VDC Electronics BatteryMINDer 12248 User manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
BatteryMINDer® Model 12248*
Charger / Maintainer /
Desulfator-Conditioner
VDC Electronics, Inc.
147 D Woodbury Rd.
Huntington, NY 11743
www.batteryminders.com
[email protected]
READ AND SAVE THESE
INSTRUCTIONS
*NOT for use with
Aviation Type 12-V Batteries
4 A
BatteryMINDer
®
Charger / Maintainer /
Full Time De-Sulfator - Conditioner
12-Volt @ 2/4/8 Amp
Model 12248
8 A
2 A
AGM
GEL
FLOODED
Select
Charge Rate
Select
Battery Type
PRESSPRESSPRESS
Battery Condition Indication
Power On & Battery Connected
Before Start Charge:
Green = OK - Accepted
Yellow = Weak / Sulfated / Deep Discharge *
After Charge:
Green = Good
Yellow = Sulfated / Weak
*
MAINTENANCE
(FLOAT)
Stop
Restart
VDC Electronics, Inc.
800-379-5579 (ET)
www.batteryminders.com
U.S. Patented & Patent Pending
Hold for 5 sec. for full reset
Green = Power ON
ERROR:
Red = Polarity Reversed
/ Battery = less than 3-Volts
*
Red (Blinking) = Battery not fully charged -
charger in float-maintenance mode
*
Charge - Float
Green (solid) = Charging
Green (blinking) = Float (maintenance)
* See Instruction Manual
For Lead-Acid
Batteries ONLY
Rev. P-071510 P/N VDC12248-MNL

BatteryMINDer® Model 12248
Rev. P-071510 Page 2 P/N VDC12248-MNL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Safety Instructions.........................................................................3
Preparing To Charge.......................................................................5
Charger Location...........................................................................5
DC Connection Precautions.............................................................6
Qualifying Your Battery: ..................................................................8
Testing a Filler Cap or Manifold-type Lead Acid Battery...........................8
Testing With A Hot/Cold Calibrated Hydrometer Tester............................10
Testing a Sealed, AGM or Gelled-type Lead Acid Battery ........................10
Unit With Call-outs .....................................................................12
Simplied Operating Instructions ....................................................13
LED Indicator Functions ...........................................................14, 15
Detailed Operation Instructions ......................................................16
Temperature Sensor ABS-248 (At-the-Battery Sensor) (Included).....17, 21 - 24
Maintaining Multiple Batteries.........................................................25
Battery Congurations ..................................................................26
Troubleshooting........................................................................27
Detailed Specications.............................................................29 - 33
Charging Prole..........................................................................34
For Repair Or Replacement.............................................................35
Guarantee And Warranty.................................................................36

BatteryMINDer® Model 12248
Rev. P-071510 Page 3 P/N VDC12248-MNL
Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
REQUIRED SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE,
ELECTRIC SHOCK, OR INJURY TO
PERSON, OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING:
1. Do not expose charger to rain or snow. It is designed to
operate ONLY INDOORS.
2. USE of any attachment not specifically recommended by
the battery charger manufacturer for use with this exact model
of charger may result in risk of fire & electric shock or injury to
person.
3. An extension cord should not be used, unless absolutely
necessary. Use of an improper extension cord could result in fire
or electric shock. If extension cord must be used be sure:
a. Pins on plug of extension cord are the same number, size,
& shape of plug on charger
b. Extension cord is properly wired and in good condition.
c. Wire size is enough for AC ampere of charger as specified
below: Length of cord, feet (meters) 25 (7.6), 60 (15.2), 100
(30.5), 150 (45.6) AWG Size #18.
4. Do not use charger if it received a sharp blow, been
dropped, or damaged.
5. Charger contains no serviceable parts. If it fails for any
reason, return to the address shown within for a free replacement
under warranty.
6. To reduce risk of electric shock, unplug charger from
outlet before attempting any cleaning.
7. WARNING - RISK OF EXPLOSIVE GASES.
WHENEVER YOU WORK NEAR A LEAD ACID BATTERY
IT IS DANGEROUS. BATTERIES GENERATE EXPLOSIVE
GASES DURING NORMAL BATTERY OPERATION. FOR THIS
REASON, IT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT EACH TIME
BEFORE USING YOUR CHARGER, YOU MUST READ THIS
MANUAL AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY.
To reduce risk of battery explosion, follow these instructions
and those published by the battery manufacturer and the

BatteryMINDer® Model 12248
Rev. P-071510 Page 4 P/N VDC12248-MNL
manufacturer of any equipment you plan to use in the
vicinity of the battery. Review cautionary markings on the
products and the engine.
8. PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS when working with or near
a lead acid battery.
a. Someone should be able to hear your voice or close
enough to aid you when working near a lead acid battery.
b. Have fresh water and soap nearby case battery acid
contact skin, clothing, or eyes. Wear complete eye
protection and clothing protection. Avoid touching eyes
while working near battery.
c. If battery acid does contact skin or clothing, wash
immediately with soap and water. If acid entered the eye,
immediately flood the eye with running water for at least 10
minutes and get help immediately.
d. NEVER smoke or allow a spark of flame near battery or
engine.
e. Be extra cautious to reduce risk of dropping a metal tool or
auto part onto battery. It might spark or short circuit battery
or other electrical part that may cause an explosion.
f. 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.
g. Charger is designed to be used for recharging lead acid
batteries ONLY. Never use it to power a low voltage
electrical system, or for attempting to recharge dry cell
batteries that are commonly used in house holds. These
batteries may explode and cause injury to persons and
damage property

BatteryMINDer® Model 12248
Rev. P-071510 Page 5 P/N VDC12248-MNL
NEVER CHARGE A FROZEN BATTERY OR ONE AT A
TEMPERATURE ABOVE 123° F.
PREPARING TO CHARGE
a. If necessary to remove battery from equipment to charge.
Always remove ground terminal rst. Turn off all accessories in
the vehicle, so as not to cause an arc.
b. Be sure area around battery is well ventilated while bat-
tery is being charged. Force gas vapors away by using a piece of
non-metallic material as a fan.
c. Clean battery terminals. Be careful to keep corrosion from
contacting eyes.
d. Add distilled water to each cell until battery acid reaches
level specied by the manufacturer. This helps Purge excessive
gas from cells. Do not overll. For a battery without caps, follow
manufacturer’s recharging instructions.
e. Study all battery manufacturer’s specic instructions such
as removing cell caps while charging and recommended charge
rates.
f. Determine condition of battery, by referring to instructions
herein, before ever attempting to charge or desulfate any / all
batteries.
CHARGER LOCATION
a. Make sure charger is as far away from battery as output
cables permit.
b. Never place charger directly above battery being charged;
gases from battery will corrode and damage charger.
c. Never allow battery acid to drip on charger when reading
specic gravity or lling.
d. Do not operate charger in a closed-in area or restrict ven-
tilation in any way.
e. Do not set battery on top of charger.

BatteryMINDer® Model 12248
Rev. P-071510 Page 6 P/N VDC12248-MNL
DC CONNECTION PRECAUTIONS
a. Connect and disconnect DC output clips from battery only
after removing charger power cord from outlet.
b. Attach clips to battery posts and twist or rock back and forth
several times to make good contact. This tends to keep clips
from slipping off terminals and reduces risk of sparking.
FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WHEN BATTERY IS
INSTALLED IN EQUIPMENT (VEHICLE, PWC, BOAT,
TRACTOR, ETC.) A SPARK NEAR BATTERY MAY CAUSE
BATTERY TO EXPLODE. TO REDUCE RISK OF A SPARK
NEAR BATTERY:
c. Position DC output cord to reduce risk of damage by hood,
door, covers, or moving engine parts.
d. Stay clear of fan blades, belts, pulleys, and other parts that
can cause injuries.
e. Check polarity of battery posts. POSITIVE (POS, P, +)
usually has a larger diameter than NEGATIVE -.
f. Determine which post of battery is grounded (connected) to
the chassis of equipment. If negative post is grounded see Item
N. If positive post is grounded see item P.
N. For negative grounded equipment, connect POSITIVE (RED)
clip from 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 metal body parts.
g. For positive ground equipment, connect NEGATIVE
(BLACK) clip from charger to NEGATIVE (NEG, N,)
UNGROUNDED POST OF BATTERY. Connect POSITIVE (RED)
CLIP to chassis or engine block away from battery.
DO NOT CONNECT CLIP TO CARBURETOR, FUEL LINES,
OR SHEET METAL BODY PARTS.
Connect to heavy gauge metal part of frame or engine.
h. When disconnecting charger, disconnect charger from AC
outlet, then remove clips from vehicle chassis, and battery posts.
Operating instructions for charge information.

BatteryMINDer® Model 12248
Rev. P-071510 Page 7 P/N VDC12248-MNL
FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY IS OUTSIDE OF
VEHICLE OR EQUIPMENT. A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY
MAY CAUSE BATTERY EXPLOSION. TO REDUCE RISK OF A
SPARK NEAR BATTERY:
a. Check polarity of battery posts. POSITIVE (POS, P, +)
usually has a large diameter than NEGATIVE (NEG, N, -) battery
post.
b. Connect (RED) charger clip to (POS +) post of battery.
c. 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.
d. Do not face battery when making final connections.
e. When disconnecting charger, always do so in reverse
sequence of connecting procedure and break first connection
while as far away from battery as practical.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PERMANENTLY INSTALL
ANY CHARGER NOT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR
PERMANENT INSTALLATION, ESPECIALLY IN A WET /
MARINE ENVIRONMENT

BatteryMINDer® Model 12248
Rev. P-071510 Page 8 P/N VDC12248-MNL
QUALIFYING YOUR BATTERY:
Preliminary Requirements
NOTE: The BatteryMINDer has no electrical output unless it is
connected to a healthy battery. Testing the BatteryMINDer with
a volt or an Amp meter without the unit being connected across a
good battery will result in a false reading. If you experience any
problems, or are not sure of how to properly use or connect your
BatteryMINDer, please e-mail our technical support at:
[email protected] or call our toll-free technical
support line 800-379-5579 x206 (Eastern Time). Be certain to
leave your phone number with the area code, time zone and
the best time to call.
To gain the best result from your new charger and to maximize
the life and performance of your batteries we strongly recom-
mend you qualify (test) your batteries before attempting to either
charge-maintain or desulfate them. Remember, even if you just
purchased a “new” battery it may have been subjected to con-
ditions that have caused “sulfation” such as high temperature
(>=80°).
NOTE: If your battery is new and you are certain it was not
subject to conditions that could have caused sulfation*, even
before you purchased it, then you can disregard our recom-
mendations for qualifying / testing your battery, before using
the BatteryMINDer.
* Such as high temperature storage (=/> 80°F) and/or allowed to
self-discharge to 12.4 Volts or lower.
Testing a Filler Cap or Manifold-type Lead Acid Battery
1. Carefully remove all 6 caps or both manifold-type covers
from your battery.
2. Check the water-liquid electrolyte level. If the level is low
or has ever been below top of plates, severe lead plate sulfation
has taken place. Significant recharge/reconditioning time is need-
ed to restore these plates to a condition where the battery can be
expected to function normally.
3. Refill each cell with distilled water only to the liquid level
indicator found in each cell. Before proceeding further you
must be thoroughly familiar with the safety and operating
instructions.

BatteryMINDer® Model 12248
Rev. P-071510 Page 9 P/N VDC12248-MNL
4. Recharge the battery with the BatteryMINDer to ensure that
it is slowly and completely charged before you determine its con-
dition. Allow battery to “rest”* overnight for a minimum of 12 hours
before testing with a temperature compensated hydrometer and/
or digital type voltmeter only.
* “RESTED” = a battery that has been as fully charged as
possible, using a 3 stage charger (model 12248) and left dis-
connected from charger or any type load for a minimum of
12 hours.
5. If the BatteryMINDer battery condition LED lights
(YELLOW) within 72 hours (single battery) or no balls float in
one or more cells, your battery may be too far gone to be fully
desulfated. Reconnect battery to your BatteryMINDer and press
the Maintenance mode button. Allow battery to remain in mainte-
nance mode for a minimum of 72 hours, before re-test. Use a hot/
cold calibrated hydrometer tester for the most accurate results**
(see next page) if you see an increase in the Specific Gravity
(SG) or voltage indicating that there is an improvement in the
battery’s condition, continue desulfating for an additional 72 hours
and retest the battery. Continue this process until the SG or volt-
age readings no longer increase.
Temp. Compensated Hydrom-
eter - meter or 4 ball type
Full Capacity
Percentage
1.270 (4 Balls oating) 100%
1.250 (3 Balls oating) 75%
1.190 (2 Balls oating) 50%
1.150 (1 Balls oating) 25%
1.120 (0 Balls oating)
May denote shorted cell or
battery that has been severely
discharged and may not be
recoverable
0%
Specic Gravity – Capacity
TABLE 1

BatteryMINDer® Model 12248
Rev. P-071510 Page 10 P/N VDC12248-MNL
Testing with a Hot/Cold Calibrated Hydrometer Tester
Read the tester instructions carefully for most accurate readings.
1. When using the tester the first time or after a long period of
non-use, fill the tester with the battery fluid and let it sit for 1/2
hour or longer. This will soak the balls in order to give you more
accurate readings. Failure to do so will give you false readings
indicating a battery that may not be in as good a condition as you
may have thought.
2. After inserting the tester in a cell, gently tap the tester sev-
eral times against the inside wall of each cell to dislodge air bub-
bles that will cause more balls to float than should. Failure to do
so will yield false readings that indicate a battery that is not fully
desulfated or does not qualify for desulfation.
3. If no balls float in any cell, the cell is shorted. This means
your battery is beyond the point of being properly recharged or
reconditioned-desulfated. Dispose of the battery.
If each cell floats three (3) or more balls (or 1250 on gauge-type),
your battery can be desulfated-reconditioned.
4. Always rinse the tester with fresh water after every use.
Failure to do so will cause false readings.
Testing a Sealed, AGM or Gelled-type Lead Acid Battery
These batteries have no filler caps or manifold-type covers.
Because you cannot gain access to the interior of your battery
you cannot test it with a hydrometer.
USE A DIGITAL VOLTMETER ONLY:
1. Recharge the battery with the BatteryMINDer to ensure it is
as completely charged as possible, before you determine its con-
dition. Allow battery to “rest” (see pg. 9) overnight for a minimum
of 12 hours before testing with a digital voltmeter only. Failure
to test a “rested” (see pg. 9) battery will cause false readings.
Be certain to read and understand all safety related instructions
(pages 3 to 7) before proceeding further.
2. Measure battery’s voltage, without any load attached. If
the voltage is less than 12.4 volts (Typically 50% of charge) the
battery may be too heavily sulfated to be fully recoverable. If
voltage is 12.4-V or higher full recovery can be expected, given
sufficient time (average 1-2 weeks for batteries that are heavily
sulfated).