Schumacher Electric SP1295 User manual

0099001805-00
MODEL / MODELO:
SP1295
Automatic Battery Charger
Cargador de baterías automático
OWNERS MANUAL / MANUAL DEL USUARIO
PLEASE SAVE THIS OWNERS MANUAL AND READ BEFORE EACH USE.
This manual will explain how to use the charger safely and effectively. Please read
and follow these instructions and precautions carefully.
POR FAVOR CONSERVE ESTE MANUAL DEL USUARIOY LEALOANTES DE CADA
USO. En este manual le explica cómo utilizar el cargador de manera segura y conable.
Por favor, lea y siga las siguientes instrucciones y precauciones.

• 2 •
1. IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
1.1 SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS – This manual contains important safety and
operating instructions.
1.2 Keep out of reach of children.
1.3 Do not expose the charger to rain or snow.
1.4 Use of an attachment not recommended or sold by Schumacher®Electric
Corporation may result in a risk of re, electric shock or injury to persons.
1.5 To reduce the risk of damage to electric plug and cord, pull by the plug rather
than the cord when disconnecting charger.
1.6 An extension cord should not be used unless absolutely necessary. Use of
improper extension cord could result in a risk of re and electric shock. If an
extension cord must be used, make sure:
• The pins on plug of extension cord are the same number, size and shape as
those of plug on charger.
• The extension cord is properly wired and in good electrical condition
• The wire size is large enough for AC ampere rating of charger, as specied in
section 8.
1.7 Do not operate charger with damaged cord or plug – replace the cord or plug
immediately.
1.8 Do not operate charger if it has received a sharp blow, been dropped, or
otherwise damaged in any way; take it to a qualied serviceman.
1.9 Do not disassemble charger; take it to a qualied serviceman when service or repair
is required. Incorrect reassembly may result in a risk of electric shock or re.
1.10 To reduce risk of electric shock, unplug charger from outlet before attempting any
maintenance or cleaning. Turning off controls will not reduce this risk.
1.11 WARNING: RISK OF EXPLOSIVE GASES.
a. WORKING IN VICINITY OF A LEAD-ACID BATTERY IS DANGEROUS.
BATTERIES GENERATE EXPLOSIVE GASES DURING NORMAL BATTERY
OPERATION. FOR THIS REASON, IT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT
YOU FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS EACH TIME YOU USE THE CHARGER.
b. To reduce risk of battery explosion, follow these instructions and those
published by battery manufacturer and manufacturer of any equipment you
intend to use in vicinity of battery. Review cautionary markings on these
products and on the engine.

• 3 •
2. PERSONAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
2.1 Consider having someone close enough by to come to your aid when you work
near a lead-acid battery.
2.2 Have plenty of fresh water and soap nearby in case battery acid contacts skin,
clothing, or eyes.
2.3 Wear complete eye protection and clothing protection. Avoid touching eyes while
working near battery.
2.4 If battery acid contacts skin or clothing, wash immediately with soap and water.
If acid enters eye, immediately ood eye with running cold water for at least 10
minutes and get medical attention immediately.
2.5 NEVER smoke or allow a spark or ame in vicinity of battery or engine.
2.6 Be extra cautious to reduce risk of dropping a metal tool onto battery. It might spark
or short-circuit battery or other electrical part that may cause explosion.
2.7 Remove personal metal items such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, and 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.
2.8 Use the charger for charging only 6 and 12V LEAD-ACID (STD, AGM or deep-
cycle) rechargeable batteries with recommended rated capacities of 12Ah (6V) and
12-35Ah (12V). It is not intended to supply power to a low voltage electrical
system other than in a starter-motor application. Do not use 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.
2.9 NEVER charge a frozen battery.
2.10 WARNING: This product contains one or more chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
3. PREPARING TO CHARGE
3.1 If necessary to remove battery from vehicle to charge, always remove grounded
terminal from battery rst. Make sure all accessories in the vehicle are off, so as
not to cause an arc.
3.2 Be sure area around battery is well ventilated while battery is being charged.
3.3 Clean battery terminals. Be careful to keep corrosion from coming in contact with eyes.
3.4 Add distilled water in each cell until battery acid reaches level specied by battery
manufacturer. Do not overll. For a battery without removable cell caps, such as valve
regulated lead acid batteries, carefully follow manufacturer’s recharging instructions.

• 4 •
3.5 Study all battery manufacturer’s specic precautions while charging and
recommended rates of charge.
3.6 Determine voltage of battery by referring to car owner’s manual and make
sure that output voltage selector switch is set at correct voltage. If charger has
adjustable charge rate, charge battery initially at lowest rate.
4. CHARGER LOCATION
4.1 Locate charger as far away from battery as DC cables permit.
4.2 Never place charger directly above battery being charged; gases from battery will
corrode and damage charger.
4.3 Never allow battery acid to drip on charger when reading electrolyte specic
gravity or lling battery.
4.4 Do not operate charger in a closed-in area or restrict ventilation in any way.
4.5 Do not set a battery on top of charger.
5. DC CONNECTION PRECAUTIONS
5.1 Connect and disconnect DC output clips only after setting any charger switches
to “off” position and removing AC cord from electric outlet. Never allow clips to
touch each other.
5.2 Attach clips to battery and chassis, as indicated in sections 6 and 7.
6. FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY IS INSTALLED IN VEHICLE
WARNING: A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY MAY CAUSE A BATTERY
EXPLOSION. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY:
6.1 Position AC and DC cords to reduce risk of damage by hood, door, or moving
engine part.
6.2 Stay clear of fan blades, belts, pulleys, and other parts that can cause injury to persons.
6.3 Check polarity of battery posts. POSITIVE (POS, P, +) battery post usually has
larger diameter than NEGATIVE (NEG, N,–) post.
6.4 Determine which post of battery is grounded (connected) to the chassis. If negative
post is grounded to chassis (as in most vehicles), see (6.5). If positive post is
grounded to the chassis, see (6.6).
6.5 For negative-grounded vehicle, connect POSITIVE (RED) clip from battery charger
to POSITIVE (POS, P, +) ungrounded post of battery. Connect NEGATIVE (BLACK)
clip to vehicle chassis or engine block away from battery. Do not connect clip to
carburetor, fuel lines, or sheet-metal body parts. Connect to a heavy gauge metal
part of the frame or engine block.

• 5 •
6.6 For positive-grounded vehicle, connect NEGATIVE (BLACK) clip from battery
charger to NEGATIVE (NEG, N, –) ungrounded post of battery. Connect
POSITIVE (RED) clip to vehicle chassis or engine block away from battery. Do
not connect clip to carburetor, fuel lines, or sheet-metal body parts. Connect to a
heavy gauge metal part of the frame or engine block.
6.7 When disconnecting charger, turn switches to off, disconnect AC cord, remove clip
from vehicle chassis, and then remove clip from battery terminal.
6.8 See Operating Instructions for length of charge information.
7. FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY IS OUTSIDE VEHICLE
WARNING: A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY MAY CAUSE A BATTERY
EXPLOSION. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY:
7.1 Check polarity of battery posts. POSITIVE (POS, P, +) battery post usually has a
larger diameter than NEGATIVE (NEG, N, –) post.
7.2 Attach at least a 24-inch-long 6-gauge (AWG) insulated battery cable to
NEGATIVE (NEG, N, –) battery post.
7.3 Connect POSITIVE (RED) charger clip to POSITIVE (POS, P, +) post of battery.
7.4 Position yourself and free end of cable as far away from battery as possible –
then connect NEGATIVE (BLACK) charger clip to free end of cable.
7.5 Do not face battery when making nal connection.
7.6 When disconnecting charger, always do so in reverse sequence of connecting
procedure and break rst connection while as far away from battery as practical.
7.7 A marine (boat) battery must be removed and charged on shore. To charge it on
board requires equipment specially designed for marine use.
8. GROUNDING AND AC POWER CORD CONNECTIONS
8.1 This battery charger is for use on a nominal 120 volt circuit. The plug must be
plugged into an outlet that is properly installed and grounded in accordance with
all local codes and ordinances. The plug pins must t the receptacle (outlet). Do
not use with an ungrounded system.
8.2 DANGER: Never alter the AC cord or plug provided – if it does not t the outlet,
have a proper grounded outlet installed by a qualied electrician. An improper
connection can result in a risk of an electric shock or electrocution.
NOTE: Pursuant to Canadian Regulations, use of an adapter plug is not allowed
in Canada. Use of an adapter plug in the United States is not recommended and
should not be used.

• 6 •
8.3 USING AN EXTENSION CORD
The use of an extension cord is not recommended. If you must use an extension
cord, follow these guidelines:
• Pins on plug of extension cord must be the same number, size, and shape as
those of plug on charger.
• Ensure that the extension cord is properly wired and in good electrical condition.
• Wire size must be large enough for the AC ampere rating of charger, as
specied below:
Length of cord (feet) 25 50 100 150
AWG* size of cord 18 18 18 16
*AWG-American Wire Gauge
9. ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
9.1 Remove all cord wraps and uncoil the cables prior to using the battery charger.
10. FEATURES
1. LED indicators
2. Battery clamp quick-connect
3. Ring terminal quick-connect
4. Quick-connect connector
1
4
2
3
11. CONTROL PANEL
LED INDICATORS
POWER (red) LED lit: There is AC power supplied to the battery charger.
CHARGING (yellow/orange) LED lit: The charger is charging the battery.
CHARGING (yellow/orange) LED ashing: The charger has detected
a problem with the battery.
CHARGED (green) LED pulsing: The battery is fully charged and the
charger is in maintain mode.

• 7 •
12. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
IMPORTANT: Do not start the vehicle with the charger connected to the AC
outlet, or it may damage the charger and your vehicle.
CHARGING A BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE
1. Turn off all the vehicle’s accessories.
2. Keep the hood open.
3. Clean the battery terminals.
4. Place the charger on a dry, non-ammable surface.
5. Lay the AC/DC cables away from any fan blades, belts, pulleys and other
moving parts.
6. Connect the battery, following the precautions listed in sections 6 and 7.
7. Connect the charger to an electrical outlet. The POWER (red) LED will light.
8. If you’ve connected everything correctly, the CHARGING (yellow/orange)
LED should be lit, indicating that the charger is charging, and the POWER
(red) LED will go off. If the CHARGING LED does not light, check the
connections or have the battery checked/replaced.
9. When the battery is fully charged, the CHARGED (green) LED will pulse.
10. When charging is complete, disconnect the charger from the AC power,
remove the clamps from the vehicle’s chassis, and then remove the clamp
from the battery terminal.
CHARGING A BATTERY OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE
1. Place battery in a well-ventilated area.
2. Clean the battery terminals.
3. Connect the battery, following the precautions listed in sections 6 and 7.
4. Connect the charger to the electrical outlet. The POWER (red) LED will light.
5. If you’ve connected everything correctly, the CHARGING (yellow/orange)
LED should be lit, indicating that the charger is charging, and the POWER
(red) LED will go off. If the CHARGING LED does not light, check the
connections or have the battery checked/replaced.
6. When the battery is fully charged, the CHARGED (green) LED will pulse.
7. When charging is complete, disconnect the charger from the AC power,
disconnect the negative clamp, and nally the positive clamp.
8. A marine (boat) battery must be removed and charged on shore.

• 8 •
USING THE QUICK-CONNECT CABLE CONNECTORS
Connect either of the two output cable assemblies to the charger in a matter
of seconds. Make sure to place the charger on a dry, non-ammable surface.
IMPORTANT: Never connect the clamp and ring terminal connectors together
for use in other applications, such as external battery or other power source
charging, or to extend the output cable length, as reverse polarity and/or
overcharge conditions will occur.
BATTERY CLAMP QUICK-CONNECT
1. Connect the end of the charger output cable to the end of the battery clamp
quick-connect.
2. Follow the steps in previous sections to connect the output clamps to the battery.
3. After a good electrical connection is made to the battery, plug the power cord
into a grounded 120V AC electrical wall outlet.
RING TERMINAL QUICK-CONNECT
The ring connectors permanently attach to the battery, providing easy access
to quickly connect the charger to your battery. This application is appropriate for
motorcycles, lawn tractors, ATVs and snowmobiles.
1. To permanently attach to a battery, loosen and remove each nut from the bolt
at the battery terminal.
2. Connect the red POSITIVE connector ring to the POSITIVE battery terminal.
3. Connect the black NEGATIVE connector ring to the NEGATIVE battery terminal.
4. Replace and tighten the nuts to secure.
5. Connect the cable to the end of the charger output cord.
Take care to keep the wires and plug away from metal and moving parts.
6. Plug the charger power cord into a grounded 120V AC electrical wall outlet.

• 9 •
BATTERY CHARGING TIMES
CCA = Cold Cranking Amps RC = Reserve Capacity
Ah = Amp Hour
BATTERY SIZE/RATING CHARGE TIME
(1A)
SMALL BATTERIES
Motorcycle, garden tractor, etc.
6-12 Ah 4-7½ h
12-32 Ah 7½-20 h
CARS AND TRUCKS
200-315 CCA 40-60 RC MAINTAIN ONLY
315-550 CCA 60-85 RC MAINTAIN ONLY
550-1000 CCA 85-190 RC MAINTAIN ONLY
MARINE/DEEP-CYCLE
80 RC MAINTAIN ONLY
140 RC MAINTAIN ONLY
160 RC MAINTAIN ONLY
180 RC MAINTAIN ONLY
Times are based on a 50% discharged battery and may change, depending on
age and condition of battery.
AUTOMATIC CHARGING MODE
When an automatic charge is performed, the charger switches to the maintain
mode automatically after the battery is charged.
CHARGE COMPLETION AND MAINTAIN MODE
(FLOAT MODE MONITORING)
Charge completion is indicated by the CHARGED (green) LED. When
pulsing, the charger has stopped charging and switched to the Maintain Mode
of operation. NOTE: If the charger has to provide its maximum maintain current
for a continuous 12 hour period, it will go into Abort Mode (see Aborted Charge
section). This is usually caused by a drain on the battery, or the battery could be
bad. Make sure there are no loads on the battery. If there are, remove them. If
there are none, have the battery checked or replaced.
MAINTAINING A BATTERY
This unit maintains both 6 and 12 volt batteries, keeping them at full charge. It is not
recommended for industrial applications.
NOTE: The maintain mode technology allows you to safely charge and maintain a
healthy battery for extended periods of time. However, problems with the battery,
electrical problems in the vehicle, improper connections or other unanticipated
conditions could cause excessive current draws. As such, occasionally monitoring
your battery and the charging process is required.

• 10 •
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.
If successful, normal charging will resume after the battery is desulfated.
Desulfation could take up to 10 hours. If desulfation fails, charging will abort and
the CHARGING (yellow/orange) LED will ash.
ABORTED CHARGE
If charging cannot be completed normally, charging will abort. When charging
aborts, the charger’s output is shut off and the CHARGING (yellow/orange)
LED will ash. Do not continue to attempt to charge this battery. Check the
battery and replace, if necessary.
13. MAINTENANCE AND CARE
A minimal amount of care can keep your battery charger working properly for years.
• Clean the clamps each time you are nished charging. Wipe off any battery uid
that may have come in contact with the clamps, to prevent corrosion.
• Occasionally cleaning the case of the charger with a soft cloth will keep the nish
shiny and help prevent corrosion.
• Coil the input and output cords neatly when storing the charger. This will help
prevent accidental damage to the cords and charger.
• Store the charger unplugged from the AC power outlet in an upright position.
• Store inside, in a cool, dry place. Do not store the clamps clipped together, on or
around metal, or clipped to the cables.