Great Planes Triton Jr. Charger - GPMM3152 - Manual (Page 15)

WARNING! Always follow the instructions below when charging LiPo/Ion
batteries! LiPo/Ion batteries should NEVER get warm anytime during
charge! Disconnect batteries IMMEDIATELY if they become excessively
warm or hot at any time, and refer to the Troubleshooting Guide in the
rear of this manual for details. LiPo/Ion cells are much more dangerous
than NiCd or NiMH batteries, and pose a significant FIRE HAZARD
which can result in causing bodily harm and/or permanent damage to the
cells and the surrounding environment.
1. At the “NiCd CHARGE” screen, press BATT TYPE three times to find
the “LiPo CHARGE” screen (or “Li-Ion CHARGE” screen if you selected
that lithium type).
2. Two values MUST be properly set in this charge screen. Instead of
showing a charge current value, Triton Jr. shows a battery capacity
value (default is “350mAh”). Press ENTER to cause this value to flash.
Then press INC+ or DEC- to find the capacity value that most closely
matches the capacity rating marked on your lithium battery. Triton Jr.
will then set the charge current for your battery automatically (see
notes section for details).
3. Press ENTER to cause the voltage value to flash. Press INC+ or DEC-
to set this voltage to the exact nominal voltage rating shown on your
pack. Press ENTER, or wait 5 seconds and Triton Jr. will automatically
confirm both settings.
WARNING!! NEVER enter a capacity or voltage number that is higher than the value specified for your battery! Failure to follow this warning
can cause permanent damage to your battery, charger and surroundings in the form of FIRE!
4. To START CHARGE, press and hold START for 2 seconds. “BATTERY CHECK, PLEASE WAIT…” will show briefly, and Triton Jr. will start
charging if the battery is in suitable condition.
5. When finished charging, the screen will show “END” and tones will sound for 10 seconds. The battery should now be ready for use. Triton
Jr. will display details about the charge data for your battery, including charge capacity, elapsed charge time, etc. Other data measured
during charge can be viewed in the DATA VIEW screens shown on page 20.
CHARGING LiPo OR Li-Ion BATTERIES
15
NOTES FOR CHARGING LiPo & Li-Ion BATTERIES
• Triton Jr. automatically sets the charge current based on the battery’s 1C
rating. Therefore, it is very important to enter the battery’s exact rated
capacity (in mAh) in the programming. For example, if a capacity of
600mAh is entered Triton Jr. will set the charge current at 0.6A (600mA).
For a capacity setting of 2500mAh, the charge current will be set to 2.5A
(2500mA). If you do not change the factory default battery capacity value,
Triton Jr. will charge the battery as if it’s rated at 350mA (0.35A).
• LiPo and Li-Ion batteries are charged using the “constant current /
constant voltage” process (cc/cv). Constant current is delivered during the
first part of fast charge. As the battery reaches a pre-set voltage, Triton Jr.
shuts off constant current and starts to apply a constant voltage. As the
battery’s voltage equalizes to the output voltage of the charger, the charge
current will drop to a value equal to the battery’s rated capacity divided by
10, and then automatically stop charge as the battery is fully charged.
• During charge, it’s possible that current to the battery might NOT reach
the full value as set in the programming. This is because Triton Jr.
constantly monitors the condition of the battery and makes sure not to
deliver more current than the battery can handle at any given time. This is
normal.
• LiPo/Ion batteries do not need trickle charge, and therefore no such
function exists.
• For LiPo/Ion batteries rated at 11.1V or greater, the actual amount of
current delivered to the battery might be limited due to the charger’s
maximum rated output power. This is normal, due to various possible
circumstances such as the condition of the battery, limitations of the input
power source, charge connector, etc.
• For safety reasons, fast charge of LiPo/Ion batteries will automatically
stop if the actual amount of capacity delivered to the battery reaches
110% of the capacity setting entered in point 2.
• A backup safety timer will also stop charge if not completed after 2 hours.