DSR PSC-12500A User manual

00-99-000742/0209
Model / Modelo / Modèle: PSC-12500A
Automatic Battery Charger / Cargadore de batería
automático / Chargeur de batterie automatique
READ ENTIRE MANUAL BEFORE
USING THIS PRODUCT
LEA EL MANUAL COMPLETO ANTES DE
UTILIZAR ESTE PRODUCTO
LIRE ENTIÈREMENT LE GUIDE AVANT
D’UTILISER CE PRODUIT
OWNER’S MANUAL
MANUAL DEL USUARIO
GUIDE D’UTILISATION
Voltage / Tensión / Tension: 6, 12
Amperage / Amperaje / Ampérage: 2, 15◄►40

TABLE OF CONTENTS / ÍNDICE
SECTION / SECCIÓN PAGE / PÀGINA
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 1
PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS 2
PREPARING TO CHARGE 3
CHARGER LOCATION 3
DC CONNECTION PRECAUTIONS 3
FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY IS
INSTALLED IN VEHICLE. 4
FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY IS
OUTSIDE VEHICLE. 4
BATTERY CHARGING – AC CONNECTIONS 5
FEATURES 6
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS 6
CONTROL PANEL 6
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS 8
CALCULATING CHARGE TIME 13
MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS 14
STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS 14
TROUBLESHOOTING 15
BEFORE RETURNING FOR REPAIRS 17
LIMITED WARRANTY 18
INSTRUCCIONES IMPORTANTES DE SEGURIDAD 19
PRECAUCIONES PERSONALES 20
PREPARACIÓN PARA LA CARGA 21
UBICACIÓN DEL CARGADOR 21
PRECAUCIONES DE CONEXIÓN EN CC 22
SIGA ESTOS PASOS CUANDO LA BATERÍA ESTÉ
COLOCADA EN EL VEHÍCULO. 22

SIGA ESTOS PASOS CUANDO LA BATERÍA SE
ENCUENTRE FUERA DEL VEHÍCULO. 23
CARGA DE BATERÍA, CONEXIONES DE CA 24
CARACTERÍSTICAS 25
INSTRUCCIONES DE MONTAJE 25
PANEL DE CONTROL 25
INSTRUCCIONES DE OPERACIÓN 27
CÁLCULO DE TIEMPO DE CARGA 33
INSTRUCCIONES DE MANTENIMIENTO 34
INSTRUCCIONES DE ALMACENAJE 34
LOCALIZACIÓN Y SOLUCIÓN DE PROBLEMAS 35
ANTES DE DEVOLVER A REPARACIONES 38
GARANTÍA LIMITADA 38
CONSIGNES DE SÉCURITÉ IMPORTANTES 40
PRÉCAUTIONS PERSONNELLES 41
PRÉPARATION POUR LE CHARGEMENT 42
EMPLACEMENT DU CHARGEUR 42
PRÉCAUTIONS SUR LA CONNEXION C.C. 43
ÉTAPES À SUIVRE QUAND LA BATTERIE EST INSTALLÉE
DANS UN VÉHICULE. 43
ÉTAPES À SUIVRE QUAND LA BATTERIE EST INSTALLÉE
HORS DU VÉHICULE. 44
CHARGEMENT D’UNE BATTERIE – RACCORDEMENTS C.A. 44
CARACTÉRISTIQUES 45
DIRECTIVES DE MONTAGE 46
PANNEAU DE CONTRÔLE 46
CONSIGNES D’UTILISATION 48
CALCUL DU TEMPS DE CHARGEMENT 53
CONSIGNES D’ENTRETIEN 54

DIRECTIVES D’ENTREPOSAGE 54
TABLEAU DE DÉPANNAGE 55
AVANT DE L’ENVOYER POUR RÉPARATION 57
GARANTIE LIMITÉE 58

•1 •
IMPORTANT: READ AND SAVE THIS SAFETY AND INSTRUCTION MANUAL.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS1.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS – The PSC-12500A battery charger offers1.1
a wide range of features to accommodate your needs. This manual will
show you how to use your charger safely and effectively. Please read,
understand and follow these instructions and precautions carefully, as this
manual contains important safety and operating instructions.
WARNING: Pursuant to California Proposition 65, this product contains1.2
chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth de-
fects or other reproductive harm.
Do not expose the charger to rain or snow.1.3
Use only recommended attachments. Use of an attachment not recom-1.4
mended or sold by Schumacher® Electric Corporation may result in a risk
of re, electric shock or injury to persons or damage to property.
To reduce the risk of damage to the electric plug or cord, pull by the plug1.5
rather than the cord when disconnecting the charger.
An extension cord should not be used unless absolutely necessary. Use of1.6
an improper extension cord could result in a risk of re and electric shock.
If an extension cord must be used, make sure:
That the pins on the plug of the extension cord are the same number,•
size and shape as those of the plug on the charger.
That the extension cord is properly wired and in good electrical condi-•
tion.
That the wire size is large enough for the AC ampere rating of the char-•
ger as specied in the table in Section 8.2.
Do not operate the charger with a damaged cord or plug; take it to a quali-1.7
ed service person. (Call customer service at: 1-800-621-5485.)
Do not operate the charger if it has received a sharp blow, been dropped1.8
or otherwise damaged in any way; take it to a qualied service person.
(Call customer service at: 1-800-621-5485.)
Do not disassemble the charger; take it to a qualied service person when 1.9
service or repair is required. Incorrect reassembly may result in a risk of
re or electric shock. (Call customer service at: 1-800-621-5485.)
To reduce the risk of electric shock, unplug the charger from the outlet1.10
before attempting any maintenance or cleaning. Simply turning off the
controls will not reduce this risk.
WARNING – RISK OF EXPLOSIVE GASES.

•2 •
WORKING IN THE VICINITY OF A LEAD-ACID BATTERY IS DANGER-
OUS. BATTERIES GENERATE EXPLOSIVE GASES DURING NOR-
MAL BATTERY OPERATION. FOR THIS REASON, IT IS OF UTMOST
IMPORTANCE THAT YOU FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS EACH TIME
YOU USE THE CHARGER.
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF A BATTERY EXPLOSION, FOLLOW THESE
INSTRUCTIONS AND THOSE PUBLISHED BY THE BATTERY MANU-
FACTURER AND THE MANUFACTURER OF ANY EQUIPMENT YOU
INTEND TO USE IN THE VICINITY OF THE BATTERY. REVIEW THE
CAUTIONARY MARKINGS ON THESE PRODUCTS AND ON THE
ENGINE.
PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS2.
Consider having someone close enough by to come to your aid when you2.1
work near a lead-acid battery.
Have plenty of fresh water and soap nearby in case battery acid contacts2.2
your skin, clothing or eyes.
Wear complete eye and body protection, including safety goggles and pro-2.3
tective clothing. Avoid touching your eyes while working near the battery.
If battery acid contacts your skin or clothing, immediately wash the area2.4
with soap and water. If acid enters your eye, immediately ood the eye
with cold running water for at least 10 minutes and get medical attention
right away.
NEVER smoke or allow a spark or ame in the vicinity of a battery or 2.5
engine.
Be extra cautious to reduce the risk of dropping a metal tool onto the bat-2.6
tery. It might spark or short-circuit the battery or other electrical part that
may cause an explosion.
Remove personal metal items such as rings, bracelets, necklaces and2.7
watches when working with a lead-acid battery. A lead-acid battery can
produce a short-circuit current high enough to weld a ring or the like to
metal, causing a severe burn.
Use this charger for charging LEAD-ACID batteries only. It is not intended2.8
to supply power to a low voltage electrical system other than in a starter-
motor application. Do not use this battery charger for charging dry-cell
batteries that are commonly used with home appliances. These batteries
may burst and cause injury to persons and damage to property.
NEVER charge a frozen battery.2.9
NEVER overcharge a battery.2.10

•3 •
PREPARING TO CHARGE3.
If it is necessary to remove the battery from the vehicle to charge it, al-3.1
ways remove the grounded terminal rst. Make sure all of the accessories
in the vehicle are off, to prevent arcing.
Be sure the area around the battery is well ventilated while the battery is3.2
being charged.
Clean the battery terminals before charging the battery. During cleaning,3.3
keep airborne corrosion from coming into contact with your eyes, nose
and mouth. Use baking soda and water to neutralize the battery acid and
help eliminate airborne corrosion. Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
Add distilled water to each cell until the battery acid reaches the level3.4
specied by the battery manufacturer. Do not overll. For a battery without
removable cell caps, such as valve regulated lead acid batteries (VRLA),
carefully follow the manufacturer’s recharging instructions.
Read, understand and follow all instructions for the charger, battery,3.5
vehicle and any equipment used near the battery and charger. Study all of
the battery manufacturer’s specic precautions while charging and recom-
mended rates of charge.
Determine the voltage of the battery by referring to the vehicle owner’s3.6
manual and make sure that the output voltage selector switch is set to the
correct voltage. If the charger has an adjustable charge rate, charge the
battery in the lowest rate rst.
Make sure that the charger cable clips make tight connections.3.7
CHARGER LOCATION4.
Locate the charger as far away from the battery as the DC cables permit.4.1
Never place the charger directly above the battery being charged; gases4.2
from the battery will corrode and damage the charger.
Do not set the battery on top of the charger.4.3
Never allow battery acid to drip onto the charger when reading the electro-4.4
lyte specic gravity or lling the battery.
Do not operate the charger in a closed-in area or restrict the ventilation in4.5
any way.
DC CONNECTION PRECAUTIONS5.
Connect and disconnect the DC output clips only after setting all of the5.1
charger switches to the “off” position and removing the AC plug from the
electrical outlet. Never allow the clips to touch each other.
Attach the clips to the battery and chassis, as indicated in steps 6.5, 6.65.2
and 7.2 through 7.4.

•4 •
FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY IS INSTALLED IN6.
VEHICLE.
A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY MAY CAUSE A BATTERY EXPLOSION.
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY:
Position the AC and DC cables to reduce the risk of damage by the hood,6.1
door and moving or hot engine parts.
Stay clear of fan blades, belts, pulleys and other parts that can cause6.2
injury.
Check the polarity of the battery posts. The POSITIVE (POS, P, +) battery 6.3
post usually has a larger diameter then the NEGATIVE (NEG, N, -) post.
Determine which post of the battery is grounded (connected) to the chas-6.4
sis. If the negative post is grounded to the chassis (as in most vehicles),
see step 6.5. If the positive post is grounded to the chassis, see step 6.6.
For a negative-grounded vehicle, connect the POSITIVE (RED) clip from 6.5
the battery charger to the POSITIVE (POS, P, +) ungrounded post of the
battery. Connect the NEGATIVE (BLACK) clip to the vehicle chassis or
engine block away from the battery. Do not connect the clip to the carbure-
tor, fuel lines or sheet-metal body parts. Connect to a heavy gauge metal
part of the frame or engine block.
For a positive-grounded vehicle, connect the NEGATIVE (BLACK) clip 6.6
from the battery charger to the NEGATIVE (NEG, N, -) ungrounded post
of the battery. Connect the POSITIVE (RED) clip to the vehicle chassis or
engine block away from the battery. Do not connect the clip to the carbure-
tor, fuel lines or sheet-metal body parts. Connect to a heavy gauge metal
part of the frame or engine block.
When disconnecting the charger, turn all switches to off, disconnect the6.7
AC cord, remove the clip from the vehicle chassis and then remove the
clip from the battery terminal.
See CALCULATING CHARGE TIME for length of charge information.6.8
FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY IS OUTSIDE VEHICLE.7.
A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY MAY CAUSE A BATTERY EXPLOSION.
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY:
Check the polarity of the battery posts. The POSITIVE (POS, P, +) battery 7.1
post usually has a larger diameter than the NEGATIVE (NEG, N, -) post.
Attach at least a 24-inch long 6-gauge (AWG) insulated battery cable to 7.2
the NEGATIVE (NEG, N, -) battery post.
Connect the POSITIVE (RED) charger clip to the POSITIVE (POS, P, +) 7.3
post of the battery.
Position yourself and the free end of the cable you previously attached to7.4
the NEGATIVE (NEG, N, -) battery post as far away from the battery as
possible – then connect the NEGATIVE (BLACK) charger clip to the free
end of the cable.

•5 •
Do not face the battery when making the nal connection.7.5
When disconnecting the charger, always do so in the reverse order of the7.6
connecting procedure and break the rst connection while as far away
from the battery as practical.
A marine (boat) battery must be removed and charged on shore. To 7.7
charge it onboard requires equipment specially designed for marine use.
BATTERY CHARGING – AC CONNECTIONS8.
This battery charger is for use on a nominal 120-volt circuit.8.1
DANGER – Never alter AC cord or plug provided – if it does not t the
outlet, have proper grounded outlet installed by a qualied electrician. Im-
proper connection can result in a risk of an electric shock or electrocution.
Recommended minimum AWG size for extension cords for battery char-8.2
gers:
25 50 100 150
(7.6) (15.2) (30.5) (45.6)
0 2 18 18 18 16
2 3 18 18 16 14
3 4 18 18 16 14
4 5 18 18 14 12
5 6 18 16 14 12
6 8 18 16 12 10
8 10 18 14 12 10
10 12 16 14 10 8
12 14 16 12 10 8
14 16 16 12 10 8
16 18 14 12 8 8
18 20 14 12 8 6
aIf the input rating of a charger is given in watts rather than in
amperes, the corresponding ampere rating is to be determined
by dividing the wattage rating by the voltage rating ±for
example:
1250 watts/125 volts = 10 amperes
Length of cord, feet (m)
AWG size of cord
AC input rating,
amperes
a
But less
than
At least

•6 •
FEATURES9.
51
4
2
3
Charger Status Display1.
Area
Digital Display Mode Select2.
Button
Battery Type Select Button3.
Charge Rate/Battery Size4.
Select Button
Battery Clips5.
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS10.
Included with your charger are two cord wrap cleats for storage of the clip
cables.
To install, align the two tabs with the two receptacles and push until you10.1
hear a snap.
CONTROL PANEL11.
Digital Display
The Digital Display gives a digital indication of voltage, % of charge or
alternator output %, depending on the Display Mode chosen.

•7 •
Display Mode Button
Use this button to set the function of the digital display to one of the
following:
Battery %• - The digital display shows an estimated charge percentage
of the battery connected to the charger battery clips.
Voltage• – The digital display shows the voltage at the charger battery
clips in DC volts.
Alternator %• - The digital display shows an estimated output percent-
age of the vehicle’s charging system connected to the charger battery
clips as compared to a properly functioning system.
Battery Type Button
Use this button to set the type of battery to be charged.
Regular• – Set the button to REGULAR. This battery type is usually
used in cars, trucks and motorcycles. These batteries have vent caps
and are often marked “Low Maintenance” or “Maintenance-free”. This
type of battery is designed to deliver quick bursts of energy (such as
starting engines) and have a greater plate count. The plates will also
be thinner and have somewhat different material composition. Regular
batteries should not be used for deep cycle applications.
Deep-Cycle• – Set the button to DEEP CYCLE. Deep-cycle batteries
are usually marked as “Deep-Cycle” or “Marine”. Deep-cycle batteries
are usually larger than the other types. This type of battery has less
instant energy but somewhat greater long-term energy delivery than
regular batteries. Deep cycle batteries have thicker plates and can
survive a number of discharge cycles.
AGM• – Set the button to AGM/GEL CELL. The Absorbed Glass Matt
construction allows the electrolyte to be suspended in close proximity
with the plate’s active material. In theory, this enhances both the dis-
charge and recharge efciency. Actually, the AGM batteries are a vari-
ant of Sealed VRLA (valve regulated lead acid) batteries. Popular uses
include high performance engine starting, power sports, deep cycle,
solar and storage battery. AGM batteries are typically good deep cycle
batteries and they deliver best life performance if recharged before the
battery drops below a 50 percent charge. If these AGM batteries are
completely discharged the cycle life will be around 300 cycles. This is
true of most AGM batteries rated as deep cycle batteries.
GEL• – Set the button to AGM/GEL CELL. The Gel Cell is similar to the
AGM style because the electrolyte is suspended, but different because
technically the AGM battery is still considered to be a wet cell. The
electrolyte in a GEL cell has a silica additive that causes it to set up or
stiffen. The recharge voltages on this type of cell are lower than the oth-
er styles of lead acid battery. This is probably the most sensitive cell in
terms of adverse reactions to over-voltage charging. Gel Batteries are
best used in VERY DEEP cycle application and may last a bit longer in
hot weather applications. If the incorrect battery charger is used on a
Gel Cell battery, poor performance and premature failure is certain.

•8 •
Charge Rate Button
Use the Charge Rate button to select the charge rate or engine starting
setting you require.
SMALL BATTERY• – Provides a charge rate of up to 2A. Intended for
charging small batteries such as those commonly used in garden trac-
tors, snow mobiles and motorcycles. NOTE: The 2A rate is not to be
used as a trickle charger for larger batteries.
REGULAR BATTERY• – Automatically switches between the 15A
and 40A variable charge rate or charges continuously at the 15A rate
depending on the battery. Use for charging automotive, marine and
deep-cycle batteries. Not intended for industrial applications.
ENGINE START• – Used for cranking an engine with a weak or run
down battery. Always use in combination with a battery.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS12.
Charging
Connect the battery following the precautions listed in Sections 6 and1.
7.
Select the appropriate settings for your battery.2.
Connect the AC power following the precautions listed in Section 8.3.
Turn the charger on (if equipped with a switch).4.
NOTE: Pressing any button while charging will stop the charging process
and the Digital Display will read Off.
Battery Connection Indicator
If the charger does not detect a properly connected battery, the CON-
NECTED (yellow) LED will not light until such a battery is detected. Charg-
ing will not begin while the CONNECTED (yellow) LED is not on. When
charging begins, the CHARGING (yellow) LED will illuminate.
Automatic Charging Mode
When an Automatic Charge is performed, the charger switches to the
Maintain Mode (see below) automatically after the battery is charged.
NOTE: The battery must have at least a 0.1 volt charge in order for the
microprocessor to analyze and begin the charging process.
Aborted Charge
If charging can not be completed normally, charging will abort. When
charging aborts, the charger’s output is shut off. The CONNECTED (yel-
low) LED will remain lit, and the Digital Display will read bad bat. In that
state, the charger ignores all buttons. To reset after an aborted charge,
either disconnect the battery or unplug the charger.

•9 •
Desulfation Mode
If the battery is left discharged for an extended period of time, it could
become sulfated and not accept a normal charge. If the charger detects
a sulfated battery, the charger will switch to a special mode of operation
designed for such batteries. Activation of the special Desulfation Mode is
indicated by the CHARGING (yellow) LED blinking. If successful, normal
charging will resume after the battery is desulfated. The CHARGING (yel-
low) LED will then stop blinking and stay lit. Desulfation could take up to
10 hours. If desulfation fails, charging will abort. The CONNECTED (yel-
low) LED will remain lit, and the Digital Display will read bad bat.
Completion of Charge
Charge completion is indicated by the CHARGED (green) LED. When
lit, the charger has stopped charging and switched to the Maintain Mode
of operation. If the 12V DEEP CYCLE battery type was selected, the
CHARGED (green) LED comes on when the battery is charged enough for
normal use.
Maintain Mode
When the CHARGED (green) LED is lit, the charger has started Maintain
Mode. In this mode, the charger keeps the battery fully charged by deliver-
ing a small current when necessary. If the battery voltage drops below a
preset level the charger will go back into Charge Mode until the battery
voltage returns to the full charge level, at which point the charger will
return to Maintain Mode. The voltage is maintained at a level determined
by the BATTERY TYPE selected.
NOTE: The charger automatically switches between Charge Mode and
Maintain Mode as necessary. The CHARGED (green) LED will cycle on
when the battery is at full charge and off when the voltage drops below
a preset level and the charger goes into Charge Mode. This cycle will
continue, and the CHARGED (green) LED will stay on for longer periods
of time as the battery becomes more fully charged.
Using the Engine Start feature
Your battery charger can be used to jumpstart your car if the battery is low.
Follow these instructions on how to use the ENGINE START feature.
IMPORTANT: Follow all safety instructions and precautions for charg-
ing your battery. Wear complete eye protection and clothing protection.
Charge your battery in a well-ventilated area.
IMPORTANT: Using the ENGINE START feature WITHOUT a battery
installed in the vehicle could cause damage to the vehicle’s electrical
system.
With the charger unplugged from the AC outlet, connect the charger1.
to the battery following the instructions given in Section 6 (FOLLOW
THESE STEPS WHEN THE BATTERY IS INSTALLED IN A VEHICLE).
Plug the charger AC power cord into the AC outlet.2.
With the charger plugged in and connected to the battery of the ve-3.
hicle, set the Battery Size Button to the engine start position.

•10 •
Crank the engine until it starts or 5 seconds pass. If the engine does4.
not start, wait 3 minutes before cranking again.
NOTE: During extremely cold weather, or if the battery is under 2 volts,
charge the battery for 5 minutes before cranking the engine.
If the engine fails to start, charge the battery for 5 more minutes before5.
attempting to crank the engine again.
After the engine starts, unplug the AC power cord before disconnecting6.
the battery clips from the vehicle.
Clean and store the charger in a dry location.7.
NOTE: If the engine does turn over, but never starts, there is not a prob-
lem with the starting system; there is a problem somewhere else with
the vehicle. STOP cranking the engine until the other problem has been
diagnosed and corrected.
Engine Starting Notes
During the starting sequence listed above, the charger is set to one of
three states.
Wait for cranking – The charger waits until the engine is actually being
cranked before delivering the required amps for engine start. The charger
delivers charge at a preset rate while waiting and will reset if the engine
is not cranked within 15 minutes. (If the charger resets, it sets itself to the
default start up settings). While waiting for cranking, the digital display
shows the battery voltage (it can not be set to percent).
Cranking – When cranking is detected, the charger will automatically
deliver up to its maximum output as required by the starting system for up
to 5 seconds or until the engine cranking stops. The digital display shows
a countdown of the remaining crank time in seconds. It starts at 5 and
counts down to 0.
Cool Down – After cranking, the charger enters a mandatory 3 min-
ute (180 second) cool down state. During this period, no settings can
be changed. The buttons are ignored. The digital display indicates the
remaining cool down time in seconds. It starts at 180 and counts down to
0. The ENGINE START LED blinks once every second. During the cool
down period, no current is delivered to the battery. After 3 minutes, the
ENGINE START LED will stop blinking and will light continuously, indicat-
ing that another crank cycle can be started. The digital display will change
from displaying the countdown back to displaying the battery voltage. The
CHARGING (yellow) LED will then be lit.

•11 •
Using the Battery Voltage Tester
Overview
This battery charger has a built-in voltmeter to test your battery’s state
of charge. The charger does not have a built in load tester. As such, a
recently charged battery could have a temporarily high voltage due to
what is known as “surface charge”. The voltage of such a battery will
gradually drop during the period immediately after the charging system is
disengaged. Consequently, the tester could display inconsistent values for
such a battery. For a more accurate reading, the surface charge should be
removed by temporarily creating a load on the battery, such as by turning
on lights or other accessories for a couple of minutes before you read the
display. Read it a couple of minutes after you have shut the headlights off.
Testing Sequence: There are four basic steps required to test the battery
state of charge:
With the charger unplugged from the AC outlet, connect the charger to1.
the battery following the instructions given in Sections 6 and 7.
Plug the charger AC power cord into the AC outlet, following the in-2.
structions given in Section 8.
If necessary, press the BATTERY TYPE button until the correct type is3.
indicated.
Read the voltage on the digital display or press the Display Mode but-4.
ton to set the tester to BATTERY % to read the voltage as a percent of
charge.
Tester and Charger: When rst turned on, the unit operates only as a tes-
ter, not as a charger. To continue to use it only as a tester, avoid pressing
the BATTERY SIZE button. Selecting a charge rate activates the battery
charger and deactivates the tester. Pressing the BATTERY SIZE button
when the ENGINE START LED is lit (except during the 180 second cool
down) will shut off the charger and activate the tester.
Power-Up Idle Time Limit: If no button is pressed within 15 minutes
after the battery charger is rst powered up, the charger will automatically
switch from tester to charger if a battery is connected. In that case, the
charger will be set to the start up default settings.
Tester without Time Limit: If either the DISPLAY MODE or BATTERY
TYPE button is pressed within the rst 10 minutes after the battery char-
ger is powered up, the unit will remain a tester (not a charger) indenitely,
unless a charge rate is selected.
Testing After Charging: After the unit has been changed from tester to
charger (by selecting a charge rate), it remains a charger. To change the
battery charger back to a tester, press the BATTERY SIZE button until all
charge rate LED’s are off.
Tester Status LED’s: When the unit is operating as a battery tester, the
status LED’s light under the following conditions:

•12 •
The CHARGED (green) LED will light if a charged battery is tested.•
The CHARGING (yellow) LED does not light in the Battery Test Mode.•
The CONNECTED (yellow) LED will light if a properly connected bat-•
tery is detected.
Initial Percent Calculation: When a battery % is calculated for the rst
time after connecting a battery, the digital display will show three dashes
(“---“) for a period as long as several seconds while the tester analyzes the
battery.
Using the Alternator Performance Tester
Overview
This battery charger has a built-in alternator tester that displays an esti-
mate of the alternator’s relative output compared to normal alternators.
The alternator % values displayed should be taken as a general reference,
not a precise diagnosis. The alternator tester functions the same as the
built-in battery voltage tester (see previous section for details) with a few
differences.
Testing Sequence: There are three basic steps required to operate this
unit as an alternator tester:
With the charger unplugged from the AC outlet, connect the charger to1.
the battery following the instructions given in Sections 6 and 7.
Plug the charger AC power cord into the AC outlet, following the in-2.
structions given in Section 8.
Start the vehicle, and turn on the vehicle’s headlights. Read the voltage3.
on the digital display or press the DISPLAY MODE button to set the
tester to ALTERNATOR % to read the voltage as a percent of charge.
Alternator Testing Note: The DISPLAY MODE cannot be set to ALTER-
NATOR % during charging.
General Charging Notes
Fan: The charger is designed to control its cooling fan for efcient opera-
tion. Consequentially, it is normal for the fan to start and stop when main-
taining a fully charged battery. The fan does not run in Tester Mode. Keep
the area near the charger clear of obstructions to allow the fan to operate
efciently.
Restart: If the Charge Mode is changed after charging has started (by
pressing the BATTERY SIZE or BATTERY TYPE button), the charging
process will restart.
Voltage: The voltage displayed during charging is the charging voltage
and is usually higher than the battery’s resting voltage.
Charging Tips
Read this entire manual before using your battery charger. The following
tips serve only as a guide for specic situations.

•13 •
If your vehicle won’t start• – It is not necessary to fully charge your
battery to start a vehicle. When the battery’s charge is 77% or more, the
battery has usually been charged enough for the vehicle to start and
operate normally. If operating the vehicle continuously for an extended
period (such as a long drive), the vehicle’s charging system should
charge the battery back to normal during that period. If the vehicle will
only be operated for a short period (short drive), the battery might need
to be charged again before it could start the vehicle again.
Completing an interrupted charge• – Once the battery has reached
85% charge; if the charging process is interrupted and restarted, the
charger could go straight into Maintain Mode. However, if the original
charge was started using the 15◄►40A rate, the charge can often be
completed using the 2A rate.
CALCULATING CHARGE TIME13.
Use the following table to more accurately determine the time it will take to
bring a battery to full charge. First, identify where your battery ts into the
chart.
Cold cranking amps (CCA) is a measurement of the number of amps a
battery can deliver at 0°F for 30 seconds and not drop below 7.2 volts. A
high CCA battery rating is good especially in cold weather.
Reserve Capacity (RC) is a very important rating. This is the number of
minutes a fully charged battery at 80°F will discharge 25 amps until the
battery drops below 10.5 volts.
An amp hour (AH) is a rating usually found on deep cycle batteries. If a
battery is rated at 100 amp hours, it should deliver 5 amps for 20 hours,
20 amps for 5 hours, etc.
NR means that the charger setting is NOT RECOMMENDED.
Find your battery’s rating on the chart below, and note the charge time
given for each charger setting. The times given are for batteries with a
50% charge prior to recharging. Add more time for severely discharged
batteries.

•14 •
BATTERY SIZE/RATING CHARGE RATE/CHARGING
TIME
2 AMP 15 - 40
SMALL
BATTERIES Motorcycle, garden,
tractor, etc.
6 - 12 AH 2 – 3¾ hrs NR
12 - 32 AH 3¾ – 10 hrs NR
CARS/TRUCKS 200 - 315 CCA 40 - 60 RC 11¼ – 14½ hrs ½ – 2 hrs
315 - 550 CCA 60 - 85 RC 14½ – 18¼ hrs ¾ – 2½ hrs
550 - 1000 CCA 80 - 190 RC 18¼ – 34¾ hrs 1 – 4½ hrs
MARINE/DEEP CYCLE 80 RC 17 ½ hrs 1 – 2½ hrs
140 RC 27 hrs 1½ – 3½ hrs
160 RC 30 hrs 1½ – 4 hrs
180 RC 33 hrs 1½ – 4½ hrs
MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS14.
Before performing maintenance, unplug and disconnect the battery char-14.1
ger (see Sections 6, 7 and 8).
After use, unplug the charger and use a dry cloth to wipe all battery corro-14.2
sion and other dirt or oil from the terminals, cords, and the charger case.
Servicing does not require opening the unit, as there are no user-service-14.3
able parts.
STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS15.
Store the charger unplugged, in an upright position. The cord will still con-15.1
duct electricity until it is unplugged from the outlet.
Store inside, in a cool, dry place (unless you’re using an on-board Marine 15.2
Charger).
Do not store the clips on the handle, clipped together, on or around metal,15.3
or clipped to cables.

•15 •
TROUBLESHOOTING16.
PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE REASON/SOLUTION
The charger is making an
audible clicking sound. Circuit breaker is cycling.
Battery is defective.
Shorted battery cables or
clips.
Severely discharged bat-
tery, but otherwise it is a
good battery.
Reverse connections at
battery.
The settings may be wrong.
Check the charger settings.
Have the battery checked.
Circuit breaker cycles when
current draw is too high.
Check for shorted cables or
clips and replace if neces-
sary.
The battery may not want
to accept a charge due to
a run-down state. Allow
charging to continue until
battery has a chance to
recover sufciently to take
a charge. If more than 20
minutes, stop charging and
have the battery checked.
Shut the charger off and
correct the lead connec-
tions.
Charger makes a loud
buzz or hum. Transformer laminations vibrate (buzz).
Shorted Diode Assembly or
Output Rectier Assembly
(hum).
No problem, this is a normal
condition.
Have charger checked by a
qualied technician.