Makita DC18RA / DC18RC Battery Charger

Safety Information

This appliance can be used by children aged 8 years and above and persons with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities or lack of experience and knowledge if they have been given supervision or instruction concerning use of the appliance in a safe way and understand the hazards involved. Children shall not play with the appliance. Cleaning and user maintenance shall not be made by children without supervision.

CAUTION:

1. SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS – This manual contains important safety and operating instructions for the battery charger.
2. Before using the battery charger, read all instructions and cautionary markings on (1) the battery charger, (2) the battery, and (3) the product using the battery.
3. CAUTION – To reduce risk of injury, charge only Makita type rechargeable batteries. Other types of batteries may burst causing personal injury and damage.
4. Non-rechargeable batteries cannot be charged with this battery charger.
5. Use a power source with the voltage specified on the nameplate of the charger.
6. Do not charge the battery cartridge in presence of flammable liquids or gases.
7. Do not expose charger to rain or snow.
8. Never carry charger by cord or yank it to disconnect from receptacle.
9. After charging or before attempting any maintenance or cleaning, unplug the charger from the power source. Pull by plug rather than cord whenever disconnecting charger.
10. Make sure cord is located so that it will not be stepped on, tripped over, or otherwise subjected to damage or stress.
11. Do not operate charger with damaged cord or plug. If the cord or plug is damaged, ask Makita authorized service center to replace it in order to avoid a hazard.
12. Do not operate or disassemble charger if it has received a sharp blow, been dropped, or otherwise damaged in any way; take it to a qualified serviceman. Incorrect use or reassembly may result in a risk of electric shock or fire.
13. Do not charge battery cartridge when room temperature is BELOW 10°C (50°F) or ABOVE 40°C (104°F). When the battery temperature is under 0°C (32°F), charging may not start.
14. Do not attempt to use a step-up transformer, an engine generator or DC power receptacle.
15. Do not allow anything to cover or clog the charger vents.

Charging

1. Plug the battery charger into the proper AC voltage source. Charging light will flash in green color repeatedly.
2. Insert the battery cartridge into charger until it stops adjusting to the guide of charger. Terminal cover of charger can be opened with inserting and closed with pulling out the battery cartridge.
3. When the battery cartridge is inserted, the red charging light will light up and charging will begin with a preset brief melody sound coming out for assurance as to which sound will come out to notify the completion of charging.
4. With finish of charge, the charging light will change from red one to green one and the melody sound or buzzer sound (a long beep) comes out to notify completion of charge.
5. Charging time varies by temperature (10°C (50°F) – 40°C (104°F)) that battery cartridge is charged at and conditions of the battery cartridge, such as a battery cartridge which is new or has not been used for a long period of time.
6. After charging, remove the battery cartridge from charger and unplug the charger.

Changing Melody of Completed Charging

1. Inserting the battery cartridge into charger brings out last preset brief melody sound of completed charging.
2. Removing and re-inserting it within five seconds after this action makes the melody sound change.
3. Every time removing and re-inserting it within another five seconds after this, the melody sound changes in order.
4. When the desired melody sound comes out, leave the battery cartridge being inserted and the charge will begin. When a "short beep" mode is selected, no completed charging signals comes out. (Silent Mode)
5. With finish of charge, the green light remains lit with the red light going out and the melody sound preset at the insertion of battery cartridge or buzzer sound (a long beep) comes out to notify completion of charge. (In selected silent mode, no sounds come out.)
6. Preset melody sound remains stored even when the charger is unplugged.

Battery Specifications and Charging Times

*1: These batteries can be charged with DC18RC only.

Notes and Troubleshooting

NOTE:

• The battery charger is for charging Makita-battery cartridges. Never use it for other purposes or for other manufacturer's batteries.
• When you charge a battery cartridge which is new or has not been used for a long period of time, it may not accept a full charge until after discharging it completely and recharging a couple of times (Ni-MH battery only).
• If charging light may flash in red color, battery condition is as below and charging may not start:
  • Battery cartridge from just-operated tool or battery cartridge that has been left in a location exposed to direct sunlight for a long time.
  • Battery cartridge that has been left for a long time in a location exposed to cold air.
• When the battery cartridge is too hot, charging will begin after the cooling fan installed in the charger cools the battery cartridge. Charging will begin after the battery cartridge temperature reaches the degree at which charging is possible.
• If the charging light flashes alternately in green and red color, charging is not possible. The terminals on the charger or battery cartridge are clogged with dust or the battery cartridge is worn out or damaged.

Cooling system:

• This charger is equipped with cooling fan for heated battery in order to enable the battery to prove its own performance. Sound of cooling air comes out during cooling, which means no trouble on the charger.
• Yellow light will flash for warning in the following cases:
  • Trouble on cooling fan
  • Incomplete cool down of battery, such as, being clogged with dust
• The battery can be charged in spite of the yellow warning light. But the charging time will be longer than usual in this case.
• Check the sound of cooling fan, vent on the charger, which can be sometime clogged with dust.
• The cooling system is in order although no sound of cooling fan comes out, if the yellow warning light will not flash.
• Always keep clean the vent on charger and battery for cooling.
• The products should be sent to repair or maintenance, if the yellow warning light will frequently flash.

Conditioning charge:

• Conditioning charge can extend the life of battery by automatically searching the optimum charging condition for the batteries in every situation.
• The battery employed in the following conditions repeatedly requires "conditioning charge" to prevent fast wear out. In that case, yellow light lights up:
  • Recharge of battery with its high temperature
  • Recharge of battery with its low temperature
  • Recharge of full charged battery
  • Over-discharge of battery (continue to discharge battery in spite of down of power.)
• The charging time of such battery is longer than usual.

Environmental Protection

Only for EU countries

Do not dispose of electric equipment or battery pack together with household waste material! In observance of the European Directives, on Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment and Batteries and Accumulators and Waste Batteries and Accumulators and their implementation in accordance with national laws, electric equipment and batteries and battery pack(s) that have reached the end of their life must be collected separately and returned to an environmentally compatible recycling facility.