Saitek SmartCharger Instruction Manual - page 7
capacity of the battery is marked on the battery as xxx
The SmartCharger will detect the
voltage of 1.2V
Ni-Cd/Ni-MH and may automatically discharge the battery to a
suitable level before recharging it. The SmartCharger will also vary
the discharging current to suit the number of batteries and the
various energy levels of the batteries to ensure a steady and
speedy discharging effect. This is the
Intelligent
Discharge System (IDS) at work! You will be able to tell that the
SmartCharger has entered this function because the IDS symbol
will light up and the upper triangle of the symbol will flash. The
outline of the Energy symbol will also appear at this time and the
energy bars will cycle through, from top to bottom. The
SmartCharger will then automatically begin to charge the battery in
Soft-Start mode (see 1.3 below).
You can also force the SmartCharger to skip the IDS phase
and enter Soft-Start directly by pressing the IDS key. However,
you should note that repeatedly overriding this function may lead to
increased memory effect (which will ultimately reduce the battery's
maximum capacity) and increased generation of damaging heat
during recharging, which, in turn, will reduce performance and
battery life.
Conversely, you can also force the SmartCharger to enter
the IDS function by pressing and holding the IDS key for around
three seconds during Soft-Start mode.
For instructions on inserting and recharging 9V batteries,
see
below.
1.3 Charging Begins
The SmartCharger will begin
recharging the 1.2V
battery by
progressing automatically through the following processes:
Soft-Start Charging: The SmartCharger may enter Soft-
Start Charging directly, or after the IDS function has taken place.
This method of charging will ensure that the battery does not heat
up during recharging. The SmartCharger will carefully analyze the
battery, and pre-charge the battery to a suitable level before Fast
Charging begins. During Soft-Start Charging, the Soft-Start
symbol will light up and the inner segment of the symbol will flash,
while the bars of the Energy symbol light up in a sequence that
converges in the middle.
Fast Charging: The SmartCharger
will enter Fast Charge mode after Soft-Start
Charging has taken place. This super high-
speed charging replenishes up to 80-90% of
the battery's original capacity. During this
process, the Fast Charge symbol will light up and the FAST icon
inside the symbol will flash. The Fast Charging current varies
according to the quality of the battery. During Fast Charging, the
bars within the Energy symbol will cycle from bottom
to top.
Top-Off Charging: This type of charging
tops up the remaining 10-20% of the battery's
capacity after Fast Charging has taken place. The
SmartCharger will then enter Trickle Charge mode
(see below). During Top-Off Charging, the
Trickle Charge symbol will light up while the
Trickle Charge icons of the symbol will flash. The
bottom four energy bars of the Energy symbol will
also light up, and the top energy bar will flash.
Trickle Charging: This mode of charging applies a very
low current to maintain the battery at its maximum capacity until
you are ready to use it. It does this by replenishing the internal