Hobby People activator 50 User Manual

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

The Activator 50 Multi-Chemistry Intelligent Charger is a high-performance, micro processor controlled charger with built-in Lithium cell balancer. The Activator 50 is suitable for charging Li-Io, Li-Po, Li-Fe, Ni-Cd, Ni-MH and Pb (Lead Acid) batteries from an 11 to 18V DC or 100 to 240V AC power source. With a maximum internal circuit output power of 50W and a variable charge current of up to 6.0A, the Activator 50 is a versatile and easy-to-use charger that works with most batteries used in the hobby today. The Activator 50 also has cycling capability and can also discharge. XH balance ports are built-in, so balancing Lithium packs is easy. And of course, other balance adapters are available if needed. Also available separately is a temperature sensor for added security, giving you the ability to monitor your battery’s temperature during the charging or discharging process.

USER’S GUIDE

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

TAblE Of COnTEnTS

Service and Support ..................................................2

Package Contents .......................................................3

Detailed Features.....................................................3-5

Overview ......................................................................5-7

Warnings and Safety Notes ...............................7-9

Connections ............................................................ 9-10

Pro Tips ..........................................................................10

Programming Flow Chart .....................................11

Navigating Programming Menus ..................... 12

Initial User Parameter Setup .........................12-17

If you should have trouble with any of the information listed in this User's Guide, or if you require additional information or help with this product, please contact Customer Service at the address below:

Global Services

18480 Bandilier Circle

Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Phone: (714) 963-0329

Fax: (714) 964-6236

Email: service@globalhobby.net

SERVICE AnD SUppORT

Lithium Internal Resistance Testing ..........17-18

Lithium Battery Programming ......................18-26

Ni-Cd/Ni-MH Battery Programming..........26-31

Pb (Lead Acid) Battery Programming ......31-33

Save/Load Programming Data ...................33-35

Process Information ..........................................35-36

Error Messages ....................................................36-37

Blank Programming Data Sheets.....................38

Warranty and Liability Information ................... 39

Warranty Service Information............................. 39

WARNING! PLEASE READ BEFORE USE!

Please read this entire User’s Guide prior to operating your new charger. It contains all the information pertaining to your charger’s correct and safe use. Using your charger as intended and in a safe manner will ensure your safety and help prevent possible damage to your charger or batteries. Selecting the correct parameters for your specific battery is the sole responsibility of the user. Incorrect parameter selections or incorrect use can result in damage to your batteries or to your charger.

The Activator 50 Multi-Chemistry Intelligent Charger is not intended for use by persons under 14 years of age, unless closely supervised by an adult. Before using your new charger, read and understand the

Warnings and Safety Notes

section on pages 7 through 9. You should also read and understand any warning information provided with your batteries.

Keep this User’s Guide in a safe place for future reference.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

pACKAGE COnTEnTS

Before using your Activator 50 Multi-Chemistry Intelligent Charger, make sure that all the required accessories are included. This is also a good time to become acquainted with these various accessories.

• 1 PC. Activator 50 Multi-Chemistry Intelligent Charger

• 1 PC. AC Input Power Cord

• 1 PC. DC Input Power Cord w/Two Plug-In Alligator Clips

• 1 PC. Output Power Adapter Cord (4mm Banana to Male T-Connector)

• 1 PC. Adapter Cord for Pb (Lead Acid) (T-Connector to Alligator Clips)

• 1 PC. Adapter Cord for Ni-Cd/Ni-MH (T-Connector to Male Tamiya Connector)

• 1 PC. Adapter Cord for Receiver (T-Connector to Female Receiver Connector)

• 1 PC. Adapter Cord for Receiver Alternate (T-Connector to Female JST Connector)

• 1 PC. Adapter Cord for Ni-Starter (T-Connector to Male Glow Plug Connector)

DETAIlED fEATURES

The Activator 50 Multi-Chemistry Intelligent Charger is a high-performance, micro processor controlled charger with built-in Lithium cell balancer. It’s a versatile and easy-to-use charger that works with most batteries used in the hobby today.

Optimized Operating Software:

When charging or discharging batteries, an AUTO function sets the feed current automatically. For Lithium batteries especially, this can help prevent over-charging that can potentially lead to an explosion. Every program in the charger is controlled with specialized software to detect almost any error, providing maximum safety. If desired, charging and discharging parameters can be manually programmed, giving the user more control over the process.

High-Power and High Performance Circuit:

The charger features a maximum output power of 50 watts. As a result, it can charge or discharge up to 15 cell Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries and up to 6 cell (in series) Lithium batteries with a maximum current of 6.0 amps. In addition, an efficient auto-on cooling fan allows the charger to hold that power without any trouble running the CPU or operating programs.

Accepts Various Types of Lithium Battery:

The charger can accept three different types of Lithium battery: Li-Io (Lithium Ion), Li-Po (Lithium Polymer) and Li-Fe (Lithium Phosphate). They have different characteristics according to their chemistry and require different parameters for charging and discharging. You can select any one of them and the associated parameters as required.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

Integrated Cell Voltage Balancer for Lithium Batteries:

The charger features an integrated cell voltage balancer. This allows you to charge Lithium batteries without a separate cell balancer. The charger will automatically balance the individual cell voltages when charging Li-Io, Li-Po and Li-Fe batteries.

Ability to Check Lithium Battery Internal Resistance:

The internal resistance of a Lithium battery can indicate the battery’s condition and efficiency. The charger can measure the internal resistance of each cell in the Lithium battery when connected to the balance port of the charger. The relative internal resistance of each cell can indicate the condition of the cells, and over time, indicate deterioration.

Individual Cell Balancing During Discharge:

The charger can monitor and balance individual cells of a Lithium battery during the discharge process. If the voltage of any one cell varies abnormally, the process will be stopped with an error message.

Lithium Battery ‘Fast’ and ‘Storage’ Modes:

You can choose two special Lithium battery charge modes for special purposes. ‘Fast’ charge reduces the charging time of a Lithium battery and ‘Storage’ mode controls the final voltage of the battery destined for long term storage.

Data Store/Load:

Data storage and loading programs allow you to save up to 5 different battery data programming presets. Once saved, these presets can be loaded at a later time when needed. This allows you charge, discharge or cycle your batteries without the need to enter the programming values each time.

Cyclic Charging and Discharging:

The charger is capable of performing 1 to 5 cycles of charge-discharge or discharge-charge continually for battery refreshing.

Maximum Safety:

Delta-Peak Sensitivity - This automatic charge termination program works on the principle of the Delta-peak voltage detection when charging Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries.

Auto-Charge Current Limit - When charging Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries using ‘AUTO’ current mode, you can program the upper limit of the change current to avoid over-current charging. This is very useful when charging low impedance and small capacity batteries in ‘AUTO’ mode.

Capacity Limit - The charging capacity is always calculated by multiplying the

DETAIlED fEATURES

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

DETAIlED fEATURES

charge current by time. If the charging capacity exceeds the programmed limit, the process will be terminated automatically. This limit can be changed if required.

Temperature Limit - The temperature of the battery during charging will rise due to its internal chemical reaction. If you program a temperature limit, the charging process will be terminated when the limit has been reached. The optional temperature sensor (available separately) is required to use this function.

Processing Time Limit - You can limit the maximum process time (total charge time) to prevent any possible defect in the battery confusing your programming values.

Input Power Monitor - To protect the source battery from being damaged, the input voltage is always monitored. If it drops below the lower limit, the process will be terminated automatically.

Auto-On Cooling Fan - The cooling fan activates automatically when the internal temperature of the unit is raised.

• DC Input Voltage: 11 ~ 18V

• AC Input Voltage: 100 ~ 240V

• Charge Power Output: 50W

• Discharge Power: 5.0W

• Charge Current: 0.1 ~ 6.0A

OVERVIEw

• AC/DC Power Input In a Compact and Lightweight Design

• Charges Most Popular Hobby Batteries

• Built-In XH Balance Ports

• Temperature Sensor Capable (Available Separately)

• Built-In Auto-On Cooling Fan

• High-Performance, Digital, Intelligent Charging

• Charges, Discharges and Cycles

• Charges 1 to 6 Li-Io, Li-Po or Li-Fe Cells or 1 to 15 Ni-Cd or Ni-MH Cells

• Charges Pb (Lead Acid) Batteries from 2 to 20 Volts

fEATURES

SpECIfICATIOnS

Use the information in this section to familiarize yourself with your Activator 50 Multi-Chemistry Intelligent Charger.

• Discharge Current: 0.1 ~ 1.0A

• Li-Po Balancing Current: 300mA/Cell

• Ni-Cd/Ni-MH Cell Count: 1 ~ 15C

• Lithium Cell Count: 1 ~ 6C (Series)

• Pb (Lead Acid) Battery Voltage: 2 ~ 20V

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

OVERVIEw

AC Input Power Socket:

Used to power the charger from a 100 to 240V AC power source, using the supplied AC input power cord.

Batt Type/Stop Button:

Press to select upper level programming options or to stop the process.

Cooling Fan:

Helps keep the charger cool during the charging and discharging processes. The cooling fan features an auto-on function, so it turns on only when required. It will not run all the time.

DC Input Power Socket:

Used to power the charger from an 11 to 18V DC power source, using the supplied DC Input power cord and plug-in alligator clips.

LCD Screen:

Displays programming and process information on an easy-to-read 16 character, 2 line screen.

Output Power Sockets:

Used to charge Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, Lithium and Pb (Lead Acid) batteries, using the supplied output power adapter cord. The power output sockets accept 4mm banana connectors. Red is positive and black is negative.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

OVERVIEw

Start/Enter Button:

Press to start or resume the process.

Status/Dec/Inc Buttons:

Press to select lower level programming options or to increase or decrease programming values.

Temperature Sensor Port:

Allows you to monitor battery temperature during the charging or discharging process. The temperature sensor is available separately. For more information, see the

Connections

section on pages 9 and 10.

XH Balance Ports:

Used to balance charge 2 to 6 cell Lithium batteries that feature an XH balance connector. Balance adapter boards with different balance ports can be used and are available separately. For more information, see the

Optional Parts

section on page 9.

wARnInGS AnD SAfETy nOTES

These warnings and safety notes are important and must be followed closely. Please abide by this information, and follow the instructions in this User’s Guide closely for maximum safety, otherwise the charger and your battery may be severely damaged. Failure to follow these instructions can also result in fire, injury to your person or others, or loss of property.

• Only use the charger with the intended battery types. Do not attempt to charge or discharge any other type of battery.

• Observe any cautions and warnings included with your battery. This is especially true with Lithium batteries.

• Never leave the charger unsupervised when it’s connected to its power source. If any malfunction is observed, immediately terminate the process.

• Keep the charger away from moisture, dust, dirt, heat, direct sunlight and vibration. Do not drop it.

• The charger is designed to be powered by an 11 ~ 18V DC or 100 ~ 240V AC power source only. DO NOT CONNECT BOTH AT THE SAME TIME!

• Double-check all connections prior to starting the charge or discharge process.

• The charger and the battery to be charged (or discharged) should be placed on a heat-resistant, non-flammable and non-conductive surface. Never place them on a car seat, carpet or similar. Keep flammable and volatile materials well away from the operating area. When charging Lithium batteries, we suggest using a charging safety bag, available from most hobby retailers.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

wARnInGS AnD SAfETy nOTES

• Be sure to fully understand the information for the battery to be charged or discharged. If the programming values are incorrect, the battery can be severely damaged. Incorrect charging of Lithium batteries can cause a fire or explosion.

• Never charge a Lithium battery that is swollen in any way.

• To avoid short-circuits between the output power adapter cord connectors, always connect the adapter cord to the charger first and only then to the battery to be charged or discharged. Reverse the sequence when disconnecting.

• Carefully verify the capacity and voltage of your Lithium battery before charging or discharging it. It may be composed of mixed parallel and series connected cells. In parallel, the capacity of the battery is multiplied by the number of cells in parallel (2P means x2), but the voltage remains the same. The voltage imbalance possible in parallel packs can cause a fire or explosion during the charging process. We recommend using Lithium batteries in series cell

format only.

RECOmmEnDED SAfE CHARGInG-DISCHARGInG VAlUES

Ni-Cd/Ni-MH

Nominal Voltage Level

- 1.2V/Cell

Recommended Fast Charge Current

- 1C~2C, depending on the performance of the cell. Higher discharge batteries can charge at 2C. Slow discharge batteries (TX/RX, etc.) should be no more than 0.2C.

Discharge Voltage Cut-Off Level

- 0.85V/Cell (Ni-Cd), 1.0V/Cell (Ni-MH)

Nominal Voltage Level

- 3.6V/Cell

Maximum Charge Voltage - 4.1V/Cell

Recommended Fast Charge Current

- 1C or Less (0.5C recommended)

Discharge Voltage Cut-Off Level

- 3V/Cell or Higher

Nominal Voltage Level

- 3.7V/Cell

Maximum Charge Voltage - 4.1V/Cell

Recommended Fast Charge Current

- 1C or Less (0.5C recommended)

Discharge Voltage Cut-Off Level

- 3V/Cell or Higher

Nominal Voltage Level

- 3.3V/Cell

Maximum Charge Voltage - 3.6V/Cell

Recommended Fast Charge Current

- 3C or Less (0.5C recommended)

Discharge Voltage Cut-Off Level

- 2.5V/Cell or Higher

Nominal Voltage Level

- 2.0V/Cell

Maximum Charge Voltage - 2.46V/Cell

Recommended Fast Charge Current

- 0.4C or Less

Discharge Voltage Cut-Off Level

- 1.5V/Cell or Higher

C = X ÷ 1000 (Where X = Battery Capacity eg: 2200mAh)

Li-Io

(Lithium Ion)

Li-Po

(Lithium Polymer)

Li-Fe

(Lithium Phosphate)

(Lead Acid)

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

wARnInGS AnD SAfETy nOTES

Discharging is typically used to determine the residual capacity of the battery or to lower the voltage of the battery to a defined level. When you discharge the battery you should take as much care as when you charge it. To avoid the battery becoming deep-discharged, program the final discharge voltage correctly as described in the

Recommended Safe Charging-Discharging Values

chart on page 8.

Lithium batteries should never be deep-discharged to lower than the minimum voltage, as this leads to a rapid loss of capacity or total failure.

• Some rechargeable batteries are said to have a memory effect. If they are partly used and recharged before the whole charge is used, they ‘remember’ this and next time will only use that part of their capacity. This is referred to as ‘memory effect’. Ni-Cd batteries are said to suffer from memory effect. They prefer complete cycles. Fully charge them, then use them until empty. Do not fully recharge before storage. Allow them to self-discharge during storage and give them an occasional short charge to keep them above the 0.85V per cell minimum.

• Lithium batteries prefer a partial, rather than a full discharge. Frequent full discharges should be avoided if possible. Instead, charge the battery more often or use a larger battery. When storing a Lithium battery, we recommend using the charger’s Lithium Storage program.

• A brand-new Ni-Cd battery will not yield its full capacity until it has been subjected to 10 or more charge cycles. The cyclic process of charge and discharge will lead to optimized capacity.

DISCHARGInG

COnnECTIOnS

Use the information in this section to connect your Activator 50 Multi-Chemistry Intelligent Charger and battery. Failure to make the connections correctly can result in damage to the charger and/or your battery.

• 118520 Temperature Sensor

• 118521 TP/FP Adapter Board

• 118525 XH Wire Lead for Adaptor Boards

• 118526 Output Adapter Cord Set

• 118523 PQ-02 Adapter Board

• 118522 EH-02 Adapter Board

OpTIOnAl pARTS

The following parts can be purchased separately and used with your charger. For example, a temperature sensor is available that will display the current temperature of your battery during the charging process, and adapter boards are available for use with LiPo batteries that don’t feature XH balance connectors. For more information visit your local Hobby People retail store or our website at www.hobbypeople.net.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

1) Connect the charger to its power source, using either the AC input power cord or the DC input power cord and plug-in alligator clips.

When connecting to a DC power source, verify the polarity of the connectors carefully (red to positive, black to negative) before plugging the DC input

power cord into the charger.

COnnECTIOnS

COnnECTInG THE bATTERy

2) Plug the output power adapter cord into the power outputs of the charger, then plug your battery into the output power adapter cord. Depending on the connector on your battery, you may need to use one of the supplied adapter cords. If your Lithium battery features a balance connector, plug it into the correct balance port on the charger. If your battery does not feature an XH balance connector, an adaptor board can be used.

To avoid short-circuits between the output power adapter cord connectors,

always connect the adapter cord to the charger first and only then to the battery to be charged or discharged. Reverse the sequence when disconnecting. If you plug the battery into the output power adapter cord first and the output power adapter connectors touch each other, power from the battery will cause a short circuit if the output power adapter cord connectors touch.

• The charger will automatically stop the charging, discharging or cycling process when it detects the battery is fully charged or when it detects the battery is discharged to the programmed voltage. If you want to stop the charging, discharging or cycling process before its completed, press the STOP button.

• At any time during the charging or discharging process you can alter the charge or discharge current values. To do this, press the ENTER button. The current value will flash. Press the DEC or INC buttons to change the current value, then press the ENTER button again to store that new value.

• At any time during the charging or discharging process, more detailed information can be displayed by pressing the DEC or INC buttons.

pRO TIpS

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

pROGRAmmInG flOw CHART

Use this programming flow chart to familiarize yourself with the Activator 50 charger’s setup, charge, discharge and cycle programming menus.

When the charger is connected to a power source, the last active programming menu will be displayed.

TEST LIXX INTERNAL

RESISTANCE

*Press the STOP/DEC button at any time to return the current upper

level programming menu.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

nAVIGATInG pROGRAmmInG mEnUS

When the Activator 50 Multi-Chemistry Intelligent Charger is plugged in, the last active programing menu you were in will be displayed. To navigate through the various screens and make programming selections, use the four buttons on the charger’s front panel as described below.

Press to scroll forward through upper level programming menus. Press to return to the upper level programming menu after programming the lower level programming menu.

Press to scroll backward through upper level programming menus. Press to scroll backward through lower level programming menus. Press the to decrease programming values.

Press to scroll backward through upper level programming menus. Press to scroll forward through lower level programming menus. Press the to increase programming values.

Press to enter the selected upper level programming menu and display its lower level programming menus. Once in a lower level programming menu, press to select and store programming values.

fUnCTIOnbUTTOn nAmE

InITIAl USER pARAmETER SETUp

Prior to using your charger, you should program and verify the user parameters described in this section. For example, if you’re charging a Li-Po battery, you’ll need to program the battery type to Li-Po using the LIXX V.TYPE menu. In addition, there are a number of other parameters than can be user-defined, such as Ni-Cd and Ni-MH delta peak cut-off sensitivity, safety timers, audible key beeps and more.

1) Press the STOP or DEC buttons to scroll to the USER SET PROGRAM menu.

This menu controls the type of Lithium battery you’re going to charge. The nominal voltage of a Lithium battery varies based on the battery type.

There are three kinds of Lithium battery that can be charged: Li-Fe (3.3V), Li-Io (3.6V) or Li-Po (3.7V). Choose the type that matches the type of Lithium battery you’re going to charge.

lIXX V.TypE mEnU

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

2) Press the ENTER button. The voltage value will flash. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired Lithium battery type, then press the ENTER button again to store that value. Choose 3.3V for Li-Fe, 3.6V for Li-Io or 3.7V for Li-Po.

This setting is very important, so make sure you check your battery type carefully and select the correct program option. If you select the incorrect

program option, the battery can explode during the charging process!

lIXX V.TypE mEnU, COnTInUED....

InITIAl USER pARAmETER SETUp

1) Press the ENTER button to open the V.TYPE menu.

This menu controls the time limit the charger has to auto-detect the number of cells in your Lithium battery when it’s connected to the charger. The charger recognizes the cell count of a Lithium battery automatically at the beginning of the charge or discharge process to avoid incorrect settings by the user. Deeply discharged batteries can be perceived incorrectly. To prevent this kind of error, you can program the time interval to verify the cell count by the charger. Normally, 10 minutes is enough to perceive the cell count correctly. For batteries of larger capacity, you may extend the time interval, but if you program the time interval too long for small capacity batteries, the charge or discharge process can be finished within the time interval with an erroneous cell count. If the processor recognizes the cell count incorrectly at the beginning of the charge or discharge process, you may extend the time. Otherwise, you are advised to use the default value.

lI-pO, lI-IO, lI-fE CHK TImE mEnU

2) Press the ENTER button. The minutes value will flash. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired minutes value, then press the ENTER button again to store that value. Choose from 5 to 60 minutes.

• The default value is 10 minutes.

1) From within the USER SET PROGRAM menu, press the DEC or INC buttons to display the LI-PO/LI-IO/LI-FE CHK TIME menu.

This menu controls the trigger voltage for automatic charge termination of a Ni-MH battery. The effective value ranges from 5 to 20mV per cell. If the trigger voltage is programmed higher, there is a danger of overcharging the battery. If it is programmed lower, there is a possibility of premature termination. Please refer to the technical specification for your battery to determine the setting to use.

nI-mH SEnSITVITy D.pEAK mEnU

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

1) From within the USER SET PROGRAM menu, press the DEC or INC buttons to display the NIMH SENSITIVITY D.PEAK menu.

2) Press the ENTER button. The voltage value will flash. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired voltage value, then press the ENTER button again to store that value. Choose from Default or 5mV/Cell to 20mV/Cell.

• The default value is Default (7mV/Cell).

nI-mH SEnSITVITy D.pEAK mEnU, COnTInUED....

This menu controls the trigger voltage for automatic charge termination of a Ni-Cd battery. The effective value ranges from 5 to 20mV per cell. If the trigger voltage is programmed higher, there is a danger of overcharging the battery. If it is programmed lower, there is a possibility of premature termination. Please refer to the technical specification for your battery to determine the setting to use.

1) From within the USER SET PROGRAM menu, press the DEC or INC buttons to display the NICD SENSITIVITY D.PEAK menu.

• The default value is Default (12mV/Cell).

nI-CD SEnSITVITy D.pEAK mEnU

SAfETy TEmp CUT-Off mEnU

This menu controls the safe battery temperature cut-off function when used with the optional temperature sensor (available separately).

When the temperature sensor is plugged into the charger and the temperature probe is attached to the surface of your battery, the battery’s temperature will be monitored during the charging process. Once the battery’s temperature reaches the programmed temperature, the charging process will stop.

1) From within the USER SET PROGRAM menu, press the DEC or INC buttons to display the SAFETY TEMP CUT-OFF menu.

InITIAl USER pARAmETER SETUp

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

InITIAl USER pARAmETER SETUp

2) Press the ENTER button. The temperature value will flash. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired temperature value, then press the ENTER button again to store that value. Choose from 20ºC to 80ºC.

• The default value is 80ºC.

To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, use this equation: C=(F-32) x 5/9. To

convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, use this equation: F=(C x 9/5) + 32.

SAfETy TEmp CUT-Off mEnU, COnTInUED....

This menu controls the time delay in minutes between charge-discharge cycles. A battery on the cyclic process of charge and discharge can often become warm after a charge or discharge period. The program can insert a time delay to occur after each charge-discharge cycle to allow the battery adequate time to cool down before being subjected to the next charge-discharge cycle. This helps to prevent your battery from overheating and being damaged.

1) From within the USER SET PROGRAM menu, press the DEC or INC buttons to display the WASTE TIME menu.

• The default value is 5 minutes.

wASTE TImE mEnU

This menu controls the charger’s safety timer. When you start the charging process, the safety timer automatically starts running at the same time. The safety timer is programmed to prevent overcharging the battery if the battery proves to be faulty, or if the termination circuit cannot detect the battery as being fully charged. The value for the safety timer should be generous enough to allow a full charge of the battery.

The value you program will differ based on the capacity of the battery you’re

charging and how many amps you’re charging it at. For example, if you’re charging a 3000mAh Ni-MH battery at 3.0 amps, it will take approximately 1 hour to charge, therefore, program the safety timer value to approximately 90 minutes.

1) From within the USER SET PROGRAM menu,

press the DEC or INC buttons to display the SAFETY TIMER menu.

SAfETy TImER mEnU

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

2) Press the ENTER button. The ON/OFF value

will flash. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired value, either ON or OFF, then press the ENTER button again to store that value. The minutes value will flash.

3) Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired minutes value, then press

the ENTER button again to store that value. Choose from 10 to 720 minutes.

• The default values are ON and 120 minutes.

SAfETy TImER mEnU, COnTInUED....

InITIAl USER pARAmETER SETUp

This menu controls the charger’s capacity safety cut-off value. This feature sets the maximum charge capacity that will be supplied to the battery during charge. As an extra measure of safety, if the delta-peak voltage is not detected or if the safety timer fails for any reason, this feature will automatically stop the charging process at the selected capacity value.

CApACITy CUT-Off mEnU

2) Press the ENTER button. The ON/OFF value

will flash. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired value, either ON or OFF, then press the ENTER button again to store that value. The mAh value will flash.

3) Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired mAh value, then press the

ENTER button again to store that value. The minimum value is 10mAh.

• The default values are ON and 5000mAh.

We don’t recommend using a value that adds any more than 10% of your battery’s capacity.

1) From within the USER SET PROGRAM menu,

press the DEC or INC buttons to display the CAPACITY CUT-OFF menu.

This menu controls the charger’s audio functions. A key beep sounds each time you press one of the buttons to confirm your action. There is also an audible beep and/or melody sound at various times during operation to alert you to different mode changes, charging process completion, etc. These audible sounds can be turned ON or OFF.

1) From within the USER SET PROGRAM menu,

press the DEC or INC buttons to display the KEY BEEP - BUZZER menu.

KEy bEEp - bUzzER mEnU

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

2) Press the ENTER button. The key beep value

will flash. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired key beep value, then press the ENTER again to store that value. Choose from ON or OFF.

3) Press the ENTER button. The buzzer value will

flash. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired buzzer value, then press the ENTER button again to store that value. Choose from ON or OFF.

We recommend keeping the buzzer option ON to hear alerts during use.

• Key Beep and Buzzer default values are ON.

InITIAl USER pARAmETER SETUp

KEy bEEp - bUzzER mEnU, COnTInUED....

This menu controls the charger’s automatic input battery voltage cut-off limit. When charging from a DC power source, the charger monitors the voltage of the input battery (your DC power source). If the input battery’s voltage drops below the programmed value, the operation will be terminated to protect the integrity of the input battery. Please refer to the technical specification for your battery to determine the setting to use.

1) From within the USER SET PROGRAM menu,

press the DEC or INC buttons to display the INPUT POWER LOW CUT-OFF menu.

2) Press the ENTER button. The voltage value

will flash. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired voltage value, then press the ENTER button again to store that value. Choose from 10.0 to 11.0 volts.

• The default value is 10.0 volts.

InpUT pOwER lOw CUT-Off mEnU

lITHIUm InTERnAl RESISTAnCE TESTInG

The Lithium Internal Resistance Testing option allows you to check the internal resistance of a 2S to 6S Li-Po, Li-Io or Li-Fe battery. The internal resistance of a battery can indicate the battery’s condition and efficiency. The charger can measure the internal resistance of each cell in the Lithium battery when connected to the balance port of the charger. The relative internal resistance of each cell can indicate the condition of the cells, and over time, indicate deterioration.

The internal resistance measurement is only accurate if the Lithium battery

has been used at least once AND has been balance charged.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

lITHIUm bATTERy pROGRAmmInG

The Lithium Battery Programming menu is suitable for charging and discharging Lithium batteries with a nominal voltage of 3.3V (Li-Fe), 3.6V (Li-Io) and 3.7V (Li-Po) per cell. The charge technique, constant voltage (CV) and constant current (CC) methods, will differ based on the type of Lithium battery you’re charging. The charge current varies according to the battery capacity and performance. The final voltage of the charging process is also very important; it should be precisely matched with the specific maximum voltage of the battery type being charged. They are 4.2V for Li-Po, 4.1V for Li-Io, and 3.6V for Li-Fe. The charge current and nominal voltage programmed must always be correct for the battery to be charged.

lITHIUm InTERnAl RESISTAnCE TESTInG

1) Balance charge your Lithium battery following the steps in the

Lithium Battery

Balance Mode Charging

section on pages 20 through 21. After balance charging,

leave the battery connected to the charger.

4) When the test is complete, the current internal

resistance of each cell in the Lithium battery will be displayed in milli-ohms. The values displayed for each cell will not be exactly the same, but they should be close. The following can be determined by the test results:

Individual Cell Deterioration - If the value of one cell is more than 15% or more

greater than the average of the other cells, then that one cell is probably starting to fail. If you see this, cycle the battery one to two times at 0.5C or lower, then balance charge the battery at 0.5C and re-test.

Overall Battery Deterioration - When the Lithium battery is new, run the test

after the battery has been cycled 5 times (and balance charged). Record that data. After many uses, re-test and see how much the number has increased. When it increases significantly, the battery is probably starting to deteriorate. You can cycle the battery at 0.5C (or less) and test to see if capacity is starting to deteriorate too. In this case, the battery may need to be replaced.

Because this test is comparative and not absolute, it may vary from battery

to battery and charge to charge, and it will be different when compared to other charger brands. These variations are not an indication of a faulty battery or charger.

If desired, press the INC button to switch between viewing the current

internal resistance of the individual cells and a total of all cells.

2) Press the STOP or DEC buttons to scroll to the TEST LIXX INTERNAL RESISTANCE menu.

3) Press the START/ENTER button to begin the internal resistance test.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

Prior to plugging in your Lithium battery you MUST first select the type of

Lithium battery you’re going to be charging - either Li-Po, Li-Io or Li-Fe in the USER SET PROGRAM / V.TYPE menu. For example, if you’re going to charge a Li-Po battery, choose V.Type 3.7V LiPo. This setting is very important, so make sure you check your battery type carefully and select the correct program option. If you select the incorrect program option, the battery can explode during the charging process!

The procedure descriptions and menu screens shown in this section show charging a Li-Po battery. These descriptions and actual menu screens will vary depending on what type of battery you choose in the USER SET PROGRAM / V.TYPE menu.

lITHIUm bATTERy pROGRAmmInG

This mode is used for charging 1 to 6 cell Lithium batteries without a balance connector. If your Lithium battery features a balance connector, skip to the

Lithium

Battery Balance Mode Charging

section on pages 20 and 21.

1) Connect the charger to its power source, plug the output power adapter cord

into the power outputs of the charger, then plug your Lithium battery into the output power adapter cord.

3) Press the ENTER button. The charge current

value will flash. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired charge current, then press the ENTER button again to store that value.

• Charge current values range from 0.1 to 6.0 amps. We recommend 0.5C to 1.0C.

2) Press the STOP or DEC buttons to scroll to the

PROGRAM SELECT LI-PO menu (or the LI-IO or LI-FE menu depending on the battery type you selected in the USER SET PROGRAM / V.TYPE menu), then press the ENTER button to open the menu.

The first line shows the type of battery you selected in the USER SET

PROGRAM / V.TYPE menu. Make sure this matches the type of battery you’ll be charging. If it doesn’t, return to the USER SET PROGRAM / V.TYPE menu and select the correct battery type. An incorrect setting can result in damage to your battery.

lITHIUm bATTERy STAnDARD mODE CHARGInG

4) The input voltage value will be flashing. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired input voltage of your battery, then press the ENTER button to store that value.

• Input voltage values range from 1S to 6S in series. It should match the input

voltage of your battery.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

lITHIUm bATTERy pROGRAmmInG

5) Press and hold the START button for more than 3 seconds to begin the charging process. An automatic battery check will be performed and the confirmation screen will be displayed. ‘R:’ shows the number of cells found by the charger and ‘S:’ shows the number of cells selected by you previously. If both numbers are identical, you can begin charging by pressing the ENTER button. If the numbers don’t match, press the STOP button to go back to the previous screen, then carefully check the number of cells and voltage of the battery to be charged.

When the charging process begins, the status screen will be displayed. This screen shows various data about the current charging process, including the elapsed charge time, the current voltage of the battery and the current charged capacity in mAh.

lITHIUm bATTERy STAnDARD mODE CHARGInG, COnTInUED....

lITHIUm bATTERy bAlAnCE mODE CHARGInG

This mode is used for balance charging 2 to 6 cell Lithium batteries. If your Lithium battery features a balance plug, we recommend using this charge mode. If your Lithium battery doesn’t feature a balance connector, see the

Lithium Battery Standard

Mode Charging

section on the previous page.

Balance charging balances the individual voltages of Lithium cells in the battery to be charged. In this mode, the charging process will be different from the standard mode charging process. The charger will monitor the voltage of each cell in the battery and control the charge current fed to each cell. This will normalize the voltage of all cells in the battery and it will help to prevent over-charging of one or more cells.

1) Connect the charger to its power source, plug the output power adapter cord into the power outputs of the charger, then plug your Lithium battery into the output power adapter cord. Plug the balance connector into the correct balance port on the charger. If your battery does not feature an XH balance connector, an adaptor board can be used.

2) Press the STOP or DEC buttons to scroll to the PROGRAM SELECT LI-PO menu (or the LI-IO or LI-FE menu depending on the battery type you selected in the USER SET PROGRAM / V.TYPE menu), then press the ENTER button to open the menu. Press the DEC or INC buttons to scroll to the BALANCE menu.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

The first line shows the type of battery you selected in the USER SET PROGRAM /

V.TYPE menu. Make sure this matches the type of battery you’ll be charging. If it doesn’t, return to the USER SET PROGRAM / V.TYPE menu and select the correct battery type. An incorrect setting can result in damage to your battery.

lITHIUm bATTERy bAlAnCE mODE CHARGInG, COnTInUED....

lITHIUm bATTERy pROGRAmmInG

3) Press the ENTER button. The charge current

value will flash. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired charge current, then press the ENTER button again to store that value.

• Charge current values range from 0.1 to 6.0 amps. We recommend 0.5C to 1.0C.

4) The input voltage value will be flashing. Press

the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired input voltage of your battery, then press the ENTER button to store that value.

• Input voltage values range from 1S to 6S in series. It should match the input voltage of your battery.

5) Press and hold the START button for more than 3 seconds to begin the charging process. An automatic battery check will be performed and the confirmation screen will be displayed. ‘R:’ shows the number of cells found by the charger and ‘S:’ shows the number of cells selected by you previously. If both numbers are identical, you can begin charging by pressing the ENTER button. If the numbers don’t match, press the STOP button to go back to previous screen, then carefully check the number of cells and voltage of the battery to be charged.

lITHIUm bATTERy fAST mODE CHARGInG

This mode is used for fast charging 1 to 6 cell Lithium batteries. Normally, the charge current gets lower as the charging process nears its end. To finish the charging process sooner, this charge mode eliminates certain parts of the CV charging process. The final capacity may be a bit smaller than normal charging but the charging time will be reduced.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

1) Connect the charger to its power source, plug the output power adapter cord into the power outputs of the charger, then plug your Lithium battery into the output power adapter cord. If your battery features a balance connector, plug it into the correct balance port on the charger. If your battery does not feature an XH balance connector, an adaptor board can be used.

lITHIUm bATTERy fAST mODE CHARGInG, COnTInUED....

lITHIUm bATTERy pROGRAmmInG

The first line shows the type of battery you selected in the USER SET

3) Press the ENTER button. The charge current value will flash. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired charge current, then press the ENTER button again to store that value.

• Charge current values range from 0.1 to 6.0 amps. We recommend 0.5C to 1.0C.

4) The input voltage value will be flashing. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired input voltage of your battery, then press the ENTER button to store that value.

• Input voltage values range from 1S to 6S in series. It should match the input

voltage of your battery.

5) Press and hold the START button for more than 3 seconds to begin the charging process. An automatic battery check will be performed and the confirmation screen will be displayed. ‘R:’ shows the number of cells found by the charger and ‘S:’ shows the number of cells selected by you previously. If both numbers are identical, you can begin charging by pressing the ENTER button. If the numbers don’t match, press the STOP button to go back to previous screen, then carefully check the number of cells and voltage of the battery to be charged.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

lITHIUm bATTERy fAST mODE CHARGInG, COnTInUED....

lITHIUm bATTERy pROGRAmmInG

This mode is used for preparing 1 to 6 cell Lithium batteries for storage. Lithium batteries should never be stored with a full charge. To ensure the integrity of your battery, it should be stored at a specific voltage. This voltage varies based on the type of Lithium battery you’re storing. They are 3.85V for Li-Po, 3.7V for Li-Io, and

3.3V for Li-Fe.

If the voltage of the battery when you start the storage process is higher, the charger will discharge the battery to the proper voltage and if the voltage of the battery when you start the storage process is lower, the charger will charge the battery to the proper voltage.

1) Connect the charger to its power source, plug the output power adapter cord into the power outputs of the charger, then plug your Lithium battery into the output power adapter cord. If your battery features a balance connector, plug it into the correct balance port on the charger. If your battery does not feature an XH balance connector, an adaptor board can be used.

lITHIUm bATTERy STORGAGE mODE

The first line shows the type of battery you selected in the USER SET

3) Press the ENTER button. The charge/discharge current value will flash. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired charge/discharge current, then press the ENTER button again to store that value.

• Charge/discharge current values range from 0.1 to 1.0 amp.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

4) The input voltage value will be flashing. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired input voltage of your battery, then press the ENTER button to store that value.

• Input voltage values range from 1S to 6S in series. It should match the input

voltage of your battery.

5) Press and hold the START button for more than 3 seconds to begin the storage process. An automatic battery check will be performed and the confirmation screen will be displayed. ‘R:’ shows the number of cells found by the charger and ‘S:’ shows the number of cells selected by you previously. If both numbers are identical, you can begin by pressing the ENTER button. If the numbers don’t match, press the STOP button to go back to previous screen, then carefully check the number of cells and voltage of the battery to be stored.

When the storage process begins, the status screen will be displayed. This screen shows various data about the current storage process, including the elapsed charge/discharge time, the current voltage of the battery and the current charged/discharged capacity in mAh.

For maximum safety during the discharge process, the charger may throttle

the discharge current lower than you programmed. Whether the charger will automatically lower the discharge current will vary based on the specific battery and charge/discharge current you programmed.

lITHIUm bATTERy pROGRAmmInG

lITHIUm bATTERy STORGAGE mODE, COnTInUED....

This mode is used for discharging 1 to 6 cell Lithium batteries. Discharging is typically used to determine the residual capacity of the battery or to lower the voltage of the battery to a pre-defined level.

This voltage level varies based on the type and cell count of the Lithium battery you’re discharging and can be determined by pressing the DEC button once the discharge process has started.

1) Connect the charger to its power source, plug the output power adapter cord

into the power outputs of the charger, then plug your Lithium battery into the output power adapter cord. If your battery features a balance connector, plug it into the correct balance port on the charger. If your battery does not feature an XH balance connector, an adaptor board can be used.

lITHIUm bATTERy DISCHARGE mODE

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

lITHIUm bATTERy pROGRAmmInG

lITHIUm bATTERy DISCHARGE mODE, COnTInUED....

2) Press the STOP or DEC buttons to scroll to

the PROGRAM SELECT LI-PO menu (or the LI-IO or LI-FE menu depending on the battery type you selected in the USER SET PROGRAM / V.TYPE menu), then press the ENTER button to open the menu. Press the DEC or INC buttons to scroll to the DISCHARGE menu.

The first line shows the type of battery you selected in the USER SET

5) Press and hold the START button for more than 3 seconds to begin the discharge process. An automatic battery check will be performed.

If you receive a BATTERY CHECK HIGH VOLTAGE or a BATTERY CHECK

LOW VOLTAGE error, press the STOP button to go back to the previous screen, then carefully check the number of cells and voltage of the battery to be charged.

When the discharge process begins, the status screen will be displayed. This screen shows various data about the current discharge process, including the elapsed discharge time, the current voltage of the battery and the current discharged capacity in mAh.

3) Press the ENTER button. The discharge current value will flash. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired discharge current, then press the ENTER button again to store that value.

• Discharge current values range from 0.1 to 1.0 amp.

4) The input voltage value will be flashing. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired input voltage of your battery, then press the ENTER button to store that value.

• Input voltage values range from 1S to 6S in series. It should match the input

voltage of your battery.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

1) To view the voltages of each individual cell during the charging, storage or discharging process, press the INC button. To return to the status screen, press the ENTER button.

2) To view process information during the charging, storage or discharging process, such as the End Voltage or the Safety Timer, press the DEC button repeatedly. The display will revert to the status screen automatically after approximately 5 seconds.

lITHIUm bATTERy pROGRAmmInG

lITHIUm bATTERy DISCHARGE mODE, COnTInUED....

For maximum safety during the discharge process, the charger may throttle

the discharge current lower than you programmed. Whether the charger will automatically lower the discharge current will vary based on the specific battery and discharge current you programmed.

When you’re charging or discharging a Lithium battery that’s plugged into a balance port, the charger continuously monitors the voltage of the individual cells and tries to normalize the voltages and make them equal. You are able to monitor individual cell voltages during the charging, storage and discharging processes by pressing the INC button. If the voltage of one or more cells varies abnormally, the charger terminates the process with an error message. If this happens, you can easily know which cell is bad by pressing INC button at the time the error message is displayed.

You are also able to view other process parameters during the charging, storage and discharging processes by pressing the DEC button. For more information, see the

Process Information

section on pages 35 and 36.

lITHIUm VOlTAGE bAlAnCInG mOnITORInG

The Ni-Cd and Ni-MH Battery Programming menus are suitable for charging, discharging and cycling Ni-Cd (Nickel-Cadmium) and Ni-MH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) batteries commonly used in R/C model applications.

Because the procedures are the same for both types of batteries, this

section describes charging, discharging and cycling both Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries. Make sure that you choose the correct program in the charger that matches your battery type, either PROGRAM SELECT NI-CD BATT or PROGRAM SELECT NI-MH BATT.

nI-CD

nI-mH bATTERy pROGRAmmInG

nI-CD

nI-mH bATTERy CHARGInG

This mode is used for charging 1 to 15 cell Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries in either AUTO mode or MANUAL mode.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

In AUTO mode, the charge current is determined automatically by the charger, based on feedback from your battery. Because some batteries are of low impedance and small capacity, this can lead to a higher than desired charge current by the processor, therefore, it’s required that you program the upper limit for the charge current to avoid a higher feeding current that may damage the battery.

In MANUAL mode, the charger will charge the battery using the charge current you program.

You are able to switch between modes by pressing the DEC and INC buttons simultaneously when the current field is flashing.

1) Connect the charger to its power source, plug the output power adapter cord

into the power outputs of the charger, then plug your Ni-Cd or Ni-MH battery into the output power adapter cord.

3) To switch between AUTO and MANUAL

modes, press the ENTER button. The current value will flash. While the current value is flashing, press and HOLD the DEC and INC buttons at the same time until the mode indicator changes, then release the buttons.

2) Press the STOP or DEC buttons to scroll to the

PROGRAM SELECT NI-CD BATT or PROGRAM SELECT NI-MH BATT menu depending on the battery type you’re charging, then press the ENTER button to open the menu.

nI-CD /nI-mH bATTERy pROGRAmmInG

nI-CD

nI-mH bATTERy CHARGInG, COnTInUED....

4) The charge current or current limit value will

flash depending on whether you’re in AUTO mode or MANUAL mode. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired charge current or current limit, then press the ENTER button to store that value.

• Charge current and current limit values range from 0.1 to 6.0 amps. We recommend 1.0C, although this can vary depending on the battery. For more information, see the

Recommended Safe Charging-Discharging Values

table on page 8 or refer to the technical specification for your battery to determine the setting to use.

5) Press and hold the START button for more than 3 seconds to begin the charging process. An automatic battery check will be performed. If you receive an error, press the STOP button to go back to previous screen, then carefully check the battery and connections.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

nI-CD /nI-mH bATTERy pROGRAmmInG

nI-CD

nI-mH bATTERy CHARGInG, COnTInUED....

This mode is used for discharging 1 to 15 cell Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries in either AUTO mode or MANUAL mode. Discharging is typically used to determine the residual capacity of the battery or to lower the voltage of the battery to a pre-defined level.

Some rechargeable batteries are said to have a memory effect. If they are partly used and recharged before the whole charge is used, they ‘remember’ this and next time will only use that part of their capacity. This is referred to as ‘memory effect’. Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries are said to suffer from memory effect. They prefer complete cycles. Fully charge them, then use them until empty or discharge them.

Do not fully recharge before storage. If necessary, give them an occasional short charge to keep them above the 0.85V or 1.0V per cell minimum. Ni-MH batteries have less memory effect than Ni-Cd batteries, so it’s not as much of an issue with Ni-MH batteries.

For maximum safety during the discharge process, the charger may throttle

the discharge current lower than you program. Whether the charger will automatically lower the discharge current will vary based on the specific battery and charge/discharge current you program.

1) Connect the charger to its power source, plug the output power adapter cord

into the power outputs of the charger, then plug your Ni-Cd or Ni-MH battery into the output power adapter cord.

nI-CD

nI-mH bATTERy DISCHARGInG

2) Press the STOP or DEC buttons to scroll to the

PROGRAM SELECT NI-CD BATT or PROGRAM SELECT NI-MH BATT menu depending on the battery type you’re discharging, then press the ENTER button to open the menu. Press the DEC or INC buttons to scroll to the DISCHARGE menu.

3) Press the ENTER button. The discharge current

value will flash. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired discharge current, then press the ENTER button again to store that value.

• Discharge current values range from 0.1 to 1.0 amp.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

nI-CD /nI-mH bATTERy pROGRAmmInG

4) The end voltage value will be flashing. Press

the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired end voltage for your battery, then press the ENTER button to store that value.

• End voltage values range from AUTO and 0.1 to 25.0V. The value you choose will vary depending on the number and type of cells in your battery. For more information, see the

Recommended Safe Charging-Discharging Values

table on page 8 or refer to the technical specification for your battery to determine the setting to use. In AUTO mode, the charger will use feedback from the battery to stop the discharge process at the optimal voltage.

5) Press and hold the START button for more than 3 seconds to begin the discharge process. An automatic battery check will be performed. If you receive an error, press the STOP button to go back to previous screen, then carefully check the battery and connections.

nI-CD

nI-mH bATTERy DISCHARGInG, COnTInUED....

This mode is used for cycling 1 to 15 cell Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries. Cycling is typically used to condition your Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries, which keeps them at their maximum performance and prevents issues with ‘memory effect’. You can choose two different cycling modes, depending on the state you want your battery in at the end of the cycling process. You are also able to specify the number of cycles, ranging from 1 to 5.

To avoid over-heating and damaging the battery, there is a programed elapsed time between cycles to allow the battery to cool down. This elapsed time can be programmed by the user. For more information, see the

Waste Time Menu

section

on page 15.

During the cycling process, the charger will use the charge and discharge

current values that you programmed in the charge and discharge menus, so you should program these values prior to programming the cycling values. For more information, see the

Ni-Cd/Ni-MH Battery Charging

and the

Ni-Cd/Ni-MH

Battery Discharging

section on pages 26 through 29.

nI-CD

nI-mH bATTERy CyClInG

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

When the cycling process begins, the status screen will be displayed. This screen shows various data about the current cycling process, including the current process (‘D’ will flash when discharging and ‘C’ will flash when charging), the elapsed charge/discharge time, the current voltage of the battery and the current charged/discharged capacity in mAh.

When the charger is idle between cycles to allow the battery to cool, DRY will be displayed in the process screen and the timer will begin to count

up until the next cycle begins.

2) Press the STOP or DEC buttons to scroll to the

PROGRAM SELECT NI-CD BATT OR PROGRAM SELECT NI-MH BATT menu depending on the battery type you’re charging, then press the ENTER button to open the menu. Press the DEC or INC buttons to scroll to the CYCLE menu.

3) Press the ENTER button. The cycle mode

value will flash. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired cycle mode, then press the ENTER button again to store that value.

• Cycle mode values are charge-discharge and discharge-charge. Choose the option that suits the state you want your battery to be in at the end of the cycling process. For example, if you want you battery charged at the end of the cycling process, choose the discharge-charge mode.

1) Connect the charger to its power source, plug the output power adapter cord into the power outputs of the charger, then plug your Ni-Cd or Ni-MH battery into the output power adapter cord.

nI-CD

nI-mH bATTERy pROGRAmmInG

nI-CD

nI-mH bATTERy CyClInG, COnTInUED....

4) The cycle value will be flashing. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired cycle value, then press the ENTER button to store that value.

• Cycle values range from 1 to 5.

5) Press and hold the START button for more than 3 seconds to begin the cycling process. An automatic battery check will be performed. If you receive an error, press the STOP button to go back to previous screen, then carefully check the battery and connections.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

nI-CD /nI-mH bATTERy pROGRAmmInG

nI-CD

nI-mH bATTERy CyClInG, COnTInUED....

6) At the end of the cycling process the status screen displays the charged and discharged capacities for each cycle. Press the INC or DEC buttons to scroll through each of the cycle capacities.

For maximum safety during the discharge process, the charger may throttle

If desired, the charge and discharge current values can be altered during

the cycling process by pressing the ENTER button. For more information, see the

Pro Tips

section on page 10.

pb (lEAD ACID) bATTERy pROGRAmmInG

pb bATTERy CHARGInG

The Pb (Lead Acid) Battery Programming menus are suitable for charging and discharging 2 to 20V lead acid batteries that are commonly used in the R/C model hobby.

This mode is used for charging 2 to 20 volt Pb (Lead Acid) batteries.

Pb batteries are totally different from Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries. They can only deliver relatively low current compared to their capacity and similar restrictions apply to charging them. For this reason, the optimal charge current should be approximately 1/10th of their capacity.

Pb batteries must not be charged rapidly. Always follow the guidelines supplied by the manufacturer of the battery.

1) Connect the charger to its power source, plug the output power adapter cord into the power outputs of the charger, then connect the output power adapter cord to your lead acid battery, making sure the polarity is correct.

3) Press the ENTER button. The charge current value will flash.

4) Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired charge current, then press the ENTER button again to store that value.

• Charge current values range from 0.1 to 6.0 amps. We recommend 1/10C.

2) Press the STOP or DEC buttons to scroll to the PROGRAM SELECT PB BATT menu, then press the ENTER button to open the menu.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

6) Press and hold the START button for more than 3 seconds to begin the charging process. An automatic battery check will be performed. If you receive an error, press the STOP button to go back to previous screen, then carefully check the battery and connections.

5) The input voltage value will be flashing. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired input voltage of your battery, then press the ENTER button to store that value.

• Input voltage values range from 2.0 to 20.0V. The value you choose should

match the input voltage of your battery.

pb (lEAD ACID) bATTERy pROGRAmmInG

pb bATTERy CHARGInG, COnTInUED....

This mode is used for discharging 2 to 20V lead acid batteries.

Discharging is typically used to determine the residual capacity of the battery or to lower the voltage of the battery to a pre-defined level.

We don’t recommend discharging a lead acid battery any lower than 80% of its stated capacity or damage to the battery could result.

2) Press the STOP or DEC buttons to scroll to the PROGRAM SELECT PB BATT menu, then press the ENTER button to open the menu. Press the DEC or INC buttons to scroll to the DISCHARGE menu.

pb bATTERy DISCHARGInG

3) Press the ENTER button. The discharge current value will flash.

4) Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired discharge current, then press the ENTER button again to store that value.

• Discharge current values range from 0.1 to 1.0 amp.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

pb (lEAD ACID) bATTERy pROGRAmmInG

pb bATTERy DISCHARGInG, COnTInUED....

5) The end voltage value will be flashing. Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired end voltage for your battery, then press the ENTER button again to store that value.

• End voltage values range from 2.0 to 20.0V. The value you choose will vary

depending on your battery. For more information, see the

Recommended

Safe Charging-Discharging Values

table on page 8 or refer to the technical

specification for your battery to determine the setting to use.

6) Press and hold the START button for more than 3 seconds to begin the discharge process. An automatic battery check will be performed. If you receive an error, press the STOP button to go back to previous screen, then carefully check the battery and connections.

For maximum safety during the discharge process, the charger may throttle

the discharge current lower than you programmed. Whether the charger will automatically lower the discharge current will vary based on the specific battery and discharge current you programmed.

The Activator 50 Multi-Chemistry Intelligent Charger features data storage and loading programs that allows you to save up to 5 different battery data programming presets that represent the individual specification of the batteries you are using. Once saved, the data programming presets can be loaded at a later time when needed.

The Save/Load Programming Data feature allows you charge, discharge or cycle your batteries without the need to enter the programming values each time.

SAVE

lOAD pROGRAmmInG DATA

1) Press the STOP or DEC buttons to scroll to the PROGRAM SELECT SAVE DATA menu, then press the ENTER button to open the menu. The battery preset number value will flash.

SAVInG pROGRAmmInG DATA

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

SAVE /lOAD pROGRAmmInG DATA

SAVInG pROGRAmmInG DATA, COnTInUED....

2) Press the DEC or INC keys to select the desired battery preset number. Choose from 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, then use the ENTER, DEC and INC buttons to input the parameters of the battery you wish to save the data programming for. In this example, we’re saving parameters for our 8-cell 9.6V 4000mAh Ni-MH battery.

Press the ENTER button to scroll through the various data fields. When the

data field flashes, use the DEC and INC buttons to select the desired value.

The parameters you input in step 2 above do not affect any charging or

discharging processes. The data is used to help you identify your battery and allows the charger to load the correct programming options, depending on the battery type selected. Therefore, it’s important to make sure the data matches the battery you’ll be charging or discharging.

The steps below describe moving through the various programming menus

that are available. Menus shown will vary based on the battery type you selected in step 2 above. For more information on entering programming data correctly, refer back to those specific sections in this User’s Guide.

3) Press and hold the ENTER button for more than 3 seconds to open the CHARGE menu. This menu allows you to enter the desired charging values.

4) After entering the desired charging values, press the DEC or INC buttons to scroll though the rest of the programming menus and enter the remaining desired values.

5) After entering all the desired values in the different programming menus, press and hold the ENTER button for more than 3 seconds to save the data.

lOADInG pROGRAmmInG DATA

1) Press the STOP or DEC buttons to scroll to the PROGRAM SELECT LOAD DATA menu, then press the ENTER button to open the menu. The battery preset number value will flash.

Before starting a charging, discharging, cycling or storage process after loading programming data, verify that the programming data matches the

battery connected to the charger, otherwise damage to the battery could result.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

SAVE /lOAD pROGRAmmInG DATA

lOADInG pROGRAmmInG DATA, COnTInUED....

2) Press the DEC or INC buttons to select the desired battery preset number.

3) Press and hold the ENTER button for more than 3 seconds to load the selected battery preset data.

4) After the battery preset data has loaded, you can press the INC or DEC buttons to scroll through the different programming menus. Press and hold the START button for more than 3 seconds to start the selected process.

During the charging, discharging, cycling and storage processes, more detailed information can be displayed by pressing the DEC or INC buttons.

If you’re charging, discharging or cycling a Ni-Cd, Ni-MH or Pb battery, press the DEC button to scroll through and view the various programmed user settings that are related to the current process.

If you’re charging, discharging or storing a Lithium battery, press the DEC button to scroll through and view the various programmed user settings that are related to the current process. In addition, press the INC button to monitor the voltage of the individual cells when your Lithium battery is connected to one of the balance ports.

The process information screens that can be viewed are described below.

Not all process information screens described below may be displayed.

Process information screens displayed will vary depending on the current process and are for informational display purposes only. Programming values cannot be changed through the process information screens.

pROCESS InfORmATIOn

Displays the voltage that will be reached at the end of the charging or discharging process. Press the DEC button to view.

Displays whether the capacity cut-off function is turned ON or OFF and what the capacity cut-off value is programmed to. Press the DEC button to view.

Displays whether the safety timer function is turned ON or OFF and what the safety timer value is programmed to. Press the DEC button to view.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

This message is displayed if there is a short circuit of the output power adapter cord plugs.

When your Lithium battery is plugged into one of the balance ports, displays the current individual cell voltages in your battery. Press the INC button to view.

pROCESS InfORmATIOn

Displays what the safety temperature cut-off value is programmed to. This function requires the use of the optional temperature sensor (available separately). Press the DEC button to view.

Displays the current temperature of your battery. This function requires the use of the optional temperature sensor (available separately). Press the DEC button to view.

Displays the current voltage of the charger’s power source. Press the DEC button to view.

ERROR mESSAGES

The Activator 50 Multi-Chemistry Intelligent Charger incorporates various safety features to protect and monitor the system and verify functions relating to the state of its electronics. If an error occurs, the screen displays the cause of the error along with an audible sound.

Possible errors are described below.

This message is displayed if the output power adapter cord is connected to a battery with incorrect polarity.

This message is displayed if an interruption of the connection between the battery and the output power adapter cord is detected or if you disconnect

the output power adapter cord during the charging or discharging process.

This message is displayed if the input voltage is incorrect or if the input voltage has dropped below the limit.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

ERROR mESSAGES

This message is displayed if the voltage of your Lithium battery was selected incorrectly. Verify the cell count and voltage of the battery carefully.

This message is displayed if there is an internal malfunction with the charger. If this occurs, contact Customer Service. For more information, see the

Service and Support

section on page 2.

This message is displayed if the charger detects that the voltage of your Lithium battery is lower than you programmed in the Lithium program.

Check the cell count and voltage of the battery carefully.

This message is displayed if the charger detects that the voltage of your Lithium battery is higher than you programmed in the Lithium program.

Check the cell count and voltage of the battery carefully.

This message is displayed if the charger detects that the voltage of one cell in your Lithium battery is too low. Check the voltage of the cells one by one.

This message is displayed if the charger detects that the voltage of one cell in your Lithium battery is too high. Check the voltage of the cells one by one.

This message is displayed if a bad connection at the balance port is detected. Check the connectors and adapter cables carefully.

This message is displayed if the charger’s internal temperature is too high. Stop use and allow the charger to cool down.

This message is displayed if the charger cannot continue to control the feeding current from its power source. If this occurs, contact Customer

Service. For more information, see the

Service and Support

section on page 2.

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

blAnK pROGRAmmInG DATA SHEETS

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

wARRAnTy AnD lIAbIlITy InfORmATIOn

Hobby People guarantees this product to be free from defects in both material and workmanship for a period of 90 days from the date of purchase. During this 90 day warranty period, Global Services/Hobby People will repair or replace at our discretion, equipment determined to be defective, otherwise, the user is responsible for any charges for the repair or replacement of the equipment in question. This warranty does not cover cosmetic damage, nor does it cover damage caused by misuse, modification, negligence, abuse, improper connections, acts of God or damage caused by alterations by unauthorized persons. This warranty only applies to the original purchaser and requires proof of purchase to redeem.

Hobby People shall not be liable for any damage resulting from the use of this product. As Hobby People has no control over the use, setup, modification or misuse of this product, no liability shall be assumed nor accepted for any resulting damage or injury. By the act of using this product, the user accepts all resulting liability.

In no case shall Hobby People’s liability exceed the original cost of the purchased product.

Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, or allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights which vary from state to state.

wARRAnTy SERVICE InfORmATIOn

Before returning your product for warranty consideration, the status of the unit must be within the terms of the

Warranty and Liability Information

section above.

When requesting warranty service, please observe the following:

• Include a note detailing the problem or service you are requesting. Include your daytime phone number, shipping address and your Email address in the event we need to contact you.

• If your product is out of the warranty period you may request an estimate of services at the time you return it for service. An omission of this request implies permission for Global Services/Hobby People to service your product at our discretion.

• If it's determined that your product cannot be warrantied, you will be contacted with an estimate of repairs.

• Carefully pack the product to prevent any chance of shipping damage, then send the package to the address below. We recommend using United Parcel Service, Federal Express or Insured Mail. Postage is nonrefundable.

Global Services

18480 Bandilier Circle

Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Phone: (714) 963-0329

Fax: (714) 964-6236

Email: service@globalhobby.net

ACTIVATOR 50 CHARGER USER’S GUIDE

Features and Specifications are Subject to Change Without Notice

Revision 1 07.30.2013

Made in China

Hobby People activator 50 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual