Avon AC1240IC Quick setup guide

AC1240IC 6V / 12V 4A Electronic Smart Charger
Instruction And Information Manual
In order to ensure correct and safe usage of your battery charger, you should read these instructions
carefully. Please store these instructions for future reference.
SAFETY
Ensure that cables are regularly inspected and kept in good condition.
Never use the battery charger if the mains lead or plug is damaged.
Never use the battery charger if the output leads or crocodile clips are damaged.
Never use the battery charger if it has been dropped or damaged in any way.
WARNING: Battery charging produces explosive gases. Prevent flames and sparks. Provide adequate
ventilation during charging.
Keep the charging area completely clear of combustible materials.
For indoor use only, do not expose to rain or any other forms of liquid or moisture.
The charger must not be used as a continuous DC power source or for any purposes other than those listed.
The charger is designed to charge Lead-Acid & AGM batteries only and must not be used for the charging of
non-rechargeable batteries.
Replacement of the mains cable should only be carried out by the manufacturer, its service agent or a
suitably qualified electrician / electrical technician in order to avoid a hazard. There are no user-serviceable
parts in this product other than the fuse in the output and input leads.
GENERAL SAFETY
This battery charger can be used by children aged from 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 should be supervised to ensure that they do not play with this battery charger.
Cleaning and user maintenance shall not be carried out by children without supervision.
GASES
The charging process produces flammable and explosive gases - the area in which charging takes place
should be kept well ventilated. Only connect and disconnect the battery leads when the mains supply is
disconnected. Avoid flames or sparks ! Do not smoke !

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GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Retain these instructions for future use.
2. Store this product in a dry place to avoid moisture damage.
3. There are no user-serviceable parts in this product. Opening the case is dangerous and should therefore
only be carried out by qualified persons. Resultant damage to the product will result in the loss of your
guarantee.
4. Do not use this product if it is damaged in any way.
5. Only use this product for the purposes described in this instruction booklet. Failure to do so will result in the
loss of your warranty. The manufacturer will not accept liability for damage to the charger, persons or
property resulting from incorrect usage.
SAFETY
The use of safety goggles and gloves when working with lead acid batteries is strongly advised. Avoid contact
with the electrolyte as this is acidic and is likely to cause burns to the skin or clothes. If this occurs you should
rinse the affected area with plenty of water immediately. In the event of burns to the skin, medical advice
should be sought if the symptoms persist.
DISPOSAL
In the event that this product must be disposed of, an authorised place for the recycling of electrical and
electronic appliances must be sought. Contact your local authority for information concerning local
Household Recycling Centres with applicable facilities.
This product must not be disposed of with general domestic waste.
RECOMMENDED USES
This product is suitable for charging 6V and 12V lead acid, sealed lead-acid, maintenance-free and AGM
batteries of capacities 1.2Ah to 120Ah (Ampere hours). Check with your device manufacturer if you are
unsure about the suitability of this charger for use with your device.
BATTERY CHARGING INSTRUCTIONS
Please read your vehicle manufacturer’s instructions for further information and advice regarding the
disconnection of the battery for charging purposes.
IMPORTANT: This model will only recover 12V batteries with a minimum residual voltage of 7.5V, or 6V
batteries with a minimum residual voltage of 4V. If the residual voltage is lower than above figures, the
charger will not operate. NOTE : This charger operates automatically and will change operating status
without warning.
Maintain as much distance as is practical between the battery and charger. Monitor the temperature of the
battery during charging. If the temperature of the battery exceeds 400C cease charging until the battery has
cooled to a safe temperature. Failure to do so may result in the battery exploding.
Batteries store large amounts of energy. Avoid short circuits which could result in a dangerous electrical
discharge that could result in personal injury and / or damage to equipment and property. The charger will
automatically detect the voltage (6V or 12V) and diagnose the condition of your battery, the first stage of the
5 Step charging cycle (as listed in part 4).
1. PREPARATION OF THE BATTERY
In the case of lead-acid batteries, firstly remove the caps from each cell and check the level of liquid. If it is
below the recommended level, top up with ionized or distilled water.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD TAP WATER BE USED

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To avoid battery acid splashing, the cell caps should be replaced but not tightened until charging is complete.
This allows any gases formed during charging to escape. It is inevitable that some minor escape of acid will
occur during charging. If your battery is permanently sealed it is unnecessary to carry out these checks.
2. CHARGING LEAD SELECTION
Interchangeable ring terminal and fully-insulated battery clip charging leads are supplied. Select the
appropriate lead for your application and attach to the charger output lead using the quick-fit connector fitted
to each, before connecting the charger to either the mains supply or to the battery. NOTE : Quick fit ring
terminal leads are useful for applications where the battery is not easily accessible, as with some
motorcycles.
3. CONNECTION
To avoid sparks which could cause an explosion, the mains supply should always be disconnected before
making or breaking battery connections. Connect the battery clips or ring terminals to the battery in the
following order:
1) Connect the positive charging lead (RED) to the positive post of the battery (marked + / +ve or P).
2) For vehicles with the battery still installed: Connect the negative charging lead (BLACK) to the
vehicle chassis (marked - / -ve or N), well away from the battery, fuel line, and hot or moving parts.
For batteries removed from the vehicle: Connect the negative charging lead (BLACK) to the
negative post of the battery (marked - / -ve or N).
After connecting the clips, rotate them slightly so as to remove any dirt or oxidization, thus ensuring a good
contact.
4. CHARGING
WARNING! DO NOT ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE WITH THE CHARGER CONNECTED TO THE
BATTERY. THIS MAY DAMAGE YOUR BATTERY CHARGER.
1) Switch on the mains power supply. For 12V batteries select the charging mode appropriate for your
battery by pushing the MODE button. The display will cycle through the available options (12V STD,
12V AGM, WINTER). The charger will now automatically measure the voltage of your battery and
diagnose its condition. Providing the battery is in an acceptable condition the charge cycle will now
commence and the LCD display will now show charging information. For 6V batteries the charger will
automatically commence the 6V STD charging program.
2) When the battery is fully charged with 5 bars shown on the display, the charger will switch to provide a
maintenance float charge and may be left connected to the battery.
The 5 step charging program is:
1) Battery condition diagnosis & recovery with pulse charging
2) Battery preparation with soft start
3) Automatic current selection & bulk charging - charging with constant current
4) Constant voltage absorption charging, after which charging ceases automatically for 1 minute.
5) Maintenance float charging - When the battery is fully charged the charger will maintain the condition of
your battery automatically through voltage monitoring and pulse charging.
5. WHEN CHARGING IS COMPLETE
Switch off the mains supply, unplug the charger & disconnect the clips from the battery, negative (BLACK
lead) first. Then disconnect the (RED) positive lead from the battery. Or, if used, disconnect the ring terminal
charging lead in the same way. The lead can be left permanently attached to a vehicle battery but the
end-cap must be fitted at all times to prevent short circuit, sparks or dirt/water entry. When not in use
the charger should NOT be left connected to this lead.

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For non-sealed lead-acid batteries: Inspect the liquid levels in each cell and top up if necessary, using the
correct fluid. Now push home or tighten the caps. Any surplus fluid around the cell tops should be wiped off
(this should be done with extreme care as it is acidic). If the battery has been removed for charging, replace
it and re-connect the cables.
FAULTY CELLS –NON-SEALED LEAD-ACID BATTERIES
Batteries are usually made with six cells. One of these cells can deteriorate or get damaged. If after several
hours charging your battery is still flat, you should test the battery. Take hydrometer readings from each cell
in the battery. If one reading is lower than the others, this could indicate a faulty cell. The battery will require
replacement if one or more cells are faulty.
LCD Display
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9.
During charging the LCD display backlight will be red, when charging is finished it will turn green.
LCD Display Key :
1. 12V standard lead-acid battery mode.
2. 12V AGM battery mode.
3. Winter mode for 12V STD battery and 12V AGM batteries. Suitable for 5°C or less.
4. 6V standard lead-acid battery mode.
5. Battery level indicator. Each bar represents approximately 20%. The outline border flashes during
charging. When the battery is full & during float charging the border and all five bars will be visible.
6. Battery voltage indicator, accurate to 0.1V.
7. Reverse polarity indicator –disconnect and re-connect correctly.
8. Bad battery indicator –battery will require replacement.
9. Clamp connection indicator –indicates poor connection.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Protection class
Input
voltage
Input
current
Output
Max lead-acid
battery capacity
IP65
230V 50Hz
0.6A
12V : 4A 6V : 4A
1.2-120Ah
CAR BATTERY MAINTENANCE
It is essential to keep your battery regularly charged up throughout the year, especially during the winter
months. In the winter the effectiveness of your car battery is reduced by the cold. Oil is thick, engines are
difficult to start and the heater, windscreen wipers and lights are all draining power. It is at this time that
batteries have to be at peak power. If your battery is not regularly maintained and kept fully charged, it can
cause problems and a possible breakdown.

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SUMMARY OF OPERATION:
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Pulse charging
Soft
start
Auto-Select Current & Bulk
Charging
Absorption
Float charging
12V STD
mode
Connect the charger to the
battery, the charger will detect
the battery’s voltage
automatically.
(1) If a voltage of more than 7.5
V is detected, the charger
recognizes battery as 12V
(2) If a voltage of 7.5V-10.5V is
found, maintenance charge is
activated ( 0.8A pulse charging
until voltage exceeds 10.5V)
(3) If the voltage doesn’t reach
10.5V within 30minutes, a
battery fault is indicated.
1A
charging
until the
voltage
reaches
12.8V
Every 15-20min the
charger will check the
battery voltage. If the
voltage has increased by
0.2V or more the charging
current will remain the
same.
If the voltage has not
increased by 0.2V the
charger will increase the
charging current by 1 Amp.
to 2A. The cycle will be
repeated every 15-20min.
and the charging current
can be increased to 3A or
4A. This charging cycle will
continue until the battery
voltage reaches the
maximum value.
Maximum
voltage
14.4V
14.4V constant
voltage
Charging current
steps down by 1Aat
a time until 1Amp is
reached
Charger will detect
the battery’s voltage
again
(1) If the voltage falls
below 12V. Battery
fault is shown.
(2) If voltage is
12-13.2V, charger will
switch to
maintenance
charging
(3) If the voltage is
more than 13.2V
charger will wait for
the voltage to fall
before starting a
maintenance charge.
12V AGM
mode
Maximum
voltage
14.8V
14.8V constant
voltage Charging
current steps down
by 1A at a time until
1Amp is reached
12V
Winter
mode
Maximum
voltage
14.8V
14.8V constant
voltage Charging
current is falling until
1A
6V
STD
mode
Connect the charger to the
battery, the charger will detect
the battery’s voltage
automatically;
(1) If voltage of less than 7.5V
is detected the charger
recognizes the battery as 6V
(2) If voltage of 1.5V-5V is
found, maintenance charge is
activated ( 0.8A pulse charging
until voltage exceeds 5.25V)
(3) if voltage doesn’t reach
10.5V within 30minutes, a
battery fault is indicated
1A
charging
until the
voltage
reaches
6.4 V
Every 15-20min the
charger will check the
battery voltage. If the
voltage has increased by
0.2V or more the charging
current will remain the
same.
If the voltage has not
increased by 0.2V the
charger will increase the
charging current by 1 Amp.
to 2A. The cycle will be
repeated every 15-20min.
and the charging current
can be increased to 3A or
4A. This charging cycle will
continue until the battery
voltage reaches 7.2V
Maximum
voltage
7.2V
7.2V constant
voltage; Charging
current steps down
by 1A at a time until
1Amp is reached
Charger will detect
the battery’s voltage
again
(1) If the voltage falls
below 6V. Battery
fault is shown.
(2) If the voltage is
6-6.6V, charger will
switch to
maintenance
charging.
(3) If the voltage is
more than 6.6V
charger will wait for
the voltage to fall
before starting a
maintenance charge
TROUBLESHOOTING
Display
Fault
Action
Battery polarity reversal symbol
displayed.
Battery clamps reversed
Disconnect & reconnect correctly
Clamp indication and voltage symbols
displayed
Dirty or oxidized battery terminals. Low or
unstable charging current
Clean terminals
No Display
Mains supply not connected
Check socket
Display back light on, display showing
0.0V and clamp symbol.
Battery not connected
Check clamps, replace battery
Output lead fuses should be checked and replaced as necessary (5A blade) in connection with all faults. Also check the fuse in the
mains plug, which should only be replaced with a 3A BS1362 fuse.
Persistent fuse replacement may indicate a fault with the charger or leads. Check these before each use and do not use if worn or
damaged.
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
We declare that this product conforms to the following standards EN60335-1, EN60335-2-29, EN55014, EN61000,
and the following Directives 73/23 CEE, 93/68 CEE, 2004/108/EC, 2002/95/EC (ROHS)
Technical Manager
Bristol Batteries Ltd, November, 2015