La Crosse Technology BC-1000U User manual

Contents
Language
Page
English
1

1
TABLE OF CONTENT
Topic
Page
Features
4
Inventory Of Contents
5
Function Keys
5
Operating Modes
Charge Mode
8
Discharge Mode
16
Refresh Mode
18
Test Mode
19
Trickle Charge
22
Display Mode Information
22
The Size C and D BatteryAdapter
29
Care and Maintenance
30
Specification
31
Warranty Information
32
Troubleshooting
42

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BATTERY CHARGER BC-1000U
Instruction Manual
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

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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.

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FEATURES:
The Charging unit
Charging rechargeable batteries in various currents (200, 500, 700 or 1000 mA). The
charging current can be set up to 1500 or 1800 mAh when two batteries are charged.
Fast charging –70 mins to charge up 2000 mAh batteries
Individual LCD display for all compartments
Charging both ―AA‖ and ―AAA‖ rechargeable batteries simultaneously
Overheat detection to protect rechargeable batteries from over-charging
Minus delta voltage (-dV) detection for charge termination
Damaged batteries detection
Discharge mode (first discharging and then charging) to remove memory effect of
rechargeable batteries
Refreshing old rechargeable batteries by discharging/ charging cycles
Test function to check the capacities of rechargeable batteries
Charging/ Discharging functions can be launched independently and simultaneously to
each rechargeable battery in the compartments
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)

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INVENTORY OF CONTENTS
1. Charging unit
2. Transformer
3. Size ―C‖ battery adapter & Size ―D‖ battery adapter (Total of 4 Adapters)
4. Holding Bag
5. ―AA‖ rechargeable battery (4) & ―AAA‖ rechargeable battery (4)
6. Instruction Manual
FUNCTION KEYS:
There are three easy-to-use function keys and four number keys on the charging unit:
Compartment
Number keys
DISPLAY
key
MODE key
CURRENT
key

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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

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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)

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CHARGE MODE
Charging at 200 mA is the default-operating mode of the charging unit.
A charging current up to 1500 or 1800 mA may be set by the pressing the CURRENT key when
only one or two rechargeable batteries are charged, using only compartment 1 and
compartment 4. When charging three or four rechargeable batteries at the same time, user may
select a charging current of 200, 500, 700 or 1000 mA.
NOTE: The highest charging current will be in compartment 1. The other compartments cannot
be higher.
When charging two batteries at
compartment 1 & 4 –max.
charging current: 1800 mA
When charging two batteries at
compartment 1 & 2 –max.
charging current: 1000 mA

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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.
When charging four batteries –
max. charging current: 1000 mA
When charging two batteries at
compartment 2 & 3 –max.
charging current: 1000 mA

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Table 1. Charging Time with various charging current
Size of battery
Battery Capacity
Charging current selected
(mA)
Estimated charging time
AA
2600 mAh
1800
~80 min
1500
~100 min
1000
~2 hr 30 min
700
~3 hr 30 min
500
~5 hr
200
~12 hr
AA
2000 mAh
1800
~70 min
1500
~80 min
1000
~2 hr
700
~3 hr
500
~4 hr
200
~10 hr
AAA
1000 mAh
700
~70 min
500
~1 hr 40 min
200
~4 hr

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NOTE:
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.
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.
When the transformer has been plugged into the power source, the version number of
the charger (for example ―37‖) 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 placed to the charging unit

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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:
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.
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.

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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.
Charging current: 200 mA
Charge Mode
After 8 seconds from the last key
press, the LCD will blink once to
indicate the setting is confirmed and
the selected mode is activated

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NOTE:
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.
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 700 mA, then the second, third and fourth
rechargeable batteries can be only set to charging at a maximum current of 700 mA.
“Full” sign is shown -The battery
is fully charged

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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.
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.
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.

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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

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NOTE:
The discharging current is always set to be half of the charging current whose upper limit
is 1000 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.
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.
Table 2. DISCHARGE MODE Current
User-selected Discharging
current
100 mA
250 mA
350 mA
500 mA
Thereafter Charging current
200 mA
500 mA
700 mA
1000 mA
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.

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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.
Refresh mode will start with discharging the rechargeable battery, then charging it. The
repeated discharging and charging cycles will be launched until no further increase in the
measured capacities is estimated or 20 cycles, whichever comes first.
Refresh mode (the battery is
being discharged)
Discharging current: 250 mA

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NOTE:
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.)
Select different discharging current by pressing the CURRENT key (see ―Note‖ in
Discharge mode and Table 2), within 8 seconds after inserting the batteries. (Or the
display will blink once to indicate the end of setting and the current cannot be changed
afterward.).
It may take up to several days to finish the refreshing process, depending on the selected
discharging current.
The maximum refresh current is 1000 mA and is not affected by the number of
rechargeable batteries inserted.
TEST MODE
In the Test mode the rechargeable batteries will first be fully charged and then discharged to
determine the capacities. Finally, the rechargeable batteries are charged up again and the
capacity in (mAh) or (Ah) will alternate every 3 seconds with the FULL sign.