Radient RC Ascend User Manual page 8

CHARGING A LiPo/Li-Ion/LiFe BATTERY
The Radient Ascend charger supports charging of LiFe, Li-Ion and LiPo batteries, however since the process of charging these batteries is very
similar, we will walk through the steps of charging a common LiPo battery which can then be applied to the charging of a LiFe or Li-Ion with the
substitution of functions (and voltages displayed below) being used on the charger. Both of these batteries charge using Constant-Current Constant-
Voltage (CC-CV) charge mode for 2s-3s cell configurations with available charge current range from 0.1-6 Amps.
› NOTE: Your charger is equipped with both a capacity based and time based safety shut-off timer set to 120min. Charging of batteries
with capacity higher than 5000mAh, or charging batteries at less than 1C may require a greater charge time and thus require more
than one charge cycle to achieve full charge. It is always recommended to allow your battery to cool to room temperature before
charging either the first or second time.
To charge a LiPo battery in CC-CV charge mode, perform the following steps:
1. Connect your LiPo battery's balance plug connector to either the JST-XH (2s or 3s) balance port built into the charger or into a connected
external balance adapter board (RDNA0003 for example).
a. NOTE: Charging of LiPo batteries in LiPo mode without connecting the balance connector is not supported As an added feature to our
Safe Start technology, if a balance plug is detected by the charger, use of the NiMH or NiCd charge modes are disabled and cannot
be circumvented.
2. Connect the main charging leads to your battery.
a. NOTE: it is critical that the battery always be connected with the correct polarity, Negative (-) = Black, and Positive (+) = Red. Only
connect Like color and symbol together.
3. Use the Up/Down scroll buttons to select the "LiPo Charge" function form the LCD menu and press "Enter".
a. WARNING: Selecting the appropriate charge mode is critical to the safe charging of your batteries.
Using a charge mode other for a battery type other than specified may lead to fire or explosion. Always
read your labels carefully to ensure you have the correct information about your battery for setting your
charger.
i. Note: Although you may select charge currents up to 6A, the maximum final charge current may be reduced as needed to
keep the charger operating within safe limits. Typically this occurs when charging a 3s LiPo at 6A.
ii. Utilizing this method of charge current control enables the charger to always try to charge your battery as close as possible
to the setting you specify, while keeping the system within safe operating limits.
4. By default your charger comes in Capacity mode for setting the charge rate.
a. Locate the capacity rating on your battery pack and use the Up/Down scroll buttons to select the capacity value closest to (but not
greater than) the number listed on your battery pack and press "Enter".
i. To achieve the safest operating conditions and longest life from your batteries it is recommended
to charge your batteries at no more than 1C. See the Index at the back of this manual for charge
rate calculations.
5. The charger will now calculate the maximum appropriate charge rate for the information you have entered and ask you to confirm the
calculation of charge rate and battery type is as you expect.
a. NOTE: The charger will calculate the maximum based on the battery voltage, input power source and number of cells detected.
b. If you notice an error on the confirmation screen, you can press the Back/Cancel button to go back and correct the problem.
6. When the settings have been verified as correct, press and hold the "Enter" button for 3 seconds to begin the charge cycle.
a. The charger will perform an error checking process and once all is confirmed OK, the charge will begin. You can now monitor the
charge status on the LCD screen and notice CC in the upper left hand corner of the screen indicating the charger is in Constant
Current mode. Press "Enter" for more charge information.
7. Near the end of charge completion the LCD screen will display CV indicating it has switched to Constant Voltage mode, the battery is typi-
cally 80% charged at this point.
8. When the charge is complete, the audio alarm will sound (Press "Enter" to silence the alarm) and the LCD screen will display "Charge
Complete" and present you with the charge summary data. Use the Up/Down scroll buttons to view the charge summary.
9. Press the Back/Cancel button to return to the beginning of the menu or STOP the charge at any time.
8
MULTI-CHEMISTRY AC/DC PEAK DETECTION BALANCE CHARGER
01). Example: A 3s LiPo may start to charge at 6A but as the voltage of the battery increases the charge current will
reduce to approximately 4A.