Duratrax Piranha Digital Peak User Manual
Included with this instruction manual is a quick reference menu
flowchart which shows how the entire program structure for the
Piranha Digital Peak Charger is designed. Retain this flowchart
for reference when reading this manual and for future use.
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AC/DC convenience is great for use at home or at the track!
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Peak charges 1–8-cell NiCd or NiMH packs.
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Peak charge current adjustable from 0.1 to 5.0 amps (3.0A
maximum with AC input).
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Automatic charge mode feature automatically charges
batteries if specific charge settings are not pre-set.
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Adjustable peak detection sensitivity or “threshold” from 3mV –
20mV, to custom match the charger to specific batteries.
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Adjustable trickle charge rates 0, 100mA, 200mA.
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Two-line, 8 character LCD for easy programming and data
display.
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Displays battery voltage, peak detection mV, charge time,
current, and capacity.
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Displays errors for improper input voltage, poor battery
connections, and reverse polarity on the output.
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Store pre-set charge parameters in memory for multiple
batteries.
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Multiple sound cues and melodies.
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Microprocessor controlled intelligence and reliability.
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Solid-state reverse polarity and short circuit protection on input
and output.
Input Voltage: 110V AC 60Hz, 11-15V DC
Compatible Cell Types:
nickel-cadmium (NiCd),
nickel-metal hydride (NiMH)
Cell Counts: 1-8 cells
Peak Charge Rate: 0.1-5.0A, 3.0A maximum w/AC input
Charge Rate Increments: 0.1A (100mA)
Fast Charge Termination: zero delta peak
Trickle Charge Rate: 0, 100mA, 200mA selectable
Display Type: 2-line, 8 character LCD
Sound Cues: individual tones and pre-set melodies
Memory Pre-sets: store parameters for 10 battery packs
Output Connectors: spring loaded terminals
Case Size: 5 x 3.4 x 5.5" (127 x 86 x 140mm)
Weight: 2.94 lb (1335g)
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Do not charge battery types other than nickel-cadmium (NiCd)
or nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries.
Damage may occur from other types of batteries.
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Do not connect AC and DC power sources to the charger
simultaneously.
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Do not attempt to charge batteries at excessive fast charge
currents.
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Do not use automotive type battery chargers to power the
charger.
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Do not leave the charger unattended while charging.
Disconnect the battery and remove input power from
charger immediately if the charger becomes hot. Allow the
charger or battery to cool down before reconnecting.
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Do not allow water, moisture or foreign objects into the
charger.
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Do not place the battery or charger on or near a flammable
object while in use. Keep away from carpets, cluttered
workbenches, etc.
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Do not cover the air intake holes on the charger as this could
cause the charger to overheat.
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Always disconnect charger from power source when not
in use.
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Adult supervision required when used by a child.
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Do not attempt to charge A, AA, AAA or smaller batteries
above 1A rate.
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Do not connect the battery to the supplied connector until it
has been “locked’ into the charger.
The Piranha Digital Peak Charger is capable of
charging both nickel-cadmium (NiCd) and nickelmetal hydride (NiMH) battery chemistries, as
identified by this symbol. Look exclusively for
battery chargers with this symbol to handle both
NiCd and NiMH charging needs.
While similar in appearance to sub-C NiCd batteries and having
the same 1.2V rating per cell, NiMH cells contain a different
chemical makeup which requires different care and handling.
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Do not to allow NiMH batteries to overheat at any time.
Heat can adversely affect the performance of NiMH batteries.
If overheating is observed, disconnect the battery from the
charger immediately and allow to cool!
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Do not deep cycle NiMH batteries as permanent damage
could result.
IMPORTANT CARE & HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS
FOR NIMH BATTERIES
IMPORTANT PRECAUTIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIAL FEATURES
Congratulations on your purchase of the Piranha Digital Peak Charger by DuraTrax! Designed for peak detection charging of nickel-cadmium (NiCd) and nickelmetal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries, the Piranha Digital Peak Charger offers programming flexibility normally found in expensive, upper-end
computerized chargers - at an amazingly affordable price! It’s great for batteries containing from 1 to 8 cells, with fully adjustable fast charge current, peak
detection sensitivity and trickle charge rates, and the addition of a custom 2-line LCD for displaying a wide variety of battery and charge data. The Piranha
Digital Peak Charger is an unbeatable value in today’s market, and another great choice from DuraTrax, The Leader in Awesome R/C!
™
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NiMH cells do not exhibit the “memory effect” like NiCd cells,
so little cycling is needed.
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Store NiMH packs with some voltage remaining on the cells.
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Use a NiMH battery pack no more than three cycles per day,
with a two to three hour break in-between for cooling. More
frequent use is likely to overheat the pack.
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NiMH cells have a self-discharge rate of approximately 2025% (compared to 15% for NiCd batteries). Thus, if NiMH
batteries have been inactive for more than a few days it is
important to recharge them immediately prior to use.
To use a 12V DC battery or power supply for input power, attach
the charger’s red alligator clip to the positive (+) terminal on the
battery or power supply, and the black alligator clip to the negative
(-) terminal. It’s best to use a “clean” DC power source whose
output is filtered to remove unwanted electrical noise. To achieve
the maximum potential with this charger, the source battery must
be capable of delivering at least 6 amps of current while
maintaining 12V DC.
To use 110V AC for input power, connect the black AC plug to a
regular 110V wall outlet.
When input power is applied, the charger will automatically detect
the input voltage level to determine if it is adequate for operation.
The error message “Input V Error” will be displayed if the AC or
DC input voltage is too high or too low. Double-check the power
source at this time to determine what problem might exist.
WARNING! Never connect the DC input leads to any power
source simultaneously with AC input, as permanent damage
to your charger may result!
The Piranha Digital Peak Charger contains 10 memory selections
(numbered from 0 to 9), whereby different charge configurations
for 10 different types of batteries can be stored. Once
configurations are set into memory, this convenient feature makes
it extremely easy to switch from charging one battery type to
another without having to re-configure the charger each time.
When power is applied to the charger, the LCD will show the
LAST memory setting used. This will be referred to as the “default
display.” The memory number will show between the arrows on
the top line of the display, such as < 1 >. To help identify the
proper memory selection all charge configurations will
automatically scroll on the bottom line of the LCD while sorting
through each memory selection. If the default memory selection
is NOT appropriate for the next battery to be charged, select the
appropriate memory to match the battery, as follows:
1. Briefly push the middle ENTER button marked as “E”. The
memory number on the top line of the LCD will begin to flash. Do
not hold the enter button. This will cause the charger to begin
charging.
2. Scroll up or down through the memory selections 0 - 9 by pressing
(+) or (-
).
3. Press ENTER once the proper memory selection has been
located, which will be confirmed as the memory number will stop
flashing.
Follow these steps to configure a memory setting:
1. While the charger shows the default display, press the (+)
button to access the “BATT SETUP” menu.
2. Briefly press ENTER.The “BAT. TYPE” setting will be displayed.
Press the (+) or (-) buttons to set either “NiCd” or “NiMH” to match
the exact chemistry of the battery to be charged. This tells the
charger exactly how to identify peak charge for the battery to be
charged. Press ENTER to confirm the setting.
3. For “CAPACITY,” press (+) or (-) to set the charge input capacity
to the desired mAh (milli-amp hour) level. This selection ranges
from 50mA to 5000mA, in increments of 50mA. Press ENTER to
confirm the chosen setting. The uses for this feature are as
follows:
a. This can be used as a safety feature. If, for some reason,
a battery never reaches peak, this feature tells the charger
to terminate fast charge after this pre-set level of input
capacity has been delivered to the battery.
b. Many NiMH cell manufacturers recommend to leave a
partial charge on a battery before putting it in storage for
an indefinite period of time. Adjusting this capacity level
setting before charging to a pre-determined percentage of
the battery’s maximum rated capacity, will automatically
supply partial charge to the battery.
c. If this capacity setting is too low, the battery will not likely
receive full charge. Conversely, if capacity setting is too
high, it may not provide ample overcharge protection if
the charger fails to recognize peak charge on the
battery.
d. To bypass the capacity feature, set the capacity level to
maximum, or 5000mAh. Caution must be used in doing
so as the charger must not be left unattended.
e. If the battery’s rated capacity is not known or listed, consult
your supplier to get the exact specifications for the battery.
4. The “CURRENT” setting determines how much current is to be
delivered to the battery during peak charge. Press (+) or (-) to
choose the desired charge current in amps. This selection ranges
from 0.1 amp (100mA) to 5.0amps, in increments of 0.1A. Once
the desired charge current is selected, press ENTER to confirm
the setting.
If the 5.0A selection is exceeded, the display will advance to the
“Auto” setting. Here, the charger will detect the internal resistance
of the battery being charged every 1 minute and automatically
adjust the charge current to properly match the battery. In
addition, while in the “Auto” setting, if the battery type (selected
earlier in the instructions) was set as “NiCd” the charger will
automatically set the peak detection sensitivity level (see below)
to 3mV. If the load battery selection is “NiMH,” the charger will
automatically set the peak sensitivity level to 5mV.
Note: When 110V AC input power is used, the maximum charge
current will be approximately 3.0A even if the display setting for
charge current is set above 3.0A. Full charge current can be
delivered with proper DC input power.
WARNING! Do not set the charge current too high for the
battery to be charged! This could result in overheating of the
battery, and lead to bodily harm or permanent damage to the
battery and/or the charger.
5. The “∆ PEAK” or “delta peak” setting determines the charger’s
sensitivity level for detecting peak charge of a battery. This is
CONFIGURING EACH MEMORY SETTING
SELECTING A MEMORY SETTING
INPUT POWER
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