LIPO-QUICK-CHARGER 4 - LiPo Battery Charger GRAUPNER - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL LIPO-QUICK-CHARGER 4 GRAUPNER

Micro-processor controlled high-performance charger for up to four Lithium-Polymer cells, maximum charge current 5 A

Please be sure to read right through these operating instructions attentively before you attempt to use your new charger, as this will ensure that you can make full use of all of its facilities. Take particular note of the warnings and safety notes. These instructions should be kept in a safe place; if you ever dispose of the charger be sure to pass them on to the new owner.

The LiPo-Quick-Charger 4 is a sophisticated product offering superb facilities and features. The use of the latest semi-conductor technology, controlled by a high-performance RISC microprocessor, provides outstanding charging performance, simplicity of operation and optimum reliability - features which are usually only to be found in much more expensive units.

The LiPo-Quick-Charger 4 is capable of charging batteries consisting of up to four Lithium-Polymer cells. If the battery consists of one to three cells, the unit automatically detects the cell count and calculates the required charge parameters automatically. If you wish to charge four Lithium-Polymer cells, you must set the cell count manually, as fully automatic operation is only possible with up to three cells.

Note

Always read and observe the charging instructions supplied by the battery manufacturer, and keep to the charge currents and charge times stated in them. It is not safe to fast-charge Lithium batteries unless they are expressly stated to be suitable for high charge currents.

Lithium-Polymer cells are very sensitive.

For this reason they should only ever be charged in conditions when the entire charging process can be supervised constantly.

Warnings and safety notes

• Protect the charger from dust, damp, rain, heat (e.g. direct sunshine) and vibration. It should only be operated in dry indoor conditions. Provide good ventilation.
• The case slots serve to cool the charger, and must not be covered or enclosed; set up the charger with space all around it, so that

cooling air can circulate unhindered.

• The charger is designed to be powered by a 12 V car battery or a mains PSU recommended by Graupner. Do not make any modifications of any kind to the unit.
• The charger and the battery to be charged should be set up on a heat-resistant, non-inflammable and non-conductive surface before use. Never place the charger directly on a car seat, carpet or similar surface. Keep all inflammable and volatile materials well away from the charging area. Provide good ventilation.
• Connect the charger directly to the car battery using the original cables and connectors supplied. The car's engine must be stopped all the time the LiPo-Quick-Charger 4 is connected to it.
• The charge output sockets and connecting leads must not be modified, and must not be inter-connected in any way. There is a danger of short-circuit between the charge outputs and the vehicle's bodywork when the charger is connected to the car battery. The charge leads and connecting leads must not be coiled up when the charger is in use. Avoid short-circuiting the charge output or the model battery with the car bodywork, even though the LiPo-Quick-Charger 4 is protected against such errors. For this reason the charger must never be placed directly on the vehicle's bodywork.
• Never leave the charger running or connected to the car battery unsupervised.
  Only one battery may be connected to the charger for charging at any one time.
• The charger is only suitable for charging Lithium-Polymer batteries consisting of up to four cells.
• To avoid short-circuits between the banana plugs fitted to the charge lead, please always connect the charge lead to the charger first, and only then to the battery to be charged.

Check before using the charger

Are all connections firm, or is there an intermittent contact at any point in the circuit?

Please bear in mind that it can be dangerous to

fast-charge batteries. For example, if there is a brief interruption due to an intermittent contact, the result is inevitably a malfunction such as a restart of the charge process or an incorrect cell count detection, which would result in the pack being massively overcharged.

Charging batteries

During the charge process a particular quantity of energy is fed into the battery; the Li-Po Charger 4 automatically calculates the correct quantity to suit the battery connected to it, and adjusts the charge rate during the entire charge process to suit the battery's condition.

The maximum charge current of the Li-Po Charger 4 is 5 Amps.

• Batteries must be supervised when on charge.
• Batteries must ALWAYS be placed on a fireproof surface for charging.
• Faulty or swollen Lithium cells must never be recharged.
• The battery to be charged must be connected using the original connector supplied with GRAUPNER Lithium-Polymer cells.
• Ensure that there are no intermittent contacts at any point in the charge circuit. If there is a brief interruption due to an intermittent contact, the result could be a restart of the charge process, which would result in the pack being massively overcharged.

Lithium-Polymer cells

The Li-Po Charger 4 is designed solely for charging Lithium-Polymer batteries with a nominal cell voltage of 3.7V per cell. The outstanding feature of Lithium batteries compared to other battery types is their much higher capacity. However, this important advantage is balanced by increased risks, and it is necessary to adopt different charging and discharging methods in order to reduce the risk to a minimum.

It is essential to observe the basic instructions provided here at all times. Please be sure also to read the information and safety notes provided by the battery manufacturer, and keep within the stated technical limits. The basic rule is that Lithium-based batteries can ONLY be charged

using special battery chargers designed and adjusted to suit the specific battery type (final charge voltage and capacity). In contrast to NiCd and NiMH batteries, Lithium batteries have to be charged using what is known as a constant current / constant voltage method. The charge current required is determined by the battery capacity, and the charger detects and sets this automatically. Lithium batteries are usually charged at a charge current of 1 - 2C , where a charge current of 1C corresponds to the cell capacity. For example, if a battery has a capacity of 1500 mAh, a charge current of 1C is 1500mA , or 1.5 A. The Li-Po Charger 4 automatically calculates the optimum charge current to suit the battery connected to it, up to a maximum of 5 amps. This makes it unnecessary to set the charge rate, and the charger therefore features no such means of adjustment. Once the specific final charge voltage for the particular battery type is reached, the charger automatically reduces the current in order to prevent the final charge voltage exceeding the permissible maximum value.

Liability Exclusion

As manufacturers, we at GRAUPNER are not in a position to ensure that you observe the correct methods of operation when installing, using and maintaining this charger. For this reason we are obliged to deny all liability for loss, damage or costs which are incurred due to the incompetent or incorrect use and operation of our products, or which are connected with such operation in any way.

Components and accessories

As manufacturer GRAUPNER GmbH & Co. KG recommends to use components and accessories which have been released by GRAUPNER after checking them for suitability, function, and security. GRAUPNER assumes responsibility for these products for you. GRAUPNER does not assume responsibility for components or accessories which are not released or are produced by a different manufacturer. Also, GRAUPNER is not able to judge in every case if a product from a different manufacturer can be used without security risk.

Using the charger for the first time

Connect your LiPo-Quick-Charger 4 to a 12V power source of adequate capacity.

Check polarity carefully!

The ideal power source is a 12V car battery or other suitable lead-acid battery (Order No. 2593: 12V / 24Ah ).

Alternatively a stabilised mains PSU with a rated output of 12 - 14 V and at least 5 A can be used, e.g. Order No. 6445 (13.8 V / 7 A) or Order No. 94450 (13.8 V / 5-7 A).

Stand-by mode

When you connect the LiPo-Quick-Charger 4 to the power source, the blue LED starts flashing at three-second intervals.

Caution: if you press the START/STOP button while the charger is in charge mode, battery charged mode or error mode, the Li-Po Charger 4 reverts to Stand-by mode.

Charge mode

Now connect a suitable genuine GRAUPNER Lithium-Polymer battery pack to the output of the LiPo-Quick-Charger 4. The pack must consist of no more than four cells.

Set the potentiometer following to the desired capacity from 100 to 5000mAh . The charger is able to generate the optimal charge current for your Li-Po battery pack.

If you are charging a Lithium-Polymer pack consisting of one to three cells, press the START/STOP button briefly after connecting the battery to the charger. You will hear a loud audible signal to confirm that the button was pressed, and the blue LED (for 1 - 3 cells) lights up; it continues to glow during the charge process. If you are charging a Lithium-Polymer pack consisting of four cells, hold the START/STOP button pressed in for about two seconds after connecting the battery to the charger. You will hear two short audible signals to confirm this. The red LED (for 4 cells) lights up; it continues to glow during the charge process. You can interrupt the charge process at any time by pressing the START/STOP button. The LiPo-Quick-Charger 4 then reverts immediately to Stand-by mode. The LiPo-Quick-Charger 4 has been developed to provide as simple and safe a means of charging sensitive Lithium-Polymer cells as possible. During the entire charge process the special Lithium charge program calculates the optimum current for each phase of charging, with a maximum current of 3 Amps. The effect of this is that the LiPo-Quick-Charger 4 starts with a relatively low charge current, then analyses the battery completely before increasing the charge current fully automatically. When the pack is approaching maximum capacity, the charger reduces the charge current again, also completely automatically.

Using the charger for the first time

This method of operation charges the pack to 100% of full capacity, at the same time avoiding battery damage and overloading.

"Battery charged" mode

As soon as the battery has reached 100% of charged capacity, the charger automatically switches off the process. This is indicated by the blue LED (1 - 3 cells) flashing at one-second intervals, or by the red LED (4 cells) flashing at one-second intervals. You will also hear an audible signal at one-second intervals; this signal continues for about 15 seconds.

Do not be surprised if the battery is cool or just barely warm after a full charge. This is completely normal, as the LiPo-Quick-Charger 4 automatically reduces the current towards the end of the charge process.

Disconnect the charged battery and press the START/STOP button; the LiPo-Quick-Charger 4 now reverts to Stand-by mode.

The blue LED flashes at three-second intervals to indicate Stand-by mode.

Error mode

The LiPo-Quick-Charger 4 includes a range of sophisticated safety functions designed to protect the battery and the charger. For example, the device is protected against reversed polarity at the input and output. If you accidentally connect the charger with reversed polarity, the 7.5A / 32V fuse may blow, in which case you will have to fit a replacement fuse.

Spare fuses are available from any good electrical goods supplier.

If one of the following errors occurs, the Li-Po Charger 4 switches to Error mode.

This mode is indicated by both LEDs (blue and red) flashing. At the same time the unit emits an audible warning signal at one-second intervals. You can identify the type of error by counting the number of flashes from the two LEDs before a short pause occurs, during which you will again hear the audible warning signal.

LED Error

1x	Input voltage below 10.5 V or above 15 V
2x	Battery connected to charge output with reversed polarity
3x	No battery connected to charge output
4x	Incorrect cell count selected
5x	Incorrect battery type connected (eg. Ni-Cd / Ni-MH)
6x	Problem with charger circuit (send charger to Graupner Service Centre)

If the charger does not work at all when connected correctly to a suitable power source, and fails to produce any audible or visual indicators, remember to check the fuse (7.5 A / 32 V).

If the fuse has blown, remove it and fit an identical replacement fuse.

Specification

Input voltage: 11~15V

Battery type: Lithium-Polymer

(3.7 V type only)

Cell count: 1-4

Charge current: Automatic, max. 5 A

Indicators: Blue and red LEDs

Safety functions: Reversed polarity protection

(input / output)

Incorrect cell count

Voltage error

Circuit break (fuse)

Input: Crocodile clips

Output: Graupner BEC plug

Dimensions (L/W/H): app. 92 × 58 × 27 mm

Weight: approx. 133 g

Environmental Protection Notes

Whenever you see this symbol on a product, in the user instructions or the packaging, it means that you must not dispose of that item, or the electronic components in it, in the ordinary domestic waste when it comes to the end of its useful life. The correct method of disposal is to take it to your local collection point for recycling electrical and electronic equipment.

Individual markings indicate which materials can be recycled and re-used. You can make an important contribution to the protection of our shared environment by re-using the product, recycling the basic materials or recycling redundant equipment in other ways.

Dry cells and rechargeable batteries must be removed from the device and taken separately to a suitable battery disposal centre.

In the case of RC models, the electronic components - such as servos, receivers and speed controllers - must be removed from the model, and taken to an appropriate collection centre for electrical waste.

If you don't know the location of your nearest disposal centre, please enquire at your local council office.

EU Conformity Declaration

We hereby declare that the following product:

LiPo-Quick-Charger 4; Order No. 6440

conforms with the essential protective requirements as laid down in the directive for harmonising the statutory directives of the member states concerning electro-magnetic interference (89/336/EWG).

This product has been tested for electro-magnetic interference in accordance with the following norms:

EN 50081-1

EN 50082-1

This declaration was produced by:

and is valid for the manufacturer / importer of the product

73230 Kirchheim/Teck, Germany, on 24.02.06

Hans Graupner

Managing Director

LiPo-Quick-Charger 4; Ref. N°6440

Graupner GmbH & Co. KG, Henriattenstraße 94-96, 73230 Kirchheim/Teck, Germany guarantees this product for a period of 24 months from date of purchase.

The guarantee applies only to such material or operational defects witch are present at the time of purchase of the product.

Damage due to wear, overloading, incompetent handling or the use of incorrect accessories is not covered by the guarantee.

The user's legal rights and claims under guarantee are not affected by this guarantee.

Please check the product carefully for defects before you are make a claim or send the item to us, since we are obliged to make a charge for our cost if the product is found to be free of faults.

Newark, Nottinghamshire

NG24 2EG

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Belgie/Nederland

Jan van Mouwerik

Slot de Houvelaan 30

NL 3155 Maasland VT

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Servicehotline

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Montag-Freitag9:30-11:30

RC Service Z. Hnizdil

Letecka 666/22

CZ-16100 Praha 6 - Ruzyne

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Garantie-Urkunde

Warranty certificate / Certificate de garantie