Model 163 Moviecorder 8 Camcorder (160-0864) Power Sources Faxback Doc. # 19177 SELECTING/USING POWER SOURCES To protect the date and time display, you must load the supplied battery. You can power the camcorder from any of four sources - the supplied nickel-cadmium battery pack, AA alkaline batteries, the supplied AC adapter/charger, or your vehicle's battery (with an optional DC adapter, not supplied). LOADING THE DATE/CALENDAR BATTERY Your camcorder uses a lithium battery (supplied) to protect the date and time and any titles you create. NOTE: The battery's life is approximately one year, but this can vary depending on the temperature and operating conditions. Follow these steps to load the data/calendar battery in the camcorder. 1. Slide the battery tray on the right side of the camcorder down to remove it. 2. Wipe the new battery with a clean, dry cloth, then slide it into the battery tray with the + mark facing up. CAUTION: Do not handle the battery with tweezers or any other metal object. This can create a short circuit that could shorten the battery's life or damage it. 3. Replace the battery tray. NOTES: If you do not plan to use the camcorder for a month or more, remove the battery to protect the camcorder from possible battery leakage. If the camcorder does not work properly, remove and reinstall the battery. If the camcorder still does not work properly, replace the battery (Cat. No. 23-161). Use only a fresh battery of the required size and type. WARNING: Do not allow children to play with the old battery. It can be harmful or fatal if swallowed. CAUTIONS: Always dispose of the old battery promptly and properly. Do not bury or burn it. Never leave an old, dead, or weak battery in the camcorder. Batteries can leak chemicals and corrode or damage electronic circuits. USING THE BATTERY PACK You can power the camcorder using the supplied nickel-cadmium battery pack. You must charge the battery pack before you use it. Charging the Battery Pack CAUTIONS: Use only the supplied AC adapter/charger to charge the battery pack. Using any other adapter/charger could damage the battery pack. Do not use the AC adapter/charger to charge any battery pack other than the type supplied. Follow these steps to charge the battery pack with the supplied AC adapter/charger. 1. Make sure the auxiliary power cord is not connected to the AC adapter/charger. NOTE: The battery pack will not charge if the auxiliary power cord is connected to the AC adapter/charger. 2. Align the mark on the top of the battery pack with the mark near the top of the AC adapter/changer. 3. Gently press the battery pack against the AC adapter/charger, then slide the battery pack in the direction of the arrow until it locks into place. CAUTION: The battery pack fits only one way onto the AC adapter/charger. Do not force it. 4. Plug the AC adapter/charger's power cord into a standard AC outlet. The POWER and CHARGE indicators on the AC adapter/charger light and charging begins. When the battery pack is fully charged, the CHARGE indicator turns off. NOTE: It takes about 1 hour to fully charge the battery pack, but the exact charging time depends on the surrounding temperature and the condition of the battery pack. 5. When the battery pack is fully charged, remove it from the AC adapter/charger by sliding it in the opposite direction until it stops, then lift it up. Then disconnect the AC adapter/charger from the AC outlet. Refreshing the Battery Pack The refresh feature on the AC adapter/charger completely discharges the battery pack before recharging begins. To keep your battery pack in top condition, refresh it after about every 5 charges. To refresh a battery pack, press REFRESH on the AC adapter/charger after you install the battery pack. The REFRESH indicator turns on when discharging begins, then turns off when the battery pack is fully discharged. Then charging begins automatically. NOTE: It takes about 4 hours to completely refresh then charge a battery pack. Battery Charging Confirmation Marker Slide this marker to the left or right to remind yourself when the battery is fully charged or in need of a charge. Attaching the Battery Pack to the Camcorder 1. Slide VCR/OFF/CAMERA to OFF to turn off the camcorder. 2. To open the battery compartment on the right side of the camcorder, lift and pull the OPEN lever toward you and to the left. The battery compartment cover opens. CAUTION: The battery compartment cover is attached to the camcorder by a rubber cord. Do not try to remove it. 3. Make sure both alkaline battery holders inside the battery compartment are pushed down flat. CAUTION: The alkaline battery holders are attached to the inside of the camcorder. Do not try to remove it. 4. Align the mark on the top of the battery pack with the mark on the camcorder's case outside the battery compartment. 5. Gently press the battery pack against the camcorder, then slide the battery pack down until it locks into place. CAUTION: The battery pack fits only one way into the battery compartment. Do not force it. 6. Replace the battery compartment cover, then push the OPEN lever to the right and down to latch it. To remove the battery pack, slide VCR/OFF/CAMERA to OFF to turn off the camcorder. Then open the battery compartment cover. CAUTION: Always stop the tape and turn off the camcorder before you remove the battery pack. You might damage the tape if you remove the battery pack during recording or playback. Gently press the battery pack against the camcorder, then slide the battery pack up and pull it out to remove it. Then replace the battery compartment cover. Important: This camcorder uses a rechargeable nickel-cadmium battery pack. At the end of the battery pack's useful life, it must be recycled or disposed of properly. Contact your local, county, or state hazardous waste management authorities for information on recycling or disposal programs in your area. Some options that might be available are: municipal curb-side collection, drop-off boxes at retailers, recycling collection centers, and mailback programs. USING ALKALINE BATTERIES You can use six AA batteries to power the camcorder. You must use alkaline batteries (such as Radio Shack Cat. No. 23-652, not supplied). CAUTIONS: Use only fresh batteries of the recommended size and type. Do not use rechargeable AA batteries or non-alkaline batteries in the camcorder. Do not mix old and new batteries, batteries produced by different manufacturers, or batteries with different capacities. If the batteries you use have a manufacture date printed on them, make sure they are no more than 2 years old. Never leave dead or weak batteries in the camcorder. If you do not plan to use the camcorder for several days, remove the batteries. Dispose of batteries promptly and properly; do not bury or burn them. Different brands of batteries have different power capacities. Depending on the brand and age of the batteries you use, you might notice any of the following: The camcorder's battery indicator might fail to flash when the batteries are low. You might hear noise on the audio soundtrack or see white lines in the recorded picture. The picture and sound might not record normally. If any of these problems occur, try replacing the batteries. If the problems still occur, try powering the camcorder using a freshly charged battery pack, or take the camcorder to your local Radio Shack store. When you use batteries, follow these suggestions to get the most out of your camcorder. You should not use batteries to power the camcorder in the following recording situations: - During cold weather - 50 degrees F (10 degrees C) or below. - If you connected an optional DC light to the camcorder. When you remove batteries from the camcorder, inspect them closely before disposing of them. If you see any liquid leaking from the batteries or inside the battery compartment, remove the batteries immediately and take the camcorder to your local Radio Shack store. Your camcorder's warranty does not cover damage caused by leaking alkaline batteries. Putting Batteries in the Camcorder 1. Slide VCR/OFF/CAMERA to OFF to turn off the camcorder. 2. To open the battery compartment on the right side of the camcorder, lift and pull the OPEN lever toward you and to the left. The battery compartment cover opens. CAUTION: The battery compartment cover is attached to the camcorder. Do not try to remove it. 3. Pull up both battery holders inside the battery compartment. CAUTION: The battery holders are attached to the inside of the camcorder. Do not try to remove them. 4. Install the alkaline batteries as indicated by the polarity symbols (+ and -) marked inside the compartment. 5. Replace the battery compartment cover, then push the OPEN lever to the right and down to latch it. To remove the batteries, slide VCR/OFF/CAMERA to OFF to turn off the camcorder. Open the battery compartment cover and remove the batteries, then replace the battery compartment cover. CAUTIONS: Always stop the tape and turn off the camcorder before you remove the batteries. You might damage the tape if you remove the batteries during recording or playback. Be careful when removing batteries from the camcorder immediately after using it. The batteries might be hot. BATTERY STATUS INDICATORS When the battery pack is fully charged or the alkaline batteries are fresh, (battery symbol) appears in the viewfinder when you slide VCR/OFF/CAMERA to CAMERA. As the battery's power is used, (battery symbol) appears in the viewfinder. When the battery is low, (the battery symbol) blinks in the viewfinder. Then, after a few seconds, the camcorder turns itself off. Recharge the battery pack, install fresh alkaline batteries, or power the camcorder from the supplied AC adapter/charger or an optional DC adapter. NOTE: You can order additional battery packs from your local Radio Shack store so you can use one battery pack while you charge another. REPLACING THE BATTERY PACK/INSTALLING ALKALINE BATTERIES WHILE RECORDING You can replace the battery pack or alkaline batteries while recording. 1. When (blinking battery symbol) flashes in the viewfinder during recording, press the record/pause button to stop recording. 2. Slide VCR/OFF/CAMERA to OFF. 3. Remove the old battery pack or batteries and attach a fully charged battery pack or install fresh alkaline batteries. 4. Slide VCR/OFF/CAMERA back to CAMERA. 5. Press the record/pause button to continue recording. BATTERY USAGE HINTS Recording with many starts and stops, frequent zooming, and recording in temperature extremes might shorten battery life. Check the battery status indicator during use. If (blinking battery symbol) is displayed, turn the camcorder off. Do not use the camcorder with a low battery pack or batteries. This might cause the camcorder to automatically stop during recording or playback. The camcorder consumes a small amount of battery power even when VCR/OFF/CAMERA is set to OFF. If you are not going to use the camcorder for a long time, remove the battery pack or batteries from the camcorder. Store the battery pack or alkaline batteries in a dry, cool place. USING THE AC ADAPTER/CHARGER WARNING: To prevent electric shock, do not use this polarized plug with an extension cord, receptacle, or other outlet unless you can fully insert the blades to prevent blade exposure. 1. Connect one end of the supplied auxiliary power cord to the AC adapter/charger's DC OUTPUT jack. 2. Pull out the rubber cap over the DC IN 6V jack on the right side of the camcorder. CAUTION: The rubber cap is attached to the camcorder. Do not try to remove it. 3. Connect the other end of the power cord to the DC IN 6V jack. 4. Plug the AC adapter/charger's power cord into a standard AC outlet. CAUTION: The supplied AC adapter/charger is specially designed for use with your camcorder. Never use it to power any other device. USING YOUR VEHICLE'S BATTERY POWER Using an optional DC adapter (Radio Shack's CMC No. T16-CC80A, Radio Shack Unlimited No. 11449188), you can power the camcorder with your vehicle's battery. CAUTIONS: The recommended DC adapter is specially designed for use with your camcorder. Never use it to power any other device. Use only the recommended DC adapter to power the camcorder from your vehicle. Using a DC adapter other than the recommended one could seriously damage your camcorder and the DC adapter. Always connect the DC adapter to the camcorder before you plug it into your vehicle's cigarette-lighter socket, and unplug the DC adapter from the cigarette-lighter socket before you unplug it from the camcorder. Follow these steps to power the camcorder from your vehicle's battery. 1. Pull out the rubber cap over the DC IN 6V jack on the right side of the camcorder. CAUTION: The rubber cap is attached to the camcorder. Do not try to remove it. 2. Connect one end of the supplied auxiliary power cord to the DC OUTPUT jack on the DC adapter, then connect the other end of the cord to the DC IN 6V jack. 3. Plug the DC adapter into your vehicle's cigarette-lighter socket. NOTES: Be sure to push the plug completely into the cigarette-lighter socket. Be sure the socket is free from ashes and other debris. (JC 11/15/95)