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

Instruction Manual

BEFORE USING 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.

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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

zCharging the rechargeable battery in various current value (200, 500 or 700 mA)

zIndividual LCD display for compartments

zCharging both “AA” and “AAA” rechargeable batteries simultaneously

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zOverheat detection to protect rechargeable batteries from over-charging

zMinus delta voltage (-dV) detection for charge termination

zDamaged batteries detection

zDischarge mode (first discharging and then charging) to remove memory effect of rechargeable batteries

zRefreshing old rechargeable batteries by discharging/ charging cycles

zTest function to check the capacities of rechargeable batteries

zDifferent Charging/ Discharging functions can be launched independently and simultaneously to each rechargeable battery in the compartments

zVarious 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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DISPLAY key

Press and release to select 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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Compartment

Number keys

CURRENT key MODE key

DISPLAY key

Compartment Number key

Press and release the Number key to select a particular battery compartment 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.

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

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Note:

zUser 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.

zIt 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.

zWhen 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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After 8 seconds from no more keys		Charging current: 200 mA
pressing, the LCD will blink once to
indicate the setting is confirmed and		Charge Mode
the selected mode activated

During charging, the different displaysCharging 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 charged

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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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Note :

zThe 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 batteries must be taken out and inserted again.

zThe 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.

zTo 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.

zWhen 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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