Manuals
and Other Documentation

Glossary of Common Terms
AA - AA Size Battery, a common battery
size indicator
AAA - AAA Size Battery, a common battery
size indicator
Alkaline - Chemical used in batteries,
primarily in the anode
Alloy - a chemical compound of two
or more metals
Anode - the positive (+) terminal
of a battery. The anode typically contains a deficit of
electrons. When connected to the cathode an electric current
forms.
Capacity - The total number of ampere-hours
or watt-hours that can be withdrawn from a fully charged
cell or battery under specified conditions of discharge.
Cathode - The negative terminal of
a battery, which contains a large quantity of electrons.
Together with the anode, this is a basic building block
of a battery. During discharge, the positive electrode
of the cell is the cathode. During charging in a rechargeable
battery, the negative electrode is the cathode.
Charger - An electronic device that
recharges the rechargeable. Many manufacturers produce
chargers for their rechargeable batteries.
Charging Current - The current used
to charge up a rechargeable battery.
Charging Time - The period of time
it takes for charger to charge up rechargeable
battery.
Chemistry - The chemical composition
or arrangement of a material or substance.
-dv Control - This is a precise termination
that tracks the rates of change of battery voltage (dv/dt).
The charger varies the voltage change in proportion to
the time taken by the current. This allows optimal charging
by eliminating the overcharging and compromise of traditional
fixed charge timers. The battery stops charging when the
battery is fully charged and enters float charging mode.
Electric Current - A flow of electrons
between an anode and a cathode.
Electric Device - A device such as
a digital camera, MP3 player that uses electric energy
to operate.
Electron - A negatively charged component
of an atom.
Fast Charge - The ability of a charger
to charge a rechargeable battery in a few hours or less.
Lead Acid - A type of chemical used
in lead-acid batteries, typically vehicles.
MAh - milli ampere hours, a measure
of current flowed within an hour
Mains Voltage - the household voltage,
typically 110-120 or 220-240 V AC
Memory Effect - A phenomenon in which
a cell or battery operated in successive cycles to the
same, but less than full, depth of discharge temporarily
loses the rest of its capacity at normal voltage levels.
Mercury - A metal used in many older
batteries, considered toxic and environmentally harmful.
Nickel Cadmium - A common chemical
compound used in rechargeable batteries,considered toxic
and environmentally harmful.
Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) - A common
chemical compound used in rechargeable batteries
Over-current Control - The adapter
ensures the charging current is within the specifications
of the power regulation circuits within the equipment,
preventing equipment damage or safety hazards.
Over-temperature Control - If the
internal case temperature rises to an unusually high level
then the system will shut down. When the temperature has
settled to a safe level the full charge current will be
available. The cut-off temperature depends on the model
e.g. 57C for the Camelion Easy to Use F60 charger
Recharge Cycles - The number of times
a battery can be recharged
Rechargeable Battery - A battery that
can be recharged by using a charger, Typically batteries
can be recharged 500-1000 times under normal conditions.
Reverse Polarity Protection - Prevents
damage to the charger if the battery is connected in reverse.
The charger automatically detects if battery is inserted
improperly i.e. positive is put against the negative plate
and vice versa.
Self-Discharge - The loss of useful
capacity of a battery on storage due to internal chemical
action (local action).
Shelf Life - The duration of storage
under specified conditions at the end of which the battery
still retains the ability to give a specified performance.
Short-Circuit Protection - Prevents
damage to the charger if the dc output is short-circuited.
Single Use Battery - A type of battery that cannot
be recharged and must be disposed of once the charge that
has been fully used.
Special Disposal - Proper disposal
of batteries so as not to harm the environment. All batteries
should be disposed and recycled properly. Heavy lead based
batteries have toxic materials and should be disposed
of in accordance with appropriate environmental regulations.
Time-out Control - The charger has
a timer that turns off the charger after a specified period
of time. E.g. for the Easy to Use F60 charger the automatic
cut-off is at 1.25 hours.
Wattage - A measure of electric power,
typically expressed in watts or kilowatts.
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