Guest 2602A-12 Owner's Manual

A Valley Forge Company

R

MODEL 2602A-12

3 STAGE AUTOMATIC BATTERY CHARGER

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

OWNER’S MANUAL

1. INTRODUCING THE CHARGER

The 2602A-12 is a “3-stage” electronic battery charger. Rainproof, lightweight, silent, and
completely automatic, it produces 12 Volts DC at a full 2 Amps, while using much less AC current
than older chargers. After it recharges your batteries, it then supplies just enough power to
compensate for the charge that batteries can lose during storage. Unlike automotive “trickle”
chargers, the 2602A-12 will not boil off the electrolytes in properly installed and maintained batteries.
When the 2602A-12 is attached to your batteries and plugged into a standard 115 volt / 60 Hz AC
outlet, the green LED lets you know the unit is maintaining your batteries.

2. IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

This manual contains important safety and operating instructions for the charger. Read the entire
manual before using. Also read all instructions and cautions for and on the charger and batteries.

WARNINGS

THIS CHARGER SHOULD BE USED TO CHARGE ONLY 12-VOLT DC SYSTEMS.
USED ON A SYSTEM OTHER THAN A 12 VDC SYSTEM CAN CAUSE THE
BATTERIES TO EXPLODE AND CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.

RISK OF EXPLOSIVE GASES! WORKING IN THE VICINITY OF LEAD ACID
BATTERIES IS DANGEROUS. BATTERIES GENERATE EXPLOSIVE GASES
DURING NORMAL OPERATION. THEREFORE IT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE
THAT EACH TIME BEFORE USING YOUR CHARGER YOU READ THIS MANUAL
AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY.

Personal Safety Precautions

Adhere to the following personal safety precautions when installing or working with the chargers:

1. Someone should be within voice range or close enough to come to your aid when you work near
a lead-acid battery.

2. Have plenty of fresh water and soap nearby in case battery acid contacts skin, clothing, or eyes.

3. Wear complete eye protection and clothing protection. Avoid touching eyes while working near a
battery.

4. If battery acid contacts skin or clothing, wash them immediately with soap and water. If acid
enters the eye, flood the eye with cold, running water for at least ten minutes and get medical
attention immediately.

5. Never smoke or allow an open flame in the vicinity of the battery.

6. Do not drop a metal tool onto the battery. It may spark, short circuit the battery and may cause
an explosion.

7. Remove all personal metal items such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, and watches when working
near a lead-acid battery. A battery can produce short circuit currents high enough to weld a ring
or the like to metal, causing a severe burn.

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Preparing to Charge Precautions

Before charging a battery with the charger, read the following precautions:

1. Do NOT operate the charger if the cables or LED are damaged.

2. Make sure all external electrical loads are OFF.

3. If the battery or batteries must be removed from the equipment in which the charger is mounted,
always remove the grounded terminal from the battery first.

4. Be sure the area around the battery is well ventilated while the battery is being charged. Gas
can be forcefully blown away using a piece of cardboard or other non-metallic material as a
“hand fan”.

5. Clean battery terminals, but keep corrosion particles out of your eyes.

6. Add distilled water in each cell until battery acid reaches levels specified by the battery
manufacturer, if applicable. Do not over fill. For all batteries, carefully follow the manufacturer’s
recharging instructions.

7. Never allow the ring terminals to touch each other.

8. NEVER charge a frozen battery.

Grounding Precaution

DANGER

Do not operate this charger with a two bladed ground adapter plug or extension
cord. Doing so can result in serious personal injury.

CAUTION: To reduce the risk of shock, connect only to a properly grounded outlet.

3. INSTALLING THE CHARGER

Choosing Mounting Location

The charger should have at least eight inches of unobstructed area on all sides of the unit for
effective cooling. The case of this charger will become warm during operation. Do not install onto a
carpeted, upholstered, or varnished surface. Keep the DC wires between the charger and batteries
as short as possible.

Mounting the Charger

1. Use corrosion resistant #6 screws, backed by a flat washer, and secured to the mounting surface
with a split-ring lock washer.

2. Hold the charger to the mounting surface and mark the holes.

3. Remove the charger and drill the mounting holes.

4. Align the charger and assemble the mounting hardware. Secure.

Making DC Connections

Before working on electrical equipment, first determine there is no live AC power!

The output cable includes ring terminals for easy connection to common batteries.
Carefully connect the DC output cable to your 12-volt battery as follows:

DANGER

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