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BATTERY CHARGER SET-UP
1. Place this Charger as far away from the battery being charged as the charging cables will permit.
2. When connecting charger clamps to a battery, rock the clamps back and forth on the terminals
to ensure a secure connection and reduce the risk of sparking.
3. When using the Battery Charger close to the vehicle’s battery and engine, place the unit on
a flat, stable surface, and keep all clamps, cords, clothing and body parts away from moving
parts of the vehicle.
4. Refer to the specific vehicle battery charging procedure as found in a shop or owner’s manual.
5. Determine that vehicle charging system is 12 volts. If uncertain, refer to vehicle owners
or shop manual.
6. Be sure area around battery is well-ventilated while battery is being charged.
7. If it is necessary to remove battery from vehicle to charge, or to clean terminals, always remove
grounded terminal from battery first. Make sure all accessories in the vehicle are turned off
to prevent arcing.
8. Clean battery and cable terminals to ensure good contact. Be careful to keep corrosion from
coming in contact with eyes or skin. Corrosion build-up can be dissolved with a baking
soda-water paste solution.
9. For a battery without cell caps, carefully follow manufacturer’s recharging instructions.
10. For batteries with removable vent caps, add distilled water in each cell until battery acid reaches
level specified by battery manufacturer. This helps purge excessive gas from cells. Do not overfill.
11. Do not operate Battery Charger in a closed-in area or restrict ventilation. Marine batteries must be
removed from enclosures and charged on shore.
• Circuit Breaker - This Battery Charger has an internal, self-resetting circuit breaker that protects
the Battery Charger from temporary overloads. When it operates, it generates a “clicking” sound.
The ammeter value will reduce to zero when the breaker is open. After a cool-down period,
the breaker will automatically close and the ammeter will show a high rate of charge. If the breaker
continues to cycle every few minutes, reduce charge rate or discontinue charging.
• Pre-Charge Activation - When starting to charge a battery, the current demand will depend on
the battery’s percent of charge. The actual current will usually be lower than the current selected
on the Battery Charger’s switch, unless the battery is severely discharged. As the battery charge
level increases, the current demand level reduces.
• The Ammeter is intended to show how the charging process is proceeding; it should not be used
to determine the level of battery charge – this should be done using a hydrometer or a voltmeter.
Typically, 12.6V DC is considered full charge for a 12-volt battery if the voltage is measured one hour
after the Battery Charger is disconnected. During charging, a nominal 12-volt battery can reach a
charge level of 13.6 volts or even higher. To record an accurate battery volt reading, wait at least one
hour after removing charger.
