Actron KAL8600 User Manual
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Professional
Battery-Charging-Starting
System Analyzer
1
Safety Guidelines when Working on Vehicles
Always wear approved eye protection.
Always operate the vehicle in a well-ventilated area. Do not inhale exhaust gases
they are very poisonous!
Always keep yourself, tools, and test equipment away from all moving or hot engine
parts.
Always make sure the vehicle is in Park (automatic transmission) or Neutral (manual
transmission) and that the parking brake is firmly set. Block the drive wheels.
Never lay tools on vehicle battery. You may short the terminals together, causing
harm to yourself, the tools, or the battery.
Never smoke or have open flames near vehicle. Vapors from gasoline and charging
batteries are highly flammable and explosive.
Never leave vehicle unattended while running tests.
Always keep a fire extinguisher suitable for gasoline/electrical/chemical fires handy.
Always turn ignition key OFF when connecting or disconnecting electrical
components, unless otherwise instructed.
Keep away from engine cooling fan. On some vehicles, the fan may start up
unexpectedly.
Always follow vehicle manufacturers warnings, cautions, and service procedures.
BATTERY-CHARGING-STARTING SYSTEM ANALYZER
The Battery-Charging-Starting System Analyzer is a hand held diagnostic tool used to
test 6 volt or 12 volt lead-acid type batteries from 50 to 2000 cold cranking amps
(CCA). Most automotive, lawn and garden, motorcycle, marine, heavy truck, and off
road equipment batteries can be tested with this unit. The Battery-Charging-Starting
System Analyzer will test partially charged batteries provided enough battery charge
exists to power the analyzer.
NOTE: The battery must exhibit at least 1.0 volt for the analyzer to operate.
User prompts on the LCD (liquid crystal display) guide the testing process. Results
are displayed on the LCD when testing is complete. Test results consist of the following:
Battery voltage, available power in CCAs and a battery condition indication.
Comprehensive starting/charging system checks are included (starting voltage, voltage
regulator and alternator performance). The battery may remain connected to the vehicle,
as long as the vehicle electrical system does not interfere with testing. The power
cable is detachable for easy storage or replacement.
An internal 9 volt battery supplies power to allow viewing test results from memory or
enabling the print function without having to connect the analyzer to an external battery.
An infrared printer interface sends test results to an available external printer for hard
copy reports.
When the analyzer is using internal power, the functions available are View Test Results,
Print Test Results, and Voltmeter.
The analyzer is protected from accidental reverse connection to the battery.
2
VEHICLE PREPARATION
Caution! Before Testing, Read All Safety Guidelines.
Key OFF, engine OFF.
Disconnect all battery chargers! Battery cannot be tested while being charged.
In all multiple battery systems, all batteries must be tested separately. Batteries
connected in parallel must be disconnected. Only batteries connected in series
may be tested without separating them.
TO VEHICLE
TO VEHICLE
+ -
POS NEG
Batteries in Series: All batteries are connected from the negative (-) terminal of one
battery, to the positive (+) terminal of the other. Only the negative terminal of the first
battery and the positive terminal of the last battery are to be connected to the vehicle.
Any number of batteries may be connected in a series. However, each battery must
be tested separately. All other types of multiple connections must be disconnected
from each other.
If the battery is connected to the vehicle, remove all electrical loads.
Battery connections must be clean to provide good contact and proper test results.
Install terminal stud adapters (not included) on side post batteries. Terminal stud
adapters are available at most automotive parts stores.
+ -
POS NEG
+ -
POS NEG
HOOKUP
Connect the power cable to analyzer.
Connect the black clamp to the batterys negative (-) terminal.
Connect the red clamp to the batterys positive (+) terminal.
Make sure both sides of each clamp have good contact with the battery terminals.
If needed, rock the clamps back and forth to improve connection.
If the analyzer does not power up, check the power cable at the analyzer and the
connections to the battery, and verify that the battery has at least 1.0 volt. If the
battery is below 1.0 volt, disconnect the analyzer and charge the battery.
NOTE: Usually, if the voltage is below 1.0V, the battery is damaged and needs
to be replaced.
Follow battery charger manufacturers instructions for proper charging procedures.
WARNING!
IT IS DANGEROUS TO CHARGE A BATTERY WITH A BAD CELL.
Disconnect the charger, then hookup the analyzer. If the analyzer still does not power
up, the battery is not accepting charge and should be replaced.
3
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