IVT Voltcraft 900011 Instructions For Use Manual

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

Universal Battery Charger 150-1500mA - 900011 CE

Dear customer,

Thank you for your purchase of this product.
Please carefully read these Instructions for Use.

Warning!! Important Safety Information!!

- This device is designed and built pursuant to protection class II.

- The battery charger may only be connected to 230 V AC on the line side.

- Use this device only in dry, well-ventilated rooms.

- Please check for correct polarity and setting of cell number, battery type and charging current prior to connecting the

device to a battery or putting it into operation.

- The information and instructions provided by the battery manufacturer must be observed under all circumstances.

- Never operate batteries that are damaged nor batteries where the information regarding cell number, type, Ah

specification is missing or unknown or unclear due to the labelling.

- Never charge batteries with currents that are higher than the maximum values specified by the manufacturer.

- Check the heat generation of your battery immediately after the start of a charging procedure, as well as a few minutes

later. In the event of noticeable heat generation, the charging process must be terminated immediately.

- Nickel-cadmium as well as nickel-metal-hydride cells must not generate temperatures above 45° C during charging. In
the event of higher temperatures, caused by external heat influence or by excessive charging current, the charging
process must be terminated immediately.

- In a short-circuit, batteries may deliver high currents which may cause burning and fire. Therefore, it is important to
prevent short-circuits or reverse voltages.

- Overcharging or an excessive charging current in battery cells may lead to heat generation, may cause increased
pressure and may result in the destruction or – in the worst case – the explosion of the cell (particularly lithium-ion
cells!). Therefore, it is critical to avoid setting an incorrect cell number or an excessive charging current.

- When the casing of a battery gets damaged, it is very likely that acid or alkaline solution will be discharged which may
cause damages or burns. It is imperative that you avoid skin or eye contact under all circumstances!

- Never dispose of batteries in the household garbage, take them to an appropriate collection center instead.

- Lead batteries generate hydrogen during charging. Generally, with open cells or closed cells – in the latter case when

the pressure-relief valve responds – the hydrogen may mix with the ambient air to form explosive oxy-hydrogen. Be
careful to set the correct cell number and charging current and make sure that the room is properly ventilated.

- Never connect primary cells (non-rechargable batteries) to the battery charger. They may cause fires or explosions.

- Battery chargers must not be operated by children or without supervision.

- When the device is being opened or coverings are being removed or if there is evident damage to the casing or cable,

voltage-conducting components may be uncovered. Touching these components may be extremely dangerous.

- If it can be assumed that a safe operation is no longer possible, then the device must be switched off and preventive
measures against an unintentional operation must be taken.

- For the purposes of maintenance, repair and – in particular – the replacement of the internal fuse, the unit may only be
opened by an authorized specialist who is thoroughly familiar with the attendant dangers and regulations. A
replacement of the fuse is only permitted in exchange for a new fuse with the same rated voltage, characteristics and
rated amperage. The use of patched fuses and the bypassing of the fuse holder is not permitted. If the fuse responds
again after replacement, a serious problem with the device is present which requires repair by authorized personnel.

- Do not turn on the device if it has previously been stored in a humid or cold environment. Wait until the device has
acclimatized itself to the ambient room temperature and atmospheric humidity before you turn it on.

- Avoid wearing metallic jewelry or rings when working with battery chargers or battery cells.

- Make sure that there is sufficient ventilation when the unit is in operation; it is particularly important that the air vents at

the bottom and top side of the device are unobstructed.

- The device should only be operated on a hard, non-inflammable surface, never on soft or combustible base materials
(e.g. carpet or table-cloth).

- The specifications/instructions of the battery manufacturers generally refer to room temperature. Do not operate the
device in ambient temperatures of less than 0° C or more than 40° C or in direct sunlight.

Usage

This device is suitable for charging rechargeable batteries of the following types with the corresponding cell number: nickel­cadmium, nickel-metal-hydride, lead acid, lead gel, lead fleece and lithium-ion. The value of the rated battery capacity – the
product of current and time (for example, 150 mAh corresponds to a possible drawing of 30 mA over a period of 5 hours, or
to a recharging with 150 mA in one hour at a theoretically ideal discharging/charging factor) – should be higher than the
selected charging current, i.e. no cells or battery packs under 150 mAh may be charged in the smallest preselection range
of the charging current of 150 mA if the manufacturer does not expressly permit this. Otherwise, the charging time would be
less than 1 hour, for which not all batteries available in the market are suited.

Operation

The battery charger has the following features:

1. Preselection switch for the battery type. The types nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH), lead
acid/gel/fleece (lead) and lithium-ion (Li-Ion) can be preselected.

2. Rotary selection switch for the cell number. The preselection is made in accordance with the printed table, depending
on the respective preselected battery type.

3. Rotary selection switch for the charging current. The preselection is made depending on the battery size or the
manufacturer’s specifications regarding the maximum charging current.

4. Button for the discharging preselection. If NiCd or NiMH has been preselected, a defined discharging of the battery up
to 1 V per cell takes place after the button is pushed. Afterwards, the charging program starts automatically.

5. LED indicators provide information about the status: Discharging (entladen), Charging (laden), Check (in the case of
deep-discharged or damaged batteries) and Full (voll) battery is charged.

6. 4 mm lab sockets on the front side of the unit for the connection of the battery.

Front View

Function – Preselection Switch Battery Type

The preselection of the battery type basically determines the characteristics of the battery charging behavior. Thus, it is
important to be mindful of the correct preselection.
Four different battery types can be selected:

- Lead (Lead Acid / Lead Gel / Lead Fleece)

Here, charging initially begins with the selected charging current. Please observe the battery manufacturer’s instructions
regarding the maximum amperage. After reaching the cell voltage of 2.4 V/cell, the charging current will be reduced while
maintaining the cut-off voltage. If the charging current then drops below 40% of the original value, the 100% charge of the
battery will be indicated. In the case of closed cells (lead gel/lead fleece), please make sure that the gassing range runs
sparingly, since otherwise the pressure-relief valve will respond. These battery types must either be disconnected from the
battery charger after a 100% charge has been reached, or the charging current must be adjusted to a correspondingly low
level.

- Li-Ion (Lithium-Ion)

Here, charging initially begins with the selected charging current. Please observe the battery manufacturer’s instructions
regarding the maximum amperage. After reaching the cell voltage of 4.1 V/cell, the charging current will be reduced while
maintaining the cut-off voltage. If the charging current then drops below 40% of the original value, the 100% charge of the
battery will be indicated. Please pay attention to the correct setting of cell number and charging current. Li-Ion cells can
actually explode in the case of overcharging.

- NiMH (Nickel-Metal-Hydride) + NiCd (Nickel-Cadmium)

Here, charging initially begins with a quick-charging with the selected charging current. After reaching the voltage peak, the
quick-charging is terminated and the charging continues with a residual current until a 100% charge is reached. Afterwards,
the battery charger goes into the charge maintenance mode.

Discharge Button (Only Possible with NiCd/NiMH Preselection!)

In both settings, a defined discharging of the batteries prior to charging is possible in order to suppress possible memory
effects, i.e. in the event of repeated partial discharges, the battery can only be discharged to the partial discharge limit
again. For this purpose, the ”Discharge“ button must be pressed. The discharging is indicated by the LED indicator
”Discharge Battery“. The battery is now undergoing a defined discharging up to a cell voltage of 1 V/
cell. Afterwards, the charging process will be started automatically.