM/MODE Ends the charge process, stops the buzzer
connected: ENTER/START Starts the charge process, changes
BEC JR JR-Sender
Order No. 3021 Order No. 3022
Connectors for
mains PSU
Car battery
Operating buttons
terminal clips
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