Radient ORIGIN User manual

THIS PRODUCT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH LIPO
OR OTHER LITHIUM BASED BATTERIES
Safe
Peak
Safe
Start
WWW.RADIENTRC.COM
Simple •Capable •Safe
NiCd & NiMH AC/DC 4A Peak Detection Charger
Input power
AC 100-240V @50-60Hz
DC 11-15V
Internal switching DC power supply 35W
Charge current rate 0.5A, 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A
Output connector HCT-Plug, Mini/Micro adapter
Weight 300g
Dimensions 150x70x40mm
• Entire contents ©2014 Radient RC.
• Before using your product, review all documentation and inspect the
products carefully. If for some reason you decide it is not what you
wanted, then do not continue with unpacking, setup or operation
of your product. Your local hobby dealer cannot accept a product
for return or exchange after partaking in actions that produce wear
and tear.
• Product specifications are subject to change without notice. Due
to ongoing development, the actual product may vary from images
shown.
• This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
• This product is not a toy! (14+) Recommended for ages 14 and up.
Adult supervision required for ages under 18 years old. Contains
small parts, keep out of reach of children 3 years of age and
younger.

PACKAGE CONTENTS
COMPATIBLE BATTERY TYPES FOR USE WITH YOUR CHARGER
UNBOXING
INTRODUCING THE ORIGIN CHARGER
2NiCD & NiMH AC/DC 4A PEAK DETECTION CHARGER
• Nickle Cadmium (NiCd)
› 1 (1.2V) - 8 (9.6V) cells
• Nickle Metal-Hydride (NiMH)
› 1 (1.2V) - 8 (9.6V) cells
1. Remove the charger from the box.
a. Ensure the plug is compatible with your battery.
i. NOTE: There are many different types of battery plugs on the market. If yours does not fit the standard supplied plugs, please
visit your local hobby dealer to purchase the correct adapter.
2. Read charging instructions and understand all warnings and cautions before proceeding.
a. This product is not a toy and should not be operated, or maintained without supervision of an adult.
b. It is necessary to follow all manufacturer’s charging instructions per each battery type.
• [1] Origin Charger
• [1] Documentation package
• [1] HCT to Mini Adapter
CHARGE STATUS LED
(RED/GREEN)
STORAGE TRAY
(DO NOT USE WHILE CHARGING) AC INPUT PLUG
DC INPUT BANANNA PLUGS
MAIN CHARGE LEADS
CHARGE PLUG
AIR VENTS
(KEEP CLEAR)
4
2
6
1
7
AMPS, START/STOP
BUTTON
3
8
5

PHYSICAL FEATURES
GENERAL CHARGING PRECAUTIONS
3
Simple • Capable • Safe
1. Status LED
a. OFF: No input power detected
b. FLASHING PATTERN:
i. Indicates charge rate setting. The current setting will be indicated by the LED flashing quickly the number of times cor-
responding to the charge rate, 4 fast flashes = 0.5A, 1 flash = 1A, 2 flashes = 2A, etc.
ii. The pattern will repeat itself after a short delay
c. SOLID RED: Charging
d. FLASHING GREEN: Peak detection active
i. The charger has entered Delta-Peak mode, the battery is approximately 90% charged
e. SOLID GREEN: Charge cycle complete
f. FLASHING RED ERROR:
i. Connection problem or damaged battery (check for proper polarity and balance plug connection.
ii. Input power is out of operating limits.
g. RED/GREEN ERROR: Charger is in thermal protection mode. Charging current has been reduced to minimum to allow for the charger
to cool back down to normal operating temperatures. When the charger has cooled, normal charging will resume. If you see this
error, direct a cooling fan at the charger, with the air blowing away from yourself or any flammable objects.
2. Amps-Start/Stop Button
a. Pressing the button will cycle through the charge current options.
b. Pressing the button for 3 seconds will cause the charge cycle to start, indicated by the LED glowing Solid RED.
c. Press to stop charging at any time while charging.
d. Press to clear an error.
3. Main charging lead
a. Connect to the main charge leads of your battery using the appropriate connector type. Visit your local hobby dealer for assistance if
the plug on your battery and charger do not match.
b. WARNING: Never try to force connectors together.
4. AC input plug
a. For use with grounded receptacles (plugs) supplying 120-240V @50-60Hz AC power.
5. DC input bananna plug power leads
a. For use with 12V DC power supplies capable of supplying a minimum power of 50W.
b. Use in conjunction with RDNA0007 alligator clips to connect to a 12V automotive battery or DC power source.
6. Ventilation for cooling
a. Always keep clear and never stick anything into the charger through these or any other holes in the case.
7. Storage Tray
a. Use for storing your battery or an additional charger when charger is not in use.
8. High Current T-Plug compatible charge lead connector
Although great for first time users, Radient RC products are indeed advanced and sensitive electronics that could result in injury if used improperly.
Always use caution and common sense as failure to operate your Radient RC product in a safe and responsible manner can result in damage to the
product or other properties. Therefore this product is not intended for use or maintenance by children without direct adult supervision. Radient RC,
and your local hobby dealer shall not be liable for any loss or damages, whether direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential, arising from
the use, misuse, or abuse of this product or any product required to operate or maintain it. Following are some general tips that will help increase
the safe operation and enjoyment of using your charger.
• Always operate your charger in a well ventilated area and on a flat surface ensuring no vents are obstructed.
• Do not operate your charger in direct sun light, rain, electrical, or thunder storms.
• The charger should never be connected to a battery without being connected to an input power source.
• Never operate your charger where input power is highly unstable.
• Never attempt to charge a non-rechargable battery or battery type that is not compatible wit this charger
• Operate in a dry, open environment away from property, and cars (never run into the street for any reason).
• Always disconnect the battery from the charger after charge is complete.
• Never connect the battery when the charger is powered off. The charger should always be powered on before connecting the battery.
• Never stick anything into the charger case due to risk of electrical shock.
• Always allow batteries to completely cool before charging.
› NOTE: Only use genuine replacement or aftermarket parts available from your local dealer to ensure proper operation of your Radient
RC product.

TIPS FOR SAFELY OPERATING YOUR CHARGER
CHARGING A NiCd/NiMH (NiXX) BATTERY...
THIS PART IS REALLY IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND IT
LETS GET CHARGING
4NiCD & NiMH AC/DC 4A PEAK DETECTION CHARGER
Now that you are familiar with the charger, its features, and general precautions of what not to do and some of what to do, we should get started
charging your first battery. Just a reminder...set some time aside so you DON’T have to walk away and STOP THE CHARGER, MID
CHARGE since you should never leave the charger unattended while charging. Finally, confirm the battery chemistry type, capacity, voltage and
cell count of the battery you will charge and ensure all connector plugs are compatible. Here are the basics of what you will be doing.
1. Plug the charger into a properly grounded AC wall plug or DC power source.
2. Plug the battery into the charger and place the battery on/in a non-flammable surface/container and away from any flammable objects.
3. Follow the appropriate charge instructions for your battery configuration.
4. Unplug the battery from the charger when the charge is complete.
5. Remove charger from wall plug when not in use.
a. NOTE: Only use batteries with labels that are legible and clearly state the capacity, cell count (or voltage), and chemistry type as
either NiCd or NiMH.
WARNING: The Radient Origin charger has the capability of charging both NiCd and NiMH (NiXX) batteries which utilize nearly identical charging
modes. Be sure to properly identify the battery chemistry, voltage and capacity of every pack before attempting to charge it to ensure the correct
settings. Some LiPo battery packs are designed to look like NiXX battery packs. One indication of a LiPo battery is the presence of a balance plug
either exiting the battery with small wires and small plug on the end or a small female plug embedded into the end of the battery pack. If you are
unsure of the battery type you are attempting to charge; please consult your local hobby dealer for assistance.
• Avoid charging on or around flammable items.
• Never attempt to charge a swollen or damaged battery.
• Never leave the battery unattended while charging.
• Never operate the charger without adult supervision.
• Never charge a warm battery, always allow the battery to cool to room temperature before charging.
• Never drop the charger or battery.
• Inspect the battery and charger before use. Never charge a battery or operate a charger if the wire or connector has been damaged or if the
battery has experienced a short circuit.
• Incorrect use of the battery, connections, or charging equipment can cause personal injury or property damage.
• Never allow batteries or charger to come in contact with moisture at any time; avoid environments with high humidity.
• Disconnect input power and battery immediately if the battery, connector, or charger becomes hot or changes form during use.
›Warning: The charger can reach temperatures up to 170 degrees Farenheit. Avoid prolonged contact to
avoid burns and handle the charger with care during a charge and immediately after.
The Radient Origin charger supports charging of NiXX batteries with a delta peak value of 8mV and available charge current range from 0.5, 1-4
Amps for 1-8 cell (1.2V-9.6V) series configurations.
› NOTE: Your charger is equipped with a safety shut-off timer set to 120min. Charging of batteries with capacity higher than 5000mAh
may require a greater charge time and thus require more than one charge cycle to achieve full charge. It is always recommended to
allow your battery to cool to room temperature before charging either the first or second time.
Safe Start:
To help avoid charging a lower capacity battery pack at a higher charge currnet that may have been used on a previously charged battery.
the Origin charger will reset the charge current to 0.5A every time the battery is disconnected or an error occurs during the charging process
(indicated by rapid flashing RED status LED).
To charge a NiXX battery in Safe Peak charge mode, perform the following steps:
• WARNING: Ensure your battery is truly a NiCD or NiMH battery. Some LiPo battery packs are designed to
look like NiXX battery packs. If you are unsure of the battery type you are attempting to charge; please con-
sult your local hobby dealer for assistance.
1. Connect the main charging leads to your battery.
a. NOTE: it is critical that the battery always be connected with the correct polarity, Negative (-) = Black, and Positive (+) = Red. Only
connect like color and symbol together, any other form of connection may cause fire or explosion.
2. Select the appropriate charge current for your battery by pressing the button repeatedly until the desired charge current is indicated by the
flashing RED LED. For 1A, the LED will flash 1 time, then pause and repeat the signal. For 2A, the LED will flash 2 times quickly, then pause
and repeat the signal. The pattern continues through 4A at which time another button press will cycle around to 1A again.

...CHARGING A NiCd/NiMH (NiXX) BATTERY CONTINUED
GENERAL CARE AND MAINTENANCE
5
Simple • Capable • Safe
3. The following table illustrates the charge current options and the associated flashes and pauses
used by the LED to communicate the setting.
a. WARNING: Selecting the appropriate charge current is critical to the safe charging
of your batteries. To achieve the safest operating conditions and longest life from
your batteries it is recommended to charge your batteries at no more than 1C. See
the Index at the back of this manual for charge rate calculations.
i. Note: Although you may select charge currents up to 4A, the maximum final
charge current may be reduced as needed to keep the charger operating within
safe limits. Typically this occurs when charging a 8 cell NiXX at 4A.
01). Exp: A 8 cell NiMH may start to charge at 4A but as the voltage of the
battery increases the charge current will reduce in 0.1A increments
to approximately 3A.
ii. Utilizing this method of charge current control enables the charger to always try to charge your battery as close as possible
to the setting you specify, while keeping the system within safe operating limits.
4. Press the Amps/Start button and hold until the ‘Status’ LED turns solid RED (Approximately 3 seconds) to start the charging cycle.
a. NOTE: If the LED begins to flash RED or if the charger is unresponsive to your input, see the troubleshooting guide at the back of this
manual.
5. Near the end of charge completion the LED will flash GREEN, indicating the charger has entered Delta-Peak (dV) mode.
6. When the charge is complete, the LED will glow solid GREEN. The LED will glow solid GREEN until the battery or AC power is disconnected.
a. NOTE: If the charger encounters an error throughout the start or charging process, the ‘Status’ LED will flash RED. See the trouble
shooting guide at the back of this manual for possible solutions.
7. Pressing the Start/Stop button at any time while charing will STOP the charge cycle. The previously set charge rate will remain set until the
battery is disconnected.
WARNING: This charger contains a built in AC to DC converter which can store electrical power for a short time
after disconnection from the AC input power source. Always unplug the charger from both input power and output
charging leads before performing any cleaning or maintenance to prevent electric shock. It is advisable to wait at
least 1 minute before starting your cleaning or maintenance.
Care:
• Always use clean, dry cloth or soft bristle brush to clean your equipment.
• Never use chemical cleansers to avoid damage to the sensitive electronics and plastics.
• Before every use, inspect the input and output power cords and plugs and discontinue use if there are any signs of damage.
› Contact your local hobby dealer or Radient RC Customer Support for assistance with repair needs.
› NOTE: Continued use of a damaged battery or charger will void the warranty and could cause personal injury and property damage.
Maintenance:
• Periodically use compressed air to blow out dust that has been trapped inside the charger to help prevent excessive heat due to dust build
up.
›WARNING: Always wear eye protection when using compressed air to clean your charger.
› NOTE: Ensure the charger is disconnected form input power and any battery before performing any care or cleaning procedures.
.5A
1A
2A
3A
4A
BLINK PAUSE REPEAT

STORAGE AND DISPOSAL
RELATED SPARE PARTS LIST
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
6NiCD & NiMH AC/DC 4A PEAK DETECTION CHARGER
Storage:
• The Origin charger has a recessed area on top to allow for stacking another Origin charger on top or for storing your battery when not
charging or in use.
› NOTE: It is not recommended to use your charger with a battery or other charger stored on top as this will increase the temperature
of the charger or battery. Charging a battery stored on top of the charger will cause the battery to reach higher temperatures during
the charge, thus reducing the accuracy of the peak detection and reducing the cycle life of your battery.
› Warning: Never “kink” (or bend sharply) any electrical wires. Doing so may damage the internal electrical wire even if the outside
appears undamaged.
• Never store the charger (or your batteries) in direct sunlight for extended periods of time.
• Since every battery and manufacturer is different, refer to the storage instructions from your battery manufacturer for proper information.
Disposal:
• Your product and the various batteries it is intended to be used with are considered electronic waste and should never be discarded in
standard garbage containers. Please visit your local hobby dealer and use the FREE battery disposal center for proper disposal/recycling of
batteries. Consult your local city waste disposal center for information on disposal of electronics other than batteries.
• Please do your part to protect our environment.
RDNA0007..................ALLIGATOR CLIPS, LARGE, BULLET CONNECTION....................................................................................................................
Problem / Symptom Possible Cause Possible Solution
Status LED is flashing RED
Battery voltage too low Battery may be dead and in need of replacement
Battery voltage too high Battery voltage could already indicate a full charge,
attempt to use your battery then charge again
Input voltage is too low Check for stable input power with proper voltage
Reverse polarity
Check battery connection and ensure red wires are
connected to red wires and black wires are connected
to black wires
Status LED is flashing Red/Green
The charger has over-heated and reduced the
charge current to minimum. Your battery will
continue to charge but at a very slow rate until
the internal temperature of the charger is back
down into operational limits
Stop charging, unplug your charger from all con-
nections and blow compressed air through the side
vents to remove dust. See the ‘General Care and
Maintenance” section of this manual.
Remove charger from direct sun light or area of high
ambient temperature and allow to cool
Direct a cooling fan onto the charger
The charger is unresponsive to
starting
The button is not being depressed for long
enough time
Ensure you are pressing down the button for at least
3 seconds
There is a connection problem Check input and output connections
The charger resets charge current
to 0.5A automatically
This is a built in safety feature and is executed
after a battery is disconnected or an error is
cleared.
Reset the charge current to your desired value based
on what is determined as a safe charging rate by the
battery manufacturer
The charger is unresponsive to
any input The input power is unstable Check input power connections and appropriate volt- ages are present

INDEX
7
Simple • Capable • Safe
Understanding C Ratings:
Many battery manufacturers do not list the definition of or explain the purpose of C ratings and how to use that information. For some batteries
such as LiPo, there is typically listed both a C rating for charging and discharging of the batteries. You must use caution that you calculate your
charge rate based on the charge C rating and not the discharge C rating.
• Charge Rate Calculation
› The charge C rating of a battery refers to a ratio between the battery’s capacity and the maximum safe charge current as determined
by each manufacturer for each battery. This value is typically listed in the lower ranges between 1C-5C. It signifies the maximum
current the battery should be charged at in a multiple of the capacity of the battery cells (on a per cell basis, not per pack basis).
» For example: if a battery cell is 2000mAh and the charge C rating is listed at 2C, the maximum charge current that should be
used with this battery is equal to 2000 x 2 = 4000mA = 4.0A.
» NOTE: 1000mAh = 1Ah. For simplified annotation, although charge rates are actually units of Ah, we refer to them as A only.
Thus 1Ah = 1A.
» Since the Origin charger only increments in values of 1A, if the calculated maximum charge rate is a decimal value (4.4) it is
highly recommended to round this value down to the nearest whole number and use that as the maximum charge rate, but
not necessarily the best charge rate option.
» If the calculated charge rate is over the maximum capability for this charger, you can simply use the maximum allowed.
› Always check the instructions provided with your batteries for proper charge and care. Those instructions should over-ride these
since they pertain to the particular battery that you have and this is a general statement.
› If you do not have or cannot obtain your manufacturer’s recomended settings, Radient RC recommends charging at 1C for the
maximum cycle life of your batteries as this is the most common manufacturer recommended charge rate.
• Discharge Rate Calculation
› The discharge C rating of a battery refers to a ratio between the battery’s capacity and the maximum safe discharge current as
determined by each manufacturer for each battery. This value is typically listed in the higher range from 15C upwards. It signifies the
maximum current the battery should be discharged at in a multiple of the capacity of the battery cells (on a per cell basis, not per
pack basis).
» For example: if a battery cell is 2000mAh and the discharge C rating is listed at 30C, the maximum discharge charge current
that should be used with this battery is equal to 2000 x 30 = 60000mA = 60A. This means you can continuously discharge
this battery at a rate of 60A per hour without damage.
» Since the Origin charger does not discharge, this information is only for reference in helping you understand the terminology
of the battery industry.
Termination Voltages (Peak Detection):
• The nominal voltage of a NiXX battery cell is listed at 1.2V.
• The Primal charger will terminate the charge of a NiXX battery pack when it measures a maximum voltage of the battery pack in a specified
range and then also measures a drop in that voltage of 8mV.
• The maximum voltage a battery pack reaches changes during the life of the battery (increasing with age). The characteristic behavior of
the voltage drop remains the same however thus allowing the charger to continue to detect a “peak” voltage (maximum voltage - 8mV)
regardless of age.
Power Rating (Watt-hour):
Some products state a recommended Watt hour rating for a battery to be used with that product. The Watt hours can be approximately calcu-
lated knowing the battery capacity and the voltage.
• For Example: if a battery is 2000mAh and the voltage is 8.4V the Watt Hours (Wh) is equal to 2000 x 8.4 = 16,800mWh = 16.8Wh.
Recommended Discharge Voltage Cut-offs:
For maximum cycle life and safety, NiXX batteries should never be discharged below 0.9V per cell when discharged at a rate of 1-4C. The use of
an ESC low voltage “cut-off” mode is not necessary with NiXX batteries.
Storage Voltages:
Although the Origin charger does not offer discharge capabilities it is important to understand this information about your batteries since it is
critical to both the safety of the battery and the cycle life.
• Always consult the battery manufacturer’s documentation for storage information specific to that battery.
• The storage voltage of NiXX batteries is not as critical as with other chemistry’s like LiPo, but they should be stored in cool conditions and at
a low cell voltage to prevent memory buildup and loss of capacity and performance.

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