La Crosse Technology BC-700U User Manual

Contents

Language Page

English 1

French

Spanish

TABLE OF CONTENT Topic Page

Features 4 Inventory Of Contents 5 Function Keys 5

Operating Modes

Charge Mode 7 Discharge Mode 14 Refresh Mode 16 Tes t Mod e 18 Trickle Charge 20 Display Mode Information 21 Care and Maintenance 26 Specification 27 Warranty Information 28 Troubleshooting 32

BATTERY CHARGER BC-700U

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 a journey.

The Charging unit

FEATURES: The Charging unit

z Charging rechargeable batteries in various currents (200, 500 or 700 mA). z Fast charging – 70 mins to charge up 2000 mAh batteries z Individual LCD display for all compartments z Charging both “AA” and “AAA” rechargeable batteries simultaneously z Overheat detection to protect rechargeable batteries from over-charging 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 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)

Instruction Manual

CAUTIONS:

1. The charger is restricted to charging NiCd and NiMH rechargeable batteries only.

Never use this charger for other types of batteries such as alkaline, lithium, carbon zinc or other types that are not specified.

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

3. Place charger on a hard flat surface.

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

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

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

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

INVENTORY OF CONTENTS

1. Charging unit

2. Transformer

3. Instruction Manual

FUNCTION KEYS:

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

Compartment Number keys

CURRENT ke

DISPLA

MODE 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

Hold the MODE key for about 1 second to activate the mode change. Press and release the MODE key to toggle between the “Charge”, “Discharge”, “Test” and “Refresh” mode. To change the operating mode for an individual rechargeable battery, first press the corresponding NUMBER key then press the MODE key.

DISPLAY key

Press and release the DISPLAY key to view: 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 an individual rechargeable battery, first press the corresponding NUMBER key then press the DISPLAY key.

CURRENT key

Press and release the CURRENT key 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). To change the charging current of an individual rechargeable battery, first press the corresponding NUMBER key then press the CURRENT key (within the first 8 seconds after batteries are inserted).

OPERATING MODES OF THE CHARGING UNIT

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

automatically switches to trickle charge after the rechargeable battery is full.

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

rechargeable battery then charge it to minimize 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 repeatedly until no further increase in the capacity is estimated. For old rechargeable batteries or those have not been used for a long time, 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. NOTE: The highest charging current will be in compartment 1. The other compartments cannot be higher.

Example:

When charging two batteries at compartment 2 & 3 – max. charging current: 700 mA

When charging four batteries – max. charging current: 700 mA

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

NOTE: It is acceptable to charge AA and AAA batteries at the same time.

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

NOTE:

z 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 life of the rechargeable batteries.

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

z It may be necessary to charge and discharge new rechargeable batteries several times in

the beginning before the optimum capacity of the rechargeable batteries can be obtained. Use the "Refresh" mode after new rechargeable batteries have been used under load and charged several times in order to achieve the optimum battery capacity.

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

the charger (for example “35”) 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 or batteries below 0.9V, are placed into the charging unit, the charger will also show “null” on LCD.

“null” displayed - No battery or damaged battery is

laced to the charging unit

START CHARGING THE RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES

Once a rechargeable battery is inserted after the transformer has been plugged into 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 alteration in setting is made.

Select the operating mode by the MODE key. “Charge”, “Discharge”, “Refresh” and “Test” mode may be chosen within this 8-second time after inserting the batteries. Then within 8 seconds from pressing the last key, select the charging/discharging current by pressing the CURRENT key.

NOTE:

z Hold the MODE key for about 1 second to activate the mode change. Press and release

the MODE key to select between the “Charge”, “Discharge”, “Test” and “Refresh” mode.

z There is an 8-second time allowed for choosing further functions after each key pressing.

If no keys are pressed, the LCD will blink one time to indicate the end of setting. The current can no longer be changed during the process and the selected mode will begin.

fter 8 seconds from the last key

ress, the LCD will blink once to indicate the setting is confirmed and the selected mode is activated

Charging current: 200 mA

Charge Mode

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” will be shown on the display and the user may take out them at this time. If the rechargeable batteries are left in place 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

NOTE:

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

This prevents the user from changing the current setting accidentally while setting other rechargeable batteries. If one wants to change the applied current afterward, the rechargeable batteries must be taken out and inserted again.

z The current setting of the first charging compartment restricts the maximum charging

current of the other rechargeable batteries. For instance, if the first compartment 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, place the battery with the highest expected charging current in Compartment 1 first. To release the restriction of setting charging current, user must 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 individual rechargeable battery). 8 seconds after the last key press the LCD will blink one time to indicate the end of changing.

z When overheating conditions occur (over about 127°F (53°C)), usually due to too a high

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

rechargeable batteries drops to a safe level. If overheating conditions continue to occur, the rechargeable batteries must be taken out to cool down and then charge at a lower current.

When the battery is overheated the charging will cease automatically. “000 mA” will be displayed.

z For a new rechargeable battery it is recommended to charge it with 200 mA current to re-

condition it from the long storage status.

DISCHARGE MODE

Discharge mode will first discharge the rechargeable battery then charge it. It is for removing the memory effects of rechargeable batteries.

Press the MODE key within 8 seconds after inserting the rechargeable batteries; the Discharge mode can be selected. Then select different discharging current (see Table 2) by pressing the CURRENT key, within 8 seconds after inserting the batteries. (The display will blink once to indicate the setting has been confirmed and the current cannot be changed afterward.)

Discharging current: 250 mA

Discharge Mode

NOTE:

z The discharging current is always set to be half of the charging current whose upper limit

is 700 mA (see Table 2). Therefore the user is recommended to carefully select the discharging current so that the charging current afterward will not be too high.

z Hold the MODE key for about 1 second to activate the mode change. Press and release

the MODE key to select the “Charge”, “Discharge”, “T est” and “Refresh” mode.

Refresh mode will start with discharging the rechargeable battery, then charging it. The

able 2. DISCHARGE MODE Current

User-selected Discharging

current

Thereafter Charging

current

Finally, batteries will be fully charged in discharge mode and “Full” will be displayed. If the user presses the DISPLAY key at this time, "charge" icon instead of "discharge" icon will be displayed.

REFRESH MODE

Old rechargeable batteries and those that have not been used for a long time require refreshing. This process will recover the optimum capacity of the rechargeable batteries. Press the MODE key within 8 seconds after inserting the rechargeable batteries; the Refresh mode can be selected.

100 mA 250 mA 350 mA

200 mA 500 mA 700 mA

repeated discharging and charging cycles will be launched until no further increase in the measured capacities is estimated or 20 cycles, whichever comes first.

Discharging current: 250 mA

Refresh mode (the battery is being discharged)

NOTE:

z Press the MODE key within 8 seconds after inserting the rechargeable batteries; the

Refresh mode can be selected. (Hold the MODE key for about 1 second to activate the mode change. Press and release the MODE key to select the “Charge”, “Discharge”, “Test” and “Refresh” mode.)

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