| 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. |
|||