Product ID: 72012
SPEED HOUSE MULTICELL CHARGER evo
Function utilization manual for AAA Ni-MH battery (for MINI-Z)
Supported firmware version: OS-1.0.03
※ Warning
All the settings of the charger will remember the last setting the next time you turn on the power, even if you unplug the charger.
Be sure to check the current settings before using. Incorrect settings such as charging current, -ΔV, and capacity limit may damage, explode, or ignite the battery, resulting in serious damage to your life or body.
If you have any questions about the settings, use the factory default settings.
[System Settings]
■Capacity limitation
「Off」:Charging continues regardless of the charging capacity until the set -ΔV (Cut off) is detected.
「On」:Charging ends when the capacity set in ■NiMH Capacity limitation is charged in the charging mode.
-As a reference-
Explanation of -Δ V (Cut off) on a video (please watch from around 6’ 20”)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUG8yTu-iFA&t=0s
■Activation Charge
「Off」:Charging starts normally in charging mode.
「On」:Charging starts after discharging in the charging mode.
■NiMH Voltage
If the nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery exceeds the set voltage during charging, charging ends. Originally, it is used as a safety function when the battery voltage becomes abnormally high. The standard setting value is 1.55V, but by setting the value lower than that, charging can be ended before the battery is fully charged.
■NiMH Capacity
When ■Capacity limitation function is set to "On", charging ends when the specified capacity is charged.
The standard setting is suitable for AAA NiMH batteries.
* When charging AA NiMH batteries, be sure to increase the set value according to the capacity of the batteries. If you do not increase the set value, it may not be fully charged.
Example: When the capacity of the AA battery is 2,000mAh, set it to 2,400mAh (set to about 1.2 times the capacity)
As a special usage, you can set the setting value to 50% of the battery capacity to end charging when the charging capacity reaches about 50%. By charging the battery to 100% just before the race starts, you can start with a high battery voltage.
[Task Setting]
■Chemistry
If you select "Auto", the type of task selection is limited.
Select "NiMH" when using a AAA NiMH battery.
[Tasks available when you choose “NiMH”]
■Function description by task
● Charge
・Current(Charging current)
Set it to the same current value as the capacity of the battery or less.
Example: When the capacity is 800mAh: 800mA ⇒ 0.8A
・Cut off(-ΔV)
During charging, the voltage rises to the maximum and then drops. The voltage difference between the maximum voltage and the voltage after drop is expressed as -ΔV. Normally, it is set to -Δ5mV. In this case, charging ends when the voltage drops -5mV from the maximum voltage. Decreasing this value ends charging before full charge and extends battery life. On the contrary, if this value is increased, the battery is overcharged and the discharge power increases, but the battery may be damaged, or battery life may be shorter.
When you use this charger for the first time, please use it with the normal setting -ΔV = 5mV.
-As a reference-
Explanation of -Δ V (Cut off) on a video (please watch from around 6’ 20”)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUG8yTu-iFA&t=0s
● Discharge
・Current(Discharging current)
In the case of using NiMH battery, it can be set to 1.0A at the maximum, but since the built-in resistor is fixed, 1.0A does not flow when the battery voltage drops.
■・Discharge Time
Normally, select "Unlimited". In that case, the discharge ends when the battery voltage drops to the set "Cut off".
As a special usage, for example, by setting the discharge time to 3 minutes, you can discharge assuming the qualifying of the MINI-Z Cup and measure the average discharge voltage for 3 minutes. (It is necessary to set the discharge current properly. For reference, the details are explained in ●Analysis section.)
・Cut off
Discharge ends at the set voltage. For NiMH batteries, usually set to 0.9V.
●Cycle C->D
●Cycle D->C
C:Charge / D:Dis Charge
C->D: Charge and then Discharge.
D->C: Discharge and then Charge.
It can be repeated automatically by setting the number of cycles.
・Cut off:same as task setting of ●Discharge
・Charging current:same as task setting of ●Charge
・Discharging current:same as task setting of ●Discharge
・Cycles
It can be set from 1 to 30 times. The operation is repeated the set number of cycles.
* If the NiMH capacity limit is applied, the task stops halfway. Please note the setting value.
* The Cut off (-ΔV) during charging is the value set last in the charge task.
Refer to ●Analysis for a description of the screen in action.
● Analysis
This task is almost the same as the cycle task, but it works only once with D-> C-> D.
The battery performance is judged by the data of the second D (discharge).
①Current battery voltage
②Average battery voltage(When charging / discharging)
③Current current(Charging/Discharging)
④Charging capacity(Latest charging data)
⑤Discharge capacity(Latest discharge data)
⑥Elapsed time / Number of cycles
⑦Battery temperature
⑧Battery internal resistance (Includes contact resistance)
"Average discharge voltage":Displayed in ② when discharging.
It is the average value of the voltage maintained during the discharge time. The higher this value, the better the acceleration of the MINI-Z and the higher the top speed.
"Discharge capacity":⑤
The capacity of electricity that can be taken out of the battery.
The higher this value, the longer the running time.
-As a reference-
How to choose a good battery for the race time (3 minutes)?
(1) Measure the discharge capacity of your AAA NiMH battery by ●Analysis task.
For example:
Setting: Charge current 0.8A / Discharge current 1.0A / Cut off voltage 0.9V / Discharge time
unlimited measurement
Check the capacity of the battery.
The discharge capacity at that time was 800mAh = 0.8Ah (for example result)
(2) Measure the running time by actually running on the racing track with your own MINI-Z.
For example result:The running time was 50 minutes.
⇒ The average value of the current consumed by MINI-Z is calculated as 60 minutes / 50 minutes x 0.8A = 0.96A.
⇒It can be assumed that 1.0 A is a suitable discharge current value for a simulation.
(3) Select a battery with a high average voltage according to the qualifying (3 minutes)
For example:
Setting: Charge current can be set as desired / Discharge current 1.0A / Cut off 0.9V / Discharge time 3 minutes.
Measure all the batteries you have and arrange them in descending order of average discharge voltage, and you can assume that the combination of 4 batteries from the highest voltage is suitable for qualifying for 3 minutes.
●Activation
Charging NiMH batteries that have not been used for a long time may end in a few minutes after the start. This is a task to repeatedly charge and discharge such a battery to bring it closer to a normal state.
* A completely discharged battery or an old battery may not recover.
Refer to Cycle task for each setting.
It works D->C->D->C->D->C.
In the case of AAA NiMH batteries, setting the charging current to 0.5A or less activates the batteries quicker. When the discharge capacity approaches the normal state, please end the task even in the middle of the repetition.