La Crosse Technology BC-900 - Manual (Page 3)

3
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. “Charge”, “Discharge”,
“Refresh” and “Test” mode may be chosen.
Then within 4 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 1 second to activate the mode change. The subsequent pressing of the mode key will toggle
between the “Charge”, “Discharge”, “Test” and “Refresh” mode.
• There is a 4-second time allowed for choosing further functions after each key pressing. If no more keys are 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 begin.
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.
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 doing setting on other rechargeable batteries. If one wants to change the applied current afterward, the rechargeable batteries
must be taken out and inserted again.
z
The maximum charging current of the other rechargeable batteries are restricted by the current setting of the first inserted rechargeable battery. For
instance, if the first inserted rechargeable battery is set to charge at 700 mA, then the second, third and fourth rechargeable batteries can be only
set to charging at a maximum current of 700 mA.
Therefore, the user is advised to 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). Four (4) 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 high 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 batteries drops
to a safe level. If overheat conditions continue to occur, the rechargeable batteries must be taken out to cool down and then charged at a lower
current.
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.
By pressing the MODE key within 8 seconds after inserting the rechargeable batteries, the Discharge mode can be selected. Then the user may also
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
“Full” sign is shown -The battery
is fully charged
When the battery is overheated the
charging will ceases automatically.
“000 mA” will be displayed.
Charging current: 200 mA
Charge Mode
After 4 seconds from the last key
press, the LCD will blink once to
indicate the setting is confirmed and
the selected mode is activated