La Crosse Technology BC-700 User Manual

TABLE OF CONTENT
Topic Page

Inventory Of Contents 3
Features 4
Function Keys 5
Operating Modes 7
Charge Mode 8
Discharge Mode 13
Refresh Mode 15
Test Mode 16
Trickle Charge 18

BEFORE USI NG OUR BATTERY CHARGER, READ IN DETAILS ALL
INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL. KEEP THIS MANUAL IN A
SAFE PLACE AS YOU MAY NEED TO USE IT AT A LATER DATE.

We draw the attention of all users of this device: please follow the safety
and maintenance instructions which are part of this manual. Also read the
caution markings on the charger, the manual, and the gift box.

Display Mode Information 19
Care and Maintenance 23
Specification 24
Warranty Information 25
FAQ 28

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BATTERY CHARGER

Instruction Manual

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INTRODUCTION:

Congratulations on purchasing this intelligent charging unit which enables quick and
optimum charging to “AA” and “AAA” rechargeable batteries. With charging, discharging,
refreshing and capacity test functions as well as individual LCD displays for charging
compartments; this charging unit is reliable, user-friendly and ideal for use in the home,
office or on journey.

INVENTORY OF CONTENTS

1. Charging unit

2. Transformer

3. Instruction Manual

The Charging unit

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CAUTIONS:

1. The charger is restricted to charging NiCd and NiMH rechargeable batteries only.
Never adopt this charger to other types of batteries such as alkaline, lithium, carbon
zinc or other types that are not specified.

2. The charging unit shall only be used only at normal indoor room conditions.

3. Always follow the charging instructions for the rechargeable battery. Observe the
recommended charging current of the rechargeable batteries. Never adopt a charging
current higher than recommended in the charging process.

4. Never use any power cable and transformer other than those originally supplied with
the charging unit.

5. The rechargeable batteries may become hot during charging (especially when high
charging current is chosen). User shall take extra care when taking out the batteries
after charging.

6. Unplug the charging unit from the power source when not in use.

FEATURES:

The Charging unit

z Charging the rechargeable battery in various current value (200, 500 or 700 mA)
z Individual LCD display for compartments
z Charging both “AA” and “AAA” rechargeable batteries simultaneously

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z Overheat detection to protect rechargeable batteries from over-charging

y

z Minus delta voltage (-dV) detection for charge termination
z Damaged batteries detection
z Discharge mode (first discharging and then charging) to remove memory effect of

rechargeable batteries

z Refreshing old rechargeable batteries by discharging/ charging cycles
z Test function to check the capacities of rechargeable batteries
z Different Charging/ Discharging functions can be launched independently and

simultaneously to each rechargeable battery in the compartments

z Various display modes during charging/ discharging – the charging current (in mA),

time elapsed (in hh:mm), the terminal voltage (in V) and accumulated capacities (in
mAh or Ah)

FUNCTION KEYS:

There are three easy-to-use function keys and four number keys in the charging unit:

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CURRENT key

Compartment Number key

Press and release the Number key to select a particular battery compartm ent for charge
modes and/or display mode adjustment.

MODE key

The mode key shall first be pressed and held for about 5 seconds to activate the mode
change. The subsequent pressing of the mode key will enable to toggle between the
“Charge”, “Discharge”, “Test” and “Refresh” mode. To change the operating mode for an
individual rechargeable battery, first press corresponding NUMBER key then press the
MODE key.

DISPLAY key

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Compartment
Number ke

MODE key

s

DISPLAY key

Press and release to se l e ct the displays of the charging current (in mA), time elapsed (in
hh:mm), the terminal voltage (in V) and accumulated capacities (in mAh or Ah) during the
charging or discharging process.
To change the display content of a particular rechargeable battery, first press corresponding
NUMBER key then press the DISPLAY key.

CURRENT key

Press to select the amount of current to be applied (within the first 8 seconds after batteries
are inserted) in different operating modes (also see “Start charging the rechargeable

batteries” below).

OPERATING MODES OF THE CHARGING UNIT

This powerful charging unit provides the following operating modes:
a. Charge up the rechargeable battery (CHARGE) – to charge up the rechargeable

battery, automatically switch to trickle charge after rechargeable battery is full.

b. Discharge then charge up the rechargeable battery (DISCHARGE) – to discharge the

rechargeable battery then charge it for minimizing the memory effect.

c. Refresh the rechargeable battery (REFRESH) – to refresh the rechargeable battery to

its maximum capacity by charging and discharging the rechargeable battery

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repeatedly until no further increase in the capacity is estimated. For old rechargeable
batteries or those have not been used for a long times, refreshing may bring the
rechargeable battery back to the optimum condition.

d. Check the rechargeable battery capacity in mAh/ Ah (TEST)

CHARGE MODE

Charging at 200 mA is the default-operating mode of the charging unit. User may select a
charging current of 200, 500 or 700 mA.

The estimated time of charging by various charging current is tabulated in Table 1.

Table 1. Charging Time with various charging current

Size of battery Battery Capacity Charging current selected (mA) Estimated charging time

AA 2500 mAh

AAA 700 mAh

700 ~3 hr 35 min
500 ~5 hr
200 ~13 hr
700 ~60 min
500 ~84 min
200 ~3 hr 30 min

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Note:

z User shall always observe the recommended maximum charging current of the

rechargeable batteries. In general, 200 mA is a recommended charging current if
rapid charging is not necessary. It is definitely safe and optimum to the rechargeable
batteries.

z It may be necessary to charge and discharge the new rechargeable batteries for

several times in the beginning before the optimum capacity of the rechargeable
batteries can be obtained. And user is recommended to adopt once the "Refresh"
mode to the new rechargeable batteries in order to achieve the optimum battery
capacity.

z When the transformer has been plugged to the power source, the version number of

the charger (for example “29” ) will be displayed first. Then all the segments will light
up momentarily and the “null” sign will be shown before batteries are placed. If
damaged batteries are placed to the charging unit, the charger will also show “null” on
LCD.

“null” displayed - No battery or damaged
battery is placed to the charging unit

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START CHARGING THE RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES

Once a rechargeable battery is inserted after the transformer has been plugged to the power
source, the battery voltage (for example, “1.39V”) will be displayed for 4 seconds. Then “200
mA Charge” (default mode) will be shown on LCD for another 4 seconds, indicating that
charging with 200 mA is to be started if no alternation in setting is made.

Within this 8-second time from inserting the batteries the user may first select the
operating mode by the MODE key. Press and hold the MODE button for 5 seconds.
Then within 8 seconds from the last key pressing, user may select the charging/
discharging current by pressing the CURRENT key.

Note:

• The mode key shall first be pressed and held for about 5 seconds to activate the

mode change. The subsequent pressing of the mode key will enable to toggle
between the “Charge”, “Discharge”, “Test” and “Refresh” mode.

• There is a 8-second time allowed for choosing further functions after each key

pressing. If no more key is pressed, the LCD will blink one time to indicate the end of
setting. Afterward, the current can no longer be changed during the process and the
selected mode will be undergone.

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After 8 seconds from no more keys
pressing, the LCD will blink once to
indicate the setting is confirmed and
the selected mode activated

During charging, the different displays- Charging current (in mA), Time elapsed (in hh:mm),
Terminal voltage (in V) and Accumulated capacities (in mAh or Ah) may be toggled and
selected by pressing the DISPLAY key (refer Table 4).
After the rechargeable battery is fully charged, “Full” sign will be shown on the display and
the user may take them out at this time. Or if the rechargeable batteries are kept placed in
the compartments, trickle charging will start. The trickle charging current is around 5% of the
selected charging current to keep the rechargeable batteries full.

“Full” sign is shown -The
battery is fully charge d

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Charging current: 200 mA

Charge Mode

Note :

z The current cannot be altered once the setting has been confirmed in the initial stage.

Therefore, the user can avoid changing the current setting accidentally while setting
up other rechargeable batteries. If one wants to change the applied current afterward,
the rechargeable ba tteries must be taken out an d inserted again.

z The maximum charging current of other rechargeable batteries is restricted by the

current setting of the first inserted rechargeable battery. For instance, if the first
inserted rechargeable battery is set to charge at 500 mA, then the second, third and
fourth rechargeable batteries can be only set to charging at a maximum current of 500
mA.
Therefore, the user is recommended to place the battery with the highest expected
charging current in Compartment 1 first. To release the restriction of setting charging
current, user shall take out all four rechargeable batteries from the charging unit.

z To change the operating mode during charging, one can press the MODE key (for

selecting all rechargeable batteries) or NUMBER key then MODE key (for selecting
an individual rechargeable battery). 8 seconds after the last key is pressed the LCD
will blink one time to indicate the end of changing.

z When overheating condition occurs (usually due to too high of a charging current

selected), the charging will be stopped immediately and the display will shown “000
mA”, the charging process will only resume once the temperature of the rechargeable

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