Bedienungsanleitung Operating instructions Notice dutilisation Manuale distruzione Manual de Uso

POWER PEAK ULTIMATE 2

No. 8470

Operating instructions

Dear customer, Congratulations on your choice of the Power Peak ULTIMATE 2 automatic charger from the robbe range. You are now the owner of a high-performance micro-processor controlled charger with battery management, for use with a 12 V power source. The charger is simple to use, but the operation of a sophisticated automatic charger such as the Power Peak ULTIMATE 2 does require some knowledge on the part of the user. These operating instructions are designed to ensure that you quickly become familiar with the units facilities. It is therefore important that you read right through the operating instructions, and especially the section entitled A brief guide to battery types and the safety notes, before you attempt to use your new automatic charger for the first time. Safety Notes At the end of the operating instructions you will find comprehensive safety notes dealing with the safe handling of battery chargers and the various battery types. You will also find additional useful general information concerning battery types in the section entitled A BRIEF GUIDE TO BATTERY TYPES. Please BE SURE to read these instructions and safety notes before you use the charger for the first time. Mishandling batteries and battery chargers can be dangerous, as it involves a risk of batteries exploding and catching fire. Liability exclusion This charger is designed and approved exclusively for charging the types of battery stated in these operating instructions. robbe Modellsport accepts no liability of any kind if the charger is used for any purpose other than that stated. We at robbe Modellsport are unable to ensure that you follow the instructions supplied with the charger, and we have no control over the methods you employ for using, operating and maintaining the device. 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. Unless otherwise prescribed by law, our obligation to pay compensation, regardless of the legal argument employed, is limited to the invoice value of those robbe products which were immediately and directly involved in the event which caused the damage. This does not apply if the company is found to be subject to unlimited liability according to binding legal regulation on account of deliberate or gross negligence.
Contents: Chapter Page Safety notes....2 1. Set contents....4 1.1 Recommended accessories...4 2. General description...5 3. Controls....6 3.1 Using the controls....6 4. Specification....7 5. Using the charger for the first time...8 5.1 Working display...8 5.2 Connecting the battery...9 6. Automatic mode....9 6.1 Menu structure, automatic mode...9 6.2 Settings in automatic mode..10 6.3 Starting a charge / discharge process...10 7. Manual mode...11 7.1 Menu structure, manual mode...11 7.2 Set-up display...12 7.3 Settings in manual mode...12 7.4 Starting a charge / discharge process...15 8. Programming a BID chip...16 8.1 Menu structure, programming procedure...16 8.2 Programming procedure....17 8.3 Reading out the data on a BID chip...18 9. Charge / discharge processes with a BID chip..18 10. Terminating a charge / discharge process..19 10. Displaying charge / discharge data..19 11. Error messages...20 12. General safety notes....21 13. A brief guide to battery types..22 13.1 Nickel-Cadmium (NC) batteries...22 13.2 Nickel-Metal-Hydride (NiMH) batteries..24 13.3 Lead-acid (Pb) batteries....27 13.4 Lithium (LiPo) batteries...28 14. Guarantee....32 15. Service Centre addresses...33 16. Proper disposal of batteries...33

3. THE CONTROLS Temperature-controlled cooling fan

L C D screen

Menu control buttons BID socket Adaptor lead BID chip Battery connection socket Power supply

USING THE CONTROLS

The three buttons on the Power Peak ULTIMATE 2 are multi-purpose controls, as indicated by the printed legends. Pressing the buttons performs different actions depending on the selected mode of operation. - / MODE / AUTO BUTTON In Manual mode and in Set-up mode this button is used to reduce the value of the selected charge parameter by one increment; in Menu Select mode it selects the previous menu. By pressing the MODE button you can select the desired process (CHARGE, DISCHARGE or DISCHARGE CHARGE) directly before the start. When the power supply has been connected, this button is used in the Select menu to activate Automatic mode (AUTOMA.). + / START / MAN BUTTON In Manual mode and in Set-up mode this button is used to increase the value of the selected charge parameter by one increment; in Menu Select mode it selects the next menu. Pressing the START button initiates the selected process, e.g. CHARGE. When the power supply has been connected, this button is used in the Select menu to activate Manual mode (MANUAL).
STOP / ENTER BUTTON Pressing the STOP button terminates any process currently running, e.g. CHARGE. Pressing the ENTER button confirms a selection, e.g. activation of a selected menu. The ENTER button is also used to select a language. Holding ENTER pressed in while connecting the charger to the power source takes you to the Language Select menu. All buttons feature an auto-repeat function, i.e. holding the button pressed in ha the same effect as pressing the button repeatedly. INTEGRATED SOUNDER The piezo sounder emits a beep to confirm each button-press. It also provides an audible alert that the charge or discharge process has been concluded, and a warning that an error has occurred. TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED COOLING FAN The integral fan automatically starts and stops in response to the temperature of the chargers output stage. 4. SPECIFICATION 11 V 15 V DC 12 V lead-acid battery, or a high-performance mains PSU (do not use a car battery charger!) NC / NiMH cells, Lithium cells, lead-acid cells 0.A 0.A, NC and NiMH 120 W, current is regulated accordingly e.g. 24 V battery voltage, charge current 5.0 A e.g. 28 V battery voltage, charge current 4.3 A 20 W, current is regulated accordingly Charged-in capacity < 1 Ah: no trickle charge Charged-in capacity > 1 Ah: trickle charge at C/20 (NC and NiMH batteries only) 0.8 V per cell, NC and NiMH, 3 V per cell, LiPo, 1.8 V per cell, lead-acid Automatic, digital Delta Peak method Automatic, voltage-dependent 155 x 125 x 55 mm

Operating voltage:

Cell count:
Charge current: Discharge current: Charge power:
Discharge power: Trickle charge:

Final discharge voltage:

Charge termination: NC / NiMH: Lead-acid and Lithium: Dimensions:
5. USING THE CHARGER FOR THE FIRST TIME
Connect the crocodile clips to a 12 V lead-acid battery or a suitable mains PSU. Take great care over correct polarity (red = positive / black = negative). The screen initially displays the device name and the software version number for a few moments, then the Start display appears. If you hold the ENTER button pressed in while connecting the charger to the power source, the Language Select menu appears. You can now select the language to be used for the menus when the charger is in use. Press the + or - button repeatedly to call up the available languages, which are as follows: German (DEUTSCH) French (FRANCAIS) Italian (ITALIANO) Spanish (ESPANIOL) English (ENGLISH) Press the ENTER button to conclude the process; the Start display shown above now appears.

WORKING DISPLAY

During a charge or discharge process this display keeps the user informed of all the essential data. The top line shows the status indicator, i.e. the type of process (C for charge, or D for discharge); the charged-in or discharged capacity is also shown, together with the time elapsed since the start. The bottom line displays the battery type (NC for Nickel-Cadmium batteries, NM for Nickel-Metal-Hydride batteries, LP for LithiumPolymer batteries and Pb for lead-acid batteries). Status display Elapsed Capacity indicator time
Battery voltage Battery type
Charge / discharge current
This means that all the important parameters are displayed at a glance during a charge or discharge process.
5.2 CONNECTING THE BATTERY
Important !!! Before connecting a battery it is absolutely essential to check once more that you have set the parameters correctly. If the settings are incorrect, the battery may be damaged, and could even explode or burst into flames. To avoid short-circuits between the banana plugs, always connect the charge leads to the charger first, and only then to the battery. Reverse the sequence when disconnecting the pack. Take care to maintain correct polarity when connecting the battery: the outputs are clearly labelled. For example, use our transmitter charge lead (No. F1415) and receiver battery charge lead (No. F1416). If you are not using ready-made charge leads, please check carefully that the battery is connected correctly. 6. AUTOMATIC MODE If you press the AUTO button from the Start screen, the charger works in automatic mode, in which case all the parameters are optimised automatically. 6.1 Menu structure, automatic mode (NC and NiMH only)

MODE button

START button
SETTINGS IN AUTOMATIC MODE
In automatic mode the charger sets the optimum current and voltage values automatically; this mode is available only for NC and NiMH batteries. The MODE button is used to select the three available processes (CHARGE, DISCHARGE, DISCHARGE CHARGE) for the two battery types. If a battery is connected, pressing the START button initiates the selected process. An audible beep now sounds, and the screen display changes to show the charge parameters. The top line shows the process - Charge (C) or Discharge (D) - and the charged-in or discharged capacity. The top line also displays the time elapsed since the start of the process. The bottom line shows the battery type, the current battery voltage and the charge current. To indicate that the charger is in automatic mode, the current display alternates with the word auto. Pressing the STOP button at any time interrupts the process, and the screen reverts to the Automatic Mode display. At the end of the process, when the battery is fully charged or discharged, the screen shows the final values (charged-in or discharged capacity, process duration, battery type, battery voltage and current).
STARTING A CHARGE / DISCHARGE PROCESS
When you connect the device to a power source, the charger automatically activates the memory you last used. Use the + or - button to navigate to the START line, and press the ENTER button to confirm your selection. The display now changes, and the top line shows the set process while the bottom line shows the selected parameter. Since all the parameters will not fit in one line, the bottom line alternates. Pressing the START button initiates the process, and the charger emits a beep. Pressing the STOP button at any time halts the process.

7. MANUAL MODE

If you press the MAN button from the Start screen, the charger works in manual mode, and you have to enter the parameters individually. MAN button
MENU STRUCTURE, MANUAL MODE

+ button

2 Volts 4 Volts 6 Volts 8 Volts 10 Volts 12 Volts
ENTERING THE BATTERY CAPACITY Press the + button to leaf through the screen display until the arrow indicates Battery Capacity. Press the ENTER button and the + / - symbol flashes. You can now select the battery capacity in increments of 100 mAh using the + or - button. Press the ENTER button again to confirm your selection. The following capacities are available, according to battery type: Battery type NiCd NiMH LiPo Pb (lead-acid) Battery capacity 100 - 9900 mAh 100 - 9900 mAh 100 mAh - 20.00 Ah 0,50 Ah - 50 Ah The battery capacities are chosen to be typical of the various battery types.
SETTING THE CHARGE CURRENT Press the + button to leaf through the screen display until the arrow indicates Charge Current. Press the ENTER button and the + / - symbol flashes. You can now select the charge current in increments of 0.1 A using the + or - button. Press the ENTER button again to confirm your selection. The available charge current range is 0.1 A to 5.0 A, although the maximum current value varies according to the cell count and / or the battery voltage. The chargers integral processor limits the maximum charge current. 14
SETTING THE DISCHARGE CURRENT
Press the + button to leaf through the screen display until the arrow indicates Discharge Current. Press the ENTER button and the + / - symbol flashes. You can now select the discharge current in increments of 0.1 A using the + or - button. Press the ENTER button again to confirm your selection. The available discharge current range is 0.1 A to 5.0 A, although the maximum current value varies according to the cell count and / or the battery voltage. The chargers integral processor limits the maximum discharge current. SETTING THE AUDIBLE SIGNAL Press the + button to leaf through the screen display until the arrow indicates Beeper. Press the ENTER button and the + / - symbol flashes. You can now select the sound which the charger emits, for example, to alert you that the charge process is finished. Five different sounds are available, and the beeper can also be switched off. Pressing the + or - button cycles through the available sounds; at the same time the charger emits the corresponding sound to help you select the correct one. STORING THE SETTINGS Press the + button to leaf through the screen display until the arrow indicates End, then press the ENTER button to store the settings you have just entered. The screen now reverts to the Start display, i.e. it returns to the starting point.

Data is stored on the BID chip, and can be read out.
Pressing the + button twice displays the first data set on the screen: this is the capacity of the current charge or discharge process.
Pressing the + button twice more displays the second data set on the screen: this is the maximum capacity value from all charge / discharge processes. Pressing the + button twice more displays the final data set: this is the number of charge cycles and the programmed date.
CHARGE / DISCHARGE PROCESSES WITH A BID CHIP
The BID chip is so small that it can easily be attached to any battery. In the case of a LiPo battery it can be glued directly between the cells. The pictures on the next page show methods of attaching a BID chip. 18
First connect the BID chip to the charger using the adaptor lead. This automatically causes the screen display shown here to appear. If the charge parameters on the chip are acceptable, press the ENTER button to prepare the process. From this point on, the procedure is exactly identical to a normal process initiated from a memory. The sequence is described in Chapter 7.4. During a charge or discharge process the essential data for this process is stored on the chip. 10. TERMINATING A CHARGE / DISCHARGE PROCESS
The processor always employs the ideal process by taking into account the charge parameters, with the result that the charger automatically terminates the charge or discharge process exactly at the right moment. 10.1 DISPLAYING CHARGE / DISCHARGE DATA
Charged-in Elapsed charvalues for that process are constantly or dischar- ge / discharge shown in the working display ged capacity time
Status display flashingF (finish)
During a charge or discharge process the

(see Chapter 5.1).

If the process concludes successfully, the charger alerts you with an audible beep. The screen now displays the essential data relating to that process, as shown in the adjacent illustration. 19
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Pressing the + and - buttons simultaneously provides access to additional data from the last process. You can then leaf through the information using the + or - button.
Display of input and output voltage
Display of maximum charge voltage and average discharge voltage
Display of charged-in and discharged capacity only
Display of process duration
Parameters for the process just concluded
When the battery is disconnected from the charger, the Start display reappears; this erases all the current data, and it cannot be called up again. 11. ERROR MESSAGES
The Power Peak ULTIMATE 2 is equipped with a range of safety features to ensure that charge and discharge processes are completed reliably. As soon as an error occurs, an appropriate message appears on the screen, and the piezo buzzer emits a shrill warning sound. If any of the following error messages appear, you should first eliminate the problem and then press any button to erase the message.

Input voltage outside the permitted range (11 - 15 Volts).
Charge or discharge process started with no battery connected: connect battery.
Battery connected with reversed polarity: check connections.
Break in the charge / discharge circuit: check connections.
Short-circuit in the charge / discharge circuit: check connections.
Charger overheating (> 115C); process stopped to allow the unit to cool down below 70C.
Battery / output voltage too high: check cell count.
Battery / output voltage too low: check cell count.
Charger temperature above 125C; if this error occurs repeatedly, consult a robbe Service Centre.
BID chip disconnected while a process was running: stop process, check chip connection, re-start process. 12. GENERAL SAFETY NOTES The Power Peak ULTIMATE 2 is suitable solely for charging and discharging rechargeable NC / NiMH / lead-acid and Lithium batteries. Do not attempt to recharge dry cells - explosion hazard. The charger is designed solely for use with a 12 V DC power supply; do not connect it to any other voltage. Protect the charger from dust, dirt and damp. Do not subject the charger to excessive heat or cold, nor to direct sunlight. Avoid shock and pressure loads, and do not subject the charger to severe vibration. Never place the charger and the batteries connected to it on any form of flammable surface. Never operate the charger in the vicinity of inflammable materials or gases.

Do not leave the charger operating unsupervised. It is normal for the charger to become quite hot when operating. Ensure that there is an unrestricted airflow to the chargers cooling slots. If you will not be using the charger for a protracted period, disconnect it from the power source and any batteries connected to it. Never charge any battery a second time immediately after its initial charge. Do not charge a battery which is already warm or hot to the touch. Allow packs to cool down to ambient temperature before continuing. Packs to be charged as a unit must consist of cells of the same make, the same type and the same capacity. Do not charge two batteries connected in parallel to one output; connect only one battery at a time. Take great care to maintain correct battery polarity, and avoid short-circuits. Read the battery manufacturers instructions and adhere to them strictly. Always check the settings on the Power Peak ULTIMATE 2 very carefully. Incorrect charger settings can destroy batteries. Check the charger case and cables for damage at regular intervals. Please take particular care when handling packs containing large numbers of cells. Ensure that the cells are thoroughly insulated, otherwise there is a danger of electric shock. A BRIEF GUIDE TO BATTERY TYPES

13.1 NICKEL-CADMIUM (NC) BATTERIES In the world of modelling, nickel-cadmium batteries - generally called NC cells or nicads by modellers - have carved out a secure niche both as power supplies for radio control systems and also as drive / flight batteries. These power sources offer high performance, are easy to maintain and are reliable. Nevertheless, there are some basic points to observe when handling them. They will repay you by lasting a long time, all the while providing a high proportion of their nominal capacity. CHARGE RATES When speaking of charge and discharge currents we have all become familiar with the concept of the charge rate (C), which represents the relationship between the charge current and the battery capacity. For example, if a battery has a capacity of 600 mAh and is to be charged at a rate of 1C, then a current of 600 mA has to flow. BALANCING A new battery, or one which has not been used for a long period, must be balanced before use. The same applies to a pack which has been deep-discharged, as this can reverse the polarity of individual cells. A balancing charge takes around 20 to 24 hours at a charge rate of 0.1C. CHARGING Charge rates of 0.1 to 0.2C are considered to constitute a normal charge. It is always necessary to charge slightly more energy into a battery than can be removed (discharged) 22
again, so the charge time at the normal rate of 0.1C is not 10 hours, but 14 hours. When normal charging is used, the overcharge factor therefore amounts to 40%. Charging for longer than the stated time does not do any harm to an NC battery, even if the charge time is greater than about 100 hours. Even so, overcharging should be avoided, as the excess electrical energy fed into the pack cannot be stored; instead it triggers chemical processes which eventually shorten the useful life of the battery. We speak of accelerated charging when the charge current is around 0.3 to 0.5C. Fast charging is generally considered to be the use of charge rates higher than 1C. If the charge current is higher than 0.1C, the charge current must be cut off as soon as the battery is fully charged. One useful charge termination criterion is the digital delta peak method. This relies upon the slight but characteristic fall-off in the batterys voltage when the pack is fully charged; the voltage peak is detected by the charger when the battery is completely full. Batteries develop different internal crystal structures depending on the charge rate. For this reason it is really essential to fast-charge drive / flight batteries which are to be discharged at high currents. The higher the charge current, the less the fall-off in voltage during the discharge process. We recommend the following charge rates for NC batteries: High-energy batteries: 1 - 2C; please observe the battery manufacturers stated figures. High-current batteries: 2 - 3C, max. 5C; please check the maximum charge current figures stated by the battery manufacturer. Check also whether the connectors and charge lead are suitable for such high currents. SELF-DISCHARGE The rate of self-discharge of NC cells is around 0.5 1% per day at 20C. This means that a fully charged battery will be completely flat after being stored for days, without it ever being placed under load. Batteries must therefore always be recharged immediately before use. STORAGE If an NC battery is not to be used for the foreseeable future, it is better to discharge it beforehand, and then store it in cool, dry conditions. Treated in this way, the battery will still have almost its full capacity after one balancing charge. If you neglect to discharge the pack beforehand, the first charge will only produce around 90 - 95% of its full voltage and capacity, and it will only regain its full performance after 2 or 3 charge / discharge cycles. USEFUL LIFE NC batteries have a useful life of around charge / discharge cycles, depending on their application and the charging methods employed. After this the battery must be considered exhausted, and should be disposed of in the appropriate way. 23

TEMPERATURE During a high-current discharge process an NC battery heats up very strongly. Before the pack is recharged it must therefore be allowed to cool down again. A warm cell, far less a hot cell, can absorb less charge, and is therefore unable to produce its full performance. FINAL DISCHARGE VOLTAGE, DEEP-DISCHARGING The permissible final discharge voltage of NC batteries, measured under load, is around 0.85 Volts per cell. If the battery is discharged below this figure, it is said to be deepdischarged. This can result in individual cells in a pack reversing their polarity, i.e. negative potential is present at the positive terminal, and positive potential at the negative terminal; this can be checked with a Voltmeter under a low load. Permanent cell damage can usually be avoided in such cases by immediately giving the pack a 14-hour slow charge. NC batteries are not as susceptible to damage from deep-discharging as NiMH cells. However, if a pack is stored for a long time in the deep-discharged state, permanent cell damage can still occur. When handling NC cells certain safety measures are absolutely necessary to avoid the risk of personal injury and property damage. When you use these batteries, you are personally responsible for any problems which arise. NC cells must never come into contact with open fire, as they may explode. Never forcibly open NC cells; they contain corrosive materials. Never short-circuit NC cells - fire hazard, possible explosion hazard. If electrolyte should escape from the cell, do not allow it to touch your skin or eyes. If this should happen despite taking normal precautions, immediately wash it off using plenty of clean water, and seek medical attention immediately. Never place NC cells or batteries in your mouth, as they contain toxic materials. Never solder directly to the cell case; the negative end of the cell is particularly vulnerable to damage. A charged NC battery is not a childs plaything. Store these batteries well out of the reach of children. Please read and observe the safety notes and other information provided by the battery manufacturer before charging and discharging the cells.
13.2 NICKEL-METAL-HYDRIDE (NIMH) BATTERIES In the last few years modern nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries have developed into a genuine alternative to NC types. They are now capable of being discharged at high currents like NC cells, and are a good choice as power sources for radio control equipment as well as flight / drive batteries. They generally offer around 1.5 times the capacity of NC batteries for the same weight, and they are also more environmentally friendly.

GENERAL INFORMATION There are various basic types of Lithium battery: 1. Lithium-Ion batteries containing fluid electrolyte, with a nominal voltage of 3.6 Volts. This is the first generation of Lithium cell, and is not often used for modelling applications. These cells cannot be charged using the Power Peak ULTIMATE 2. 2. Lithium-Ion batteries containing fluid electrolyte, with a nominal voltage of 3.7 Volts. This is the second generation of Lithium cell, and is housed in a metal can. 3. Lithium-Ion-Polymer batteries (LiPo) containing gel-form electrolyte, with a nominal voltage of 3.7 Volts. This is the current generation of Lithium cell, and they have also become known as Li-po or Li-poly batteries. The gel electrolyte results in a reduced pressure build-up in the cell during charging and discharging, for which reason a foil housing is adequate. This cell has rapidly become very popular for model purposes due to its low weight and high energy density.
CHARGE PROCESS Lithium batteries are charged using constant voltage. The method is the same for all Lithium cell types, but the charge termination voltage varies according to the nominal cell voltage; this parameter must therefore be entered, so that the Power Peak ULTIMATE 2 can calculate the correct cut-off voltage. The maximum charge current is 1C. During the initial charge phase the battery voltage rises slowly to the maximum value of 4.2 V / cell. In this phase the charger ensures that the charge current remains constantly at the set value. At a charge current of 1C and with a discharged battery this initial phase lasts about 50 to 60 minutes, during which time about 80% of full battery capacity is charged in. During the second phase the charge current falls off, since the difference in voltage between charger and battery is steadily declining. A further 35 - 40 minutes are required in order to charge in the remaining capacity. The charger switches off the charge process when the charge current falls to the bottom limit (approx. 50 mA). At a charge rate of 1C (currently the maximum permissible rate) this means that the total charge process takes at least 95 minutes if the battery is initially discharged.

MEMORY EFFECT, CELL CAPACITY Li-poly cells do not suffer from the memory (lazy battery) effect, so the standard procedure with NC and NiMH batteries of discharging before recharging (cycle charging, cell balancing) is not necessary. Indeed, it is actually better to avoid discharging the cells before recharging. Each charge process reduces the capacity of the Li-poly pack slightly, so this would lead to an unnecessary loss of capacity. ASSEMBLING BATTERY PACKS Li-poly cells can be wired together in series or in parallel in order to increase pack voltage or capacity, but this does present problems due to variations in charge voltage and capacity. For this reason it is important to use selected cells exclusively if they are to be wired together to form a battery. CHARGING BATTERY PACKS INTEGRATED CHARGE PROTECTION CIRCUIT Each Li-poly cell usually contains a voltage monitor module to protect it from overcharging, deep-discharging or excessive currents. However, for modelling applications it is usual to draw high load currents, which means that the monitor module would very often trip to protect the cells. For this very reason most battery packs do not include this feature. The lack of the protective circuit can produce problems in the charging of series-wired Lipoly cells. As mentioned earlier, individual cells in the pack may well have slightly different charge states and voltages. In this case the overall final charge voltage is not distributed evenly amongst the individual cells, with the result that cells featuring higher voltage can easily be overcharged. To avoid this, the individual cells must be brought up to the final charge voltage of 4.2 Volts. Charging parallel-wired cells does not present problems, as the total charge current is distributed to the individual cells according to their voltage. We wish to point out expressly at this point that, in the interests of safety, Li-poly batteries may only be charged using the Power Peak Ultimate 2 charger if each individual cell is fitted with a voltage monitor module. We accept absolutely no liability for damage caused by incorrect or incompetent handling of the cells. Please be sure to read and observe the safety notes. Temperature differences always occur during the discharge process, as the outer cells are always cooled more effectively than the inner ones. The effect of this, combined with normal manufacturing tolerances, is that the state of charge of series-connected LithiumPolymer cells always tends to drift. After several discharge / charge cycles individual cells inevitably exhibit differences in voltage. 31
Overcharging or deep-discharging these batteries invariably results in permanent cell damage, and to avoid this we recommend that you employ some method of bringing individual cells to the same voltage level. An excellent method of achieving this is to use the robbe Equalizer (No. 8446). During the charge process this unit monitors the voltage of up to five series-wired LiPo cells, and brings them all to the same level.

As standard, robbe Lithium batteries are fitted with a sensor lead for connection to the Equalizer. If you wish to upgrade other batteries, the appropriate cables are available separately.
14. Guarantee We guarantee this battery charger for a period of 24 months. Proof for the start and finish of this guarantee period is provided by your receipt from the model shop, which you obtained when you purchased the product. Any repairs carried out under guarantee do not extend the original guarantee period. During this period we will correct any operating faults, production defects and material faults which arise, at no charge to you. We will not entertain any claims beyond these terms, e.g. consequent damage. We accept no liability for transit damage and the loss of your shipment; we therefore recommend that you take out suitable insurance to cover these risks. Send the unit to the Service Centre responsible for your country. The following conditions must be fulfilled if we are to process your guarantee claim: Send proof of purchase (till receipt) with your shipment. The unit must have been operated in accordance with the operating instructions. The unit must have been operated with the recommended power sources and genuine robbe accessories. The unit must not exhibit damage due to damp, unauthorised intervention, excessive voltage, overload conditions or mechanical damage. Please include a concise, accurate description of the fault or defect, as this helps us locate the problem quickly.
15. SERVICE CENTRE ADDRESSES
Germany ROBBE SERVICE METZLOSER STRAE GREBENHAIN Tel.: 00 49-66 44-87-0 Fax: 00 49-66 44-Slovak Republic FLY FAN 91105 TRENCIN Tel.: 00 42-03 Fax: 00 42-Greece TAG MODELS HELLAS NEA PHILADELFIA Tel.: 0030-1-Fax: 0030-1-35 33
Denmark MAAETOFT DMI 8900 RANDERS Tel.: 00 45-86-00 Fax: 00 45-86-44
Netherlands/Belgium JAN VAN MOUWERIK SLOT DE HOUVELAAN 30 NL-3155 VT MAASLAND Tel./Fax: 00 31-35 94
Austria ROBBE SERVICE HOSNEDLGASSE 35 A-1220 WIEN Tel.: 00 43-59-Fax: 00 43-58-11 79
Czech Republic MS Composit Modelsport CZ 25265 Tursko Tel.: 20-Fax: 20-64 01
16.PROPER DISPOSAL OF BATTERIES On no account dispose of exhausted batteries in the domestic waste. To protect the environment, take defective and exhausted packs to your local battery collection centre after ensuring that they are completely discharged. Collection centres include all retail outlets where dry and rechargeable batteries are sold, and also local authority toxic waste collection points. Please tape over any bare contacts to avoid the possibility of short-circuits. The cost of returning and disposing of waste batteries is included in the original purchase price. All collection points are obliged to accept returned batteries, whether you purchased them there or elsewhere. Exhausted batteries can be recycled, and the materials re-introduced into the production chain. Please help to protect the environment! You must not dispose of electronic equipment in the normal domestic waste. That is the meaning of the symbol shown here, which applies to the Power Peak ULTIMATE 2. This symbol means that you must dispose of electrical and electronic equipment separately from the general household waste when it reaches the end of its useful life. Take your charger to your local waste collection point or recycling centre. This applies to all countries of the European Union, and to other European countries with a separate waste collection system.