4.3.b CA445 Intelligent, table-top battery charger
This battery charger rapidly charge batteries and detects when
charging is complete.At this point it automatically switches to trickle
charge.
1. Insert the transceiver, with the charging contacts facing
downwards, into the CA445 battery charger slot, then connect the
battery charger to an AC power source. Charging will begin, and
an LED indicator will light up.
2. Once charging is complete, a green LED light will appear on the
battery charger, indicating the operation is complete and the
device has switched the trickle charge.
3. When possible and for increased security, remove the transceiver
from the charging slot and disconnect the battery charger from the
AC power source.
For successive charging, longer duty, and battery life, refer
to par. 4.4.
4.4 Proper use of rechargeable batteries
When possible, recharge batteries only when at least two of the icon
bars have disappeared (the icon should indicate
). Be aware that
charging time will be shorter in proportion to the amount of residual
charge remaining in the battery, therefore, when only two bars appear
in the icon, this indicates you will require about 50% of time indicated
on the table in par. 4.3.a. This is particularly important if you use
the MW904 standard charger, otherwise you risk overcharging the
batteries.
If you use the batteries properly, you will obtain at least 400 cycles
of charge/discharge at maximum duty. It is normal for battery duty to
gradually decrease about 2/3 of the way into a battery’s life.
Rechargeable battery packs lose their charge over time even if they
are not used (auto-discharge); this is normal. A NiMH (Nickel Metal
Hydrate) battery may lose 10 - 20% of its energy within a few days.
4.4.a Memory effect
Rechargeable NiMH (Nickel-Metal-Hydrate) batteries are virtually
unaffected by the “memory effect”. This phenomenon is associated
with a drastic reduction of battery autonomy and is triggered if the
batteries are regularly charged before having lost at least 50-75%
of their power and/or are not completely recharged. To avoid the
memory effect:
• When possible, recharge the batteries only when they are
completely discharged; i.e. when the battery indicator is
ashing.
• Do not disconnect the battery charger before the time indicated
for complete battery charging.
• Discharge and recharge your batteries completely at least twice a
month.
In any case, the best solution for avoiding the memory effect is to two
sets of batteries in turn: one in use, and the other being charged as
spare set.
The memory effect can be easily eliminated by completely charging/
discharging the batteries 3 or 4 times.
The memory effect should not be confused with the normal
battery life, which is (on average) 400 cycles of charge/discharge
. It is completely normal for operating duty to decrease when the
batteries have reached the end of their life; at this point, you will
need to change the battery set.
