FAQ:
I have a 4 cell 1800 Mah NICAD
Battery, what should the charge rate
be set at?
Most Nicads can be charged
up to 3X their capacity without
damaging the pack. For RC use,
most people charge at a C1 rate
which 1X the capacity, so in this
case, 1800 mah or 1.8 Amp would
be the charge rate.
I have heard that I don't need to
cycle NIMH batteries because they
do not have memory. Is this true?
All NICAD and NIMH packs
should be "Primed" when you first
get them. To properly prime a new
battery, charge the pack for 20-24
hours at a C/10 rate (capacity/10).
Then you should cycle the pack to
ensure the capcity of the pack is
reached when fully charged.
How often should I cycle my batteries? Once the pack is in use, Cycling
allows you validate the capacity of
the pack. This should be annually or
bi-annually. Once the pack has depleted
20% of the rated capacity it should not
be used anymore.
The Bantam 301 has an adjustable
cut off voltage when a battery is
cycled. What is this and how do I set
it?
All Cyclers terminate the discharge at a
predetermined pack voltage or a specific
voltage per cell. Some chargers set that
cut off volatge too high. The 301, you
should set the cut off voltage at .9V per
cell. In the case of a 4 cell pack, that is
3.6V.
What size AC/DC power supply is
recommended for the Bantam 301?
Any AC/DC power supply that can
output 7 amps or more is recommended.
The output needed is dependant upon the
volatge of the pack and the charge rate that
you want to charge the pack at.
How long should my Charge Cables be? The shorter the cable, the less resistance. If
you need a longer charge cable, increase the
Gauge of the cable. Most cables these days
are 22G. I personally have made my own
charge cables from 18G wire and the length
up to 36" without any issues.
The Bantam 301 does not have a Heat
Sink, is this a problem?
Not at all. The case is designed to dissapate
the heat the charger develops during the
charging and discharging of a pack. The case
will reach as high as 125 F. This is normal.
Always make sure any charger is well
ventalted and the vents are not blocked.
I never heard of Bantam? Who are they? Bantan is an OEM manufacturer making
chargers for other companies for several years.
Some of the more "popular" chargers on the
market have been made by Bantam.
Can I use this charger with my Duralites? If your Duralites are the newer versions using Li-Ion
or Li-Poly (Duralite Plus) then yes. The safety Circuitry
in the packs is comptable with the Bantam 301.