Robitronic Pro-2000 User manual

Robitronic Pro-2000 Operating instructions
1
General information
Congratulations on your choice of the Robitronic Pro-2000, a
microprocessor-controlled, high-tech battery charger. This device delivers
optimal user-friendliness and maximum reliability. Its built-in multifunction
digital display provides you with sufficient information about the charging
process and the state of the batteries.
This battery charger was designed especially for charging NiCad batteries.
A supply voltage of 13.8 VDC allows charging batteries with 6 to 7 cells.
Warning
Charging NiCad batteries with high current produces a large amount of
gas and thus strong gas pressure within the cells. With old or defective
batteries, this can cause an explosion of the battery cells. Therefore always
maintain a safe distance from the charging and never charge batteries in the
vicinity of small children.
Charging batteries with less than 6 cells or with higher supply voltage
causes greater heating of the charger. Here you should reduce the charging
current since it could cause overheating of or damage to the final stage of
the device.
When charging from an automobile battery, avoid short circuiting the
charging terminals with the automobile chassis. In the battery charger the
positive terminal of the supply voltage is connected directly to the positive
terminal of the charging terminal; on contact with the automobile chassis,
this would cause a short circuit of the automobile battery.

Robitronic Pro-2000 Operating instructions
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Setup
The supply voltage requires either an automobile battery or a stabilized
power supply. When using a power supply, assure that it can supply the
necessary current. The output voltage of the power supply should be set to
12 V for charging 6 cells; excessive supply voltage causes greater heating
of the charging device. When charging batteries with 4 or 5 cells, the
charging current must not exceed 1 ampere!
The supply voltage is connected to the red cable (positive terminal) and the
black cable (negative terminal) at the back of the charger. If the
connections are reversed, the circuit is electronically broken within the
charger. In this case you need not change a fuse, but only correct the
connections.
Connecting the battery
The battery to be charged is connected to the red cable (positive terminal)
and the black cable (negative terminal) at the front of the charger. If the
battery connections are reversed, a warning signal sounds.
Starting charging
If the battery has been connected correctly, the multifunction digital display
indicates the momentary battery voltage. Pressing the Start key begins
charging. The LED signals that charging is in progress. The multifunction
digital display indicates charging current, battery voltage, temperature and
momentary charging time.

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Ending the charging operation
Depending on the charging mode, the charging operation terminates when
the peak voltage or the battery temperature is achieved; completion is
reported by means of an acoustic signal. The multifunction digital display
then indicates the charging time and the charged capacity.
The charging operation can also be terminated manually by pressing the
Start key again.
Trickle charging on completing the charging operation
After the charging operation the battery continues to be charged with short
current pulses (trickling). The average trickle current is 10% of the
charging current.
The charging operation can be resumed by pressing the Start key again.
Warning signal for supply voltage failure
If the supply voltage is interrupted while a battery is in the charger, a
warning signal sounds. This proves especially helpful if a power supply is
being used and the supply voltage is interrupted by a power failure. An
already started charging procedure is continued automatically on
restoration of the supply voltage.

Robitronic Pro-2000 Operating instructions
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SETUP - setting charging parameters
Pressing the Mode key switches the charger from charging mode to setup
mode; thereupon the charger displays the current settings for the charging
parameters (setup display). Each additional pressing of the Mode key
advances the cursor (a line under the character) to the next parameter. The
Plus and Minus keys allow modification of the parameter selected by the
cursor.
To persistently save the charging parameters in the charger, keep the Mode
pressed and simultaneously press the Start key. The charger reports
successful storage of the parameters with a signal tone. Thereafter, each
time the charger is turned on, it loads the stored charging parameters.
To avoid storing the charging parameters persistently, press only the Start
key after setting the parameters.
Setting temperature charging mode
When the temperature charging mode Temp is shown at the bottom left of
the setup display, the cut-off temperature and the maximum charged
capacity can be set. This means that charging terminates either when the
set battery temperature or the set charged capacity has been reached. The
maximum charging capacity option largely protects batteries against
overcharging when the temperature probe is missing. The charging
capacity must be set to the type of battery used; several test charges can
help determine this value, and the highest possible value is entered.
Values from experience for Sanyo batteries are ca. 2500-2800 mAh and for
Panasonic batteries ca. 2600-3000 mAh.

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Setting the delta-peak charging method
When the delta-peak charging mode Peak is shown at the bottom left of the
setup display, the level of the voltage bend can be set (default value: 0,1V).
In addition, the grace period can be set; here the battery voltage is first
tested for voltage drop after the set time; this allows using the delta-peak
method to charge even batteries with poor voltage characteristics.
CAUTION: the grace period is not suited for repeaking batteries.
Setting the charging current
No general recommendations can be given for setting the charging current.
This varies according to both the batteries used and their respective
applications.
In general, however, it holds that higher charging current produces higher
voltage (= pressure) in the battery and lower charging current produces
greater charged capacity (= life of the charge, driving time). However, the
charging current for rapid-charging driving batteries must not fall below
3.0 amperes and must not exceed 6.0 amperes.
Sanyo battery: charging current 4.5A - 5.5A (default 5.0 A)
Panasonic battery: charging current 4.0A - 5.0A (default 4.5 A)
Setting for amateur drivers:
charging current: 3.5 amperes
cut-off method: peak 0.10V 10 min
Setting for competition:
charging current: 5.0 amperes
cut-off method: peak 0.10V 5 min
or temperature 40°C 2800mAh

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Timer
A timer can be activated in the setup display (top left of display). The
timer value defines the time interval until the automatic start of a charge.
Particularly for competitions, this allows charging batteries precisely to the
minute; you will never again have to begin a race with a half-charged
battery.
Pressing the Start key begins the countdown for the timer. The display
signals countdown mode with a blinking colon on the time display.
The timer value is reset to zero when charging begins; the timer value
cannot be stored persistently.

Robitronic Pro-2000 Operating instructions
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Quick instructions
Key functions in charging mode
Start key start or stop charging;
start the timer countdown
Mode key toggle between charging mode and setup mode
Plus key (disabled in charging mode)
Minus key (disabled in charging mode)
Key functions in setup mode
Mode key select charging parameter;
cursor indicates selected parameter
Plus key increase value of selected parameter
Minus key reduce value of selected parameter
Start key toggle between charging mode and setup mode;
modified charging parameters are not stored persistently
Start key with simultaneously pressed Mode key:
toggle between charging mode and setup mode;
modified charging parameters are stored persistently
(short signal emitted)

Robitronic Pro-2000 Operating instructions
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Display in charging mode
Display in setup mode

Robitronic Pro-2000 Operating instructions
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Basics of charging nickel-cadmium batteries:
During charging, the energy delivered to the battery as charging current is
stored. Toward the end of the charging process the battery can no longer
completely store the charging current, but transforms it into heat. In
addition to raising the temperature of the battery, this also begins to reduce
the battery voltage. This yields two possibilities for detecting the charged
state of a battery.
1. Monitor the battery temperature and terminate charging when a set
temperature value is reached, normally between 35°C and 45°C.
2. Monitor the battery voltage and terminate charging when battery
voltage drops (known as the delta-peak method). Here settings define
how much the battery voltage must drop below the peak voltage in
order to terminate charging.
The delta-peak cut-off method is the most common and reliable method;
however, for older or defective batteries there can be a voltage bend at the
beginning of the charging process. A battery charger could misinterpret
this and terminate charging prematurely. However, the Pro-2000 battery
charger allows setting a grace period at the start of charging that prevents
premature termination of charging.

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Specifications:
Input voltage 12-13,8 volts
Charging current 0 - 10 amperes
Trickle current 0 - 10 amperes current pulse
Number of NiCad cells 6 - 7 cells (4-5 cells max 1A)
Temperature probe range 0 - 50°C
Charging mode linear
Cut-off delta peak, battery temperature
Multifunction digital display charging current, battery voltage,
capacity, charging time, temperature
Additional features timer function;
alarm for power failure
Pole reversal/short-circuit protection
Dimensions (WxDxH) 135 x 90 x 58mm
Features: Multifunction digital display (LCD 32 characters)
Persistent storage of charging parameters
Alarm for power failure
Automatic resumption of charging after power failure
Automatic start of charging via timer
Timer functions even in power failure
Acoustical pole reversal alarm protects battery
Trickle current via pulses
Robitronic
Ing. Robert Schachhuber
Brunhildengasse 1/3, A - 1150 Vienna, Austria
Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone]
Internet: http://www.robitronic.com