HITEC X1 Pro DC-DC User Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction .............................................................................. 3

Warnings and Safety Notes ......................................................4

Charger Layout .......................................................................10

Specications ..........................................................................11

Features ...................................................................................12

Power Supply Connections ....................................................15

Battery Connections ...............................................................16

Operating the X1 Pro ..............................................................17

Lithium ....................................................................................18

Charge Mode ................................................................................... 18

Balance Charge Mode .................................................................. 20

Fast Charge Mode .......................................................................... 22

Storage Mode .................................................................................. 24

Discharge Mode ............................................................................. 26

NiCd/NiHM ..............................................................................29

Charge Mode ................................................................................... 29

Auto Charge Mode ........................................................................ 30

Discharge Mode ............................................................................. 31

Re-Peak Mode ................................................................................. 32

Cycle Mode ....................................................................................... 33

Pb (Lead Acid) .........................................................................35

Charge Mode ................................................................................... 35

Discharge Mode ............................................................................. 37

Charge Master .........................................................................38

Battery Memory ...................................................................... 39

Lithium Battery Meter ............................................................41

System Setup ..........................................................................42

Warnings and Error Messages ...............................................45

Warranty and Service .............................................................46

2

INTRODUCTION

We are excited that you have selected the Hitec X1 Pro battery bal­ance charger and discharger. Capable of charging all battery types
including Lithium, NiCd/NiMH and Lead-Acid chemistries with a
tremendous 230-watt charge amperage rate, this professional char­ger is innovatively designed and engineered, providing a safe and
reliable performance. Take charge of your hobby with Hitec!

Please read this entire operating manual before using the X1 Pro
Charger. If you are unsure of its proper operation after reading the
manual, please seek advice from an experienced hobbyist or some­one familiar with proper battery charging procedures.

THE CHARGING AND DISCHARGING OF RC HOBBY
BATTERIES CAN BE DANGEROUS. FAILURE TO FOL

Warning

LOW THESE EXPLICIT WARNINGS CAN RESULT IN
PROPERTY DAMAGE AND/OR LOSS OF LIFE.

A NEVER LEAVE YOUR CHARGER UNATTENDED WHILE IN OPERA-

TION.

A NEVER CHARGE ON OR AROUND COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS.
A NEVER CHARGE A DAMAGED BATTERY PACK.
A LOW COST, NO-NAME BATTERY PACKS POSE THE MOST DAN-

GER. WE RECOMMEND YOU ONLY USE BATTERY PACKS THAT
ARE SOLD AND WARRANTIED BY A REPUTABLE COMPANY.

A IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU UTILIZE A SAFETY DE-

VICE SUCH AS A STEEL CASE OR LiPo SACK™ WHILE CHARGING
LITHIUM CHEMISTRY BATTERIES.

A IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU KEEP AN OPERABLE

“CLASS A” FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN THE CHARGING AREA.

3

INTRODUCTION (cont.)

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE WARNINGS CAN BE CONSID
ERED NEGLIGENCE BY THE OPERATOR AND MAY NEGATE
ANY CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES INCURRED.

Hitec RCD USA will not be held responsible for any damages or
injuries that may occur by persons who fail to follow these warn­ings or who fail to properly follow the instructions in this manual.

WARNINGS AND SAFETY NOTES

Warning: Be sure to read this section for

your own safety.

Warning

Tip

Caution: Be sure to read this section to pre-

vent accidents and damage to your charger.

Tip: This section will help you maximize the
performance of your charger.

Note

Caution

Note: This section will provide more detailed

explanations.

These warnings and safety notes are of the utmost importance.
You must follow these instructions for maximum safety. Failure to
do so can damage the charger and the battery and, in the worst
cases, may cause a re.

NEVER LEAVE THE CHARGER UNATTENDED WHEN
IT IS CONNECTED TO ITS POWER SOURCE. IF ANY

Warning

MALFUNCTION IS FOUND, TERMINATE THE PRO
CESS IMMEDIATELY AND REFER TO THE OPERA
TION MANUAL.

4

WARNINGS AND SAFETY NOTES

A The allowable DC input voltage is 11-18V DC.
A Keep the charger away from dust, damp, rain, heat, direct

sunlight and excessive vibration.

A If the charger is dropped or suers any type of impact, it

should be inspected by an authorized service station before
using it again.

A This charger and the battery should be put on a heat-resis-

tant, non-ammable and non-conductive surface.

A Never place a charger on a car seat, carpet or similar surface.

Keep all ammable, volatile materials away from the operat­ing area.

A Verify the specications of the battery to be charged or dis-

charged to ensure it meets the requirements of this charger.
If the program is set up incorrectly, the battery and charger
can be damaged.

A Fire or explosion can occur due to overcharging.
A To avoid a short circuit between the charge lead, always con-

nect the charge cable to the charger before connecting the
battery. Reverse the sequence when disconnecting.

A Never attempt to charge or discharge the following types of

batteries:

• A battery tted with an integral charge circuit or a

protection circuit

5

WARNINGS AND SAFETY NOTES (cont.)

• A battery pack which consists of dierent types of cells

(including dierent manufacturer’s cells)

• A battery that is already fully charged or just slightly

discharged

• Any non-rechargeable batteries (these pose an explo-

sion hazard)

• A faulty or damaged battery

• Batteries installed in a device or which are electrically

linked to other components

• Batteries that are not expressly stated by the manufac-

turer to be suitable for the currents the charger delivers
during the charge process

PLEASE BEAR IN MIND THE FOLLOWING POINTS BEFORE
YOU COMMENCE CHARGING:

• Did you select the appropriate program suitable for the type

of battery you are charging?

• Did you set up the adequate current for charging or discharg-

ing?

• Have you checked the battery voltage? Lithium battery packs

can be wired in parallel and in series, i.e. a 2-cell pack can be

3.7V (in parallel) or 7.4V (in series).

• Have you checked that all connections are rm and secure?

• Make sure there are no intermittent contacts at any point in

the circuit.

6

WARNINGS AND SAFETY NOTES (cont.)

Standard Battery Parameters

Nominal Voltage

Max. Charge Voltage

Storage Voltage

Min. Discharge Voltage

Warning

LiPo LiIon LiFe N iCd NiMH Pb

3.7V/cell 3.6V/cell 3.3V/cell 1.2V/cell 1.2V/cell 2.0V/cell

4.2V/cell 4.1V/cell 3.6V/cell 1.5V/cell 1.5V/cell 2.46V/cell

3.8V/cell 3.7V/cell 3.3V/cell n/a n/a n/a

3.0-3.3V/cell 2.9-3.2V/cell 2.6-2.9V/cell 0.1-1.1V/cell 0.1-1.1V/cell 1.8V/cell

WHEN ADJUSTING YOUR X1 PRO CHARGING
PARAMETERS, BE SURE YOU SELECT THE PROPER
BATTERY TYPE AND CELL VOLTAGE FOR THE TYPE
OF CELL YOU ARE CHARGING. CHARGING BATTER
IES UNDER THE WRONG SETTINGS MAY CAUSE THE

CELLS TO BURST, CATCH FIRE OR EXPLODE.

Charging

Before charging your batteries, it is critical that you determine
the maximum allowable charge rate for your batteries. The X1 Pro
is capable of charging at high rates that may not be suitable or
safe for your particular batteries. For example, Lithium cells are
typically safe to charge at 1C, or the total mAh÷1000. A 1200mAh
battery would have a 1C charge rate of 1.2 amps. A 4200mAh bat­tery would have a 1C charge rate of 4.2 amps. Some manufactur­ers are oering Lithium cells that can be charged at greater than
1C but this should ALWAYS be veried before charging a Lithium
battery at rates higher than 1C. Voltage is just as critical as the
charging amperage rate and this is determined by the number of
cells in series, or “S”. For example, a 3S LiPo is rated at 11.1 volts (“S”
multiplied by a single LiPo cell with a nominal voltage of 3.7 volts
DC. 3 cells x 3.7 volts each equals 11.1 volts DC).

Connect the battery’s main leads to the charger output: red is
positive and black is negative. Keep in mind that the gauge or
thickness of your charging leads from the X1 Pro to your battery
must be of an acceptable current rating to handle the applied

7

WARNINGS AND SAFETY NOTES (cont.)

charge current. For maximum safety and charging eectiveness,
always match or exceed the main battery lead rating when as­sembling or selecting your charging leads. If you charge a battery
at a high current rate (amperage) with a charging lead not rated
for the chosen amperage, the wire could get hot, catch re, short
out and/or potentially destroy your battery and the charger. When
in doubt, always use a higher gauge wire (lower AWG number). It
is common to see charging leads constructed of 14AWG, 16AWG
or 18AWG wire.

Always refer to recommendations from your battery manufacturer
for your specic battery type and size before initiating a charge or
discharge process.

Do not attempt to disassemble or modify Lithium or Lead­Acid battery packs.

8

WARNINGS AND SAFETY NOTES (cont.)

Discharging

The X1 Pro discharging functions have two specic purposes:

• Refreshing the capacity of a Nickel-based battery that has lost

capacity over time (NiMH or NiCd).

• Reducing the voltage of a Lithium battery for safe storage.

LITHIUM CHEMISTRY BATTERY PACKS SHOULD
ONLY BE DISCHARGED TO THEIR MINIMUM SAFE
VOLTAGE, NO LOWER. DEEP DISCHARGING A

Warning

LiPo Charge/Discharge Cycling

Lithium batteries are known to reach full capacity after a break-in
period of about 10 charge/discharge cycles. We do not recom­mend you use the X1 Pro Charger to do this, normal use and
recharging will achieve the same results. If you wish to perform
a Lithium break-in on the bench with the X1 Pro, discharging to
minimum acceptable voltages and performing a balance charge
at 1C maximum rate is recommended. If you choose to break in
your Lithium batteries under normal use, charging at only 1C for
the rst ten cycles will help ensure full performance and service
life from your Lithium cells.

LITHIUM CELL WILL DO PERMANENT DAMAGE.
REFER TO THE STANDARD BATTERY PARAMETERS
TABLE ON PAGE 7 OF THIS MANUAL FOR MINIMUM
DISCHARGE VOLTAGES.

9

CHARGER LAYOUT

1. X1 Pro Charger

2. Balance Adaptor

3. Balancing Board

LCD Display

Joystick

10

4. DC Input Power Cable

5. 18AWG Wire Charging Cable

6. 2S LiPo Hardcase Charging Lead

DC Input 11-18V
(XT60 Type)

Balance Socket

Temp. Sensor

Charging Output

CHARGER LAYOUT

Smart

Cooling Fan

Micro USB Port

DC Input 11-18V

for PC Control and

Firmware Upgrade

SPECIFICATIONS

Input Voltage Range 11~18 Volts DC

Charge Circuit Power 180 Watts

Disharge Circuit Power 30 Watts

Charge Current Range 0.1-16.0 Amps

Discharge Current Range 0.1-8.0 Amps

LiPo, LiFe & LiIon Balancing
Current Drain

LiPo, LiFe & LiIon Cell Count 1 - 6 Cells

Maximum NiCd/NiMh Cell Count 1 - 15 Cells

Lead Acid (Pb) Cells / Voltage 2 - 20 Volts

Dimensions (W x D x H) 3.6 x 4.4 x 2.0 Inches

Weight 14.3 Ounces

200mA per Cell

11

FEATURES FEATURES (cont.)

Compact and Unique Design

The X1 Pro is a super-compact, portable charging system with a
unique design that incorporates a joystick input device for very
simple operation.

Two DC Inputs

There are two DC inputs, one located on the right side of the char­ger and the other on the bottom for docking into the ePowerBox
17A (230W 13.8V Switch DC Power Supply - Part No. 44216).

Optimized Operating Software

The X1 Pro “AUTO” feature sets the charge and discharge current
for you automatically, preventing overcharging which can damage
your battery. In the event of an error, the X1 Pro instantly discon­nects the circuit and sounds an alarm. This feature can be set by
the user and controlled through the two-way link for maximum
safety.

Internal Independent Lithium Battery Balancer

The X1 Pro features a built-in cell voltage balancer eliminating the
fuss of external balancers while charging.

Balancing Individual Cells During Discharging

The X1 Pro also monitors and balances each cell in the pack
individually while discharging. If the voltage of any single cell is
abnormal, the X1 Pro will display an error message and the pro­cess will end automatically.

Adaptable to Various Types of Lithium Batteries

The X1 Pro will charge and discharge a variety of Lithium batteries
such as Li-ion, LiPo and the new LiFe series of batteries.

12

FEATURES (cont.)

Fast and Storage Mode of Lithium Batteries

The X1 Pro features two styles of charging. “Fast” charge reduces
the charge duration while “Store” controls the nal voltage of
your battery to optimize your packs for long term storage and
maximum lifespan.

Cyclic Charging/Discharging

A battery can be cycled 1 to 5 times consecutively. This process is
good for refreshing and balancing your battery.

Battery Memory

For your convenience, the X1 Pro will store the data pertaining
to a specic charge program for up to 10 batteries. The ability to
save and load these settings for a specic battery saves the user
lots of time.

Terminal Voltage Control (TVC)

The charger allows the user to set the charge/discharge end voltage.

THIS IS FOR ADVANCED USERS ONLY. NEVER

EXCEED THE BATTERY MANUFACTURER'S

Warning

RECOMMENDATIONS.

LiPo Battery Meter

The user can check a battery’s total voltage, the highest voltage,
the lowest voltage and each cell’s voltage.

Re-Peak Mode of NiMH/NiCd Battery

In Re-Peak Charge mode, the charger can peak charge the bat­tery 1-3 times consecutively. This is good for making certain the
battery is fully charged and for checking how well the battery
receives fast charges.

13

FEATURES (cont.) POWER SUPPLY CONNECTIONS

Delta-Peak Sensitivity for NiMH/NiCd

This automatic charge termination program is based on the prin­ciple of delta-peak voltage detection. When the battery’s voltage
exceeds the threshold, the charging process will be terminated
automatically.

Automatic Charging Current Limit

The charging current can be set by the user when charging NiCd
or NiMH batteries. The "AUTO" charging mode, however, is recom­mended when charging NiMH batteries with low impedance and
capacity.

Capacity Limit

The charging capacity is always calculated as the charging current
multiplied by time. The charging process will terminate automati­cally if the charging capacity exceeds the limit set by the user.

Temperature Threshold

The battery’s internal chemical reaction will cause the tempera­ture of the battery to rise. The charging process will terminate
automatically if the charger’s temperature exceeds the limit set by
the user.

Processing Time Limit

Protect your battery by setting a maximum time limit for charging
and discharging.

PC Control Software “Charge Master”

The free “Hitec Charge Master” software gives you unparalleled
ability to operate the charger through your PC. You can monitor
pack voltage, cell voltage and other data during charging and
view charge data in real-time graphs. You can also initiate pro­cesses, control charging and update  rmware .

14

POWER SUPPLY CONNECTIONS

This charger is powered by an 11-18V DC power source. There are
two pairs of DC input sockets: one is used for the connection of a
DC power cord (XT60 type connector) and is located on the right
side of the charger, while the other is used for docking into the
ePowerBox 17A Power Supply and is located on the bottom of
the charger. This socket accepts banana plug type connectors. To
utilize the charger’s absolute maximum power capabilities, the DC
power source must be capable of delivering at least 17 amps while
maintaining 12V DC.

XT60 Connector plugged
directly into charger

Bullet connectors plugged
directly into power supply.

X1 Pro

Dual
Banana
Plugs

ePowerBox 17A

15