Schumacher PSC-12500A User Manual
OWNER’S MANUAL
ELECTRONIC
BATTERY CHARGER
2
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S L O W
C H A R G E
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40
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F A S T
C H A R G E
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E N G I N E
S T A R T
Model PSC-12500A
For 6 and 12-Volt Batteries
Fully Automatic
Microprocessor Controlled
Battery Charger with
Engine Starter plus
Battery Tester and
Alternator Tester
CAUTION:
Read all Safety Rules and Operating Instructions,
and follow them with each use of this product.
Schumacher Electric Corporation
Professional Products Division
Mount Prospect, IL 60056 U.S.A.
Send Warranty Product Repairs to:
Customer Service Returns
P.O. Box 280, 1025 E. Thompson, Hoopeston, IL 60942-0280
Questions? Call Customer Service: 1-800-621-5485 (Hours: 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CST)
00-99-000742/1106
TABLE OF CONTENTS
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS ...................................................................2
PERSONAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ...................................................................... 3
BEFORE USING YOUR BATTERY CHARGER ........................................................ 3
Plugging It In ................................................................................................................ 3
Assembling Your Charger ..................................................................................... 3
Using An Extension Cord ...................................................................................... 4
PREPARING YOUR BATTERY TO BE CHARGED .................................................. 4
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS ................................................................................... 4
Charging Battery In The Vehicle ........................................................................... 4
Charging Battery Removed From The Vehicle ..................................................... 5
Using Engine Start ................................................................................................ 6
USING YOUR BATTERY CHARGER ........................................................................ 7
CHARGER CONTROLS ............................................................................................. 8
CONTROL PANEL GUIDE ......................................................................................... 9
USING THE BUILT-IN BATTERY TESTER ............................................................. 10
USING THE BUILT-IN ALTERNATOR TESTER ........................................................11
BATTERY PERCENT AND CHARGE TIME ............................................................ 12
CHARGING TIPS ...................................................................................................... 13
MAINTENANCE AND CARE ................................................................................... 13
TROUBLESHOOTING .............................................................................................. 14
WARRANTY .............................................................................................................. 15
PLEASE SAVE THIS OWNER’S MANUAL AND READ BEFORE EACH USE.
Model PSC-12500A Microprocessor Controlled, Fully Automatic Operation Battery
Charger with Engine Starter Plus Battery and Alternator Tester offers features to accommodate the needs for home or light commercial use. This manual will explain how to use
the battery charger safely and effectively. Please read and follow these instructions and
precautions carefully.
1
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING – RISK OF EXPLOSIVE GASES
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
EACH TIME BEFORE USING YOUR CHARGER, YOU READ THIS MANUAL
AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY.
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 engine.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
This manual contains important safety and operating instructions for
• WARNING: Handling the cord on this
product or cords associated with accessories sold with this product, may
expose you to lead, a chemical known
to the State of California to cause cancer
and birth defects or other reproductive
harm. Wash hands after handling.
• Read all instructions and cautions printed
on the battery charger, battery, and vehicle or equipment using battery.
• Use charger only on lead acid type
rechargeable batteries, such as those
used in cars, trucks, tractors, airplanes,
vans, RVs, trolling motors, etc. This
charger is not intended to supply power
to a low voltage electrical system other
than in a starter-motor application.
• Never use charger for charging dry cell
batteries that are commonly used with
home appliances like radios, stereos,
remote controls, etc. These batteries
may burst and cause personal injury.
• Do not disassemble charger. Take it to a
qualied service professional if service
or repair is required. Incorrect assembly
may result in re or electrical shock.
• To reduce risk of electrical shock, unplug
the charger from the outlet before attempting any maintenance or cleaning.
• Always charge battery in a well-ventilated area.
• WARNING: Battery chargers get hot
during operation and must have proper
ventilation. Air needs to ow around
entire charger. Do not set charger on
ammable materials like carpeting, upholstery, paper, cardboard, etc. Charger
may damage leather and melt plastic
and rubber.
HELP US HELP YOU ——
Remember:
Place charger as far away from the battery being charged as the charger cables
will permit.
Do not expose charger to rain or snow.
Use of an attachment not recommended or
sold by the battery charger manufacturer
may result in a risk of re, electric shock,
or injury to persons.
Never charge a frozen battery. If battery
uid (electrolyte) becomes frozen, bring
battery into a warm area to thaw before
you begin charging.
Never allow battery acid to drip on char-
ger when reading specic gravity or lling
battery.
Never set a battery on top of the charger.
Never place charger directly above battery
being charged. The gases from the battery
will corrode and damage the charger.
2
Never touch the battery clamps together
when the charger is on. You could cause
a spark.
Never operate charger if it has received
a hard blow, been dropped, or otherwise
damaged. Take it to a qualied professional
for inspection and repair.
Be sure to position the charger power cord
to prevent it from being stepped on, tripped
over, or damaged.
PERSONAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Never pull out the plug by the cord when
unplugging the charger. Pulling on the
cord may cause damage to the cord or
the plug.
Do not operate the charger if it has a
damaged power cord or plug. Have the
cord replaced.
• Wear complete eye and clothing
protection when working with lead-acid
batteries.
• Make sure that someone is within
range of your voice to come to your aid
if needed while you work with or are near
a lead-acid battery.
• Have plenty of fresh water and soap
nearby for use in case battery acid contacts your eyes, skin, or clothing. If this
happens, wash immediately with soap
and water. Then get medical attention.
• Avoid touching your eyes while
working with a battery. Acid particles
(corrosion) may get into your eyes. If
this occurs, ush eyes immediately
with running cold water for at least 10
minutes. Then immediately get medical
attention.
• Remove all personal metal items
from your body such as rings, bracelets,
necklaces and watches, while working
with a lead-acid battery. A battery can
produce a short circuit current high
enough to weld a ring (or the like) to
metal, causing a severe burn.
• Take care not to drop any metal tool
or metal object onto the battery. This
may spark or short circuit the battery or
another electrical device that may cause
an explosion.
• Always operate the battery charger in
an open, well-ventilated area.
• Never smoke or allow a spark or ame
in the vicinity of the battery or engine.
Batteries generate explosive gases.
• Neutralize any acid spills thoroughly
with baking soda before attempting to
clean up.
BEFORE USING YOUR BATTERY CHARGER
It is important to understand your charger's requirements. This section will tell you about
your charger's electrical requirements and how to prepare a battery for charging.
PLUGGING IT IN
Your charger requires a 120V AC wall
outlet receptacle installed according to all
local codes and ordinances.
ASSEMBLING YOUR CHARGER
Included with your battery charger are
two cord wrap cleats for storage of the
clamp cables.
To install, align the two tabs to correspond with the two receptacles and push
until you hear a snap.
Wrap clamp cables after unplugging the
power cord from the AC wall outlet and
store your charger in a dry location.
3
USING AN EXTENSION CORD
The use of an extension cord is not recommended. If you must use an extension
cord, please make sure that you follow
• Make sure that the wire size is large
enough for its length and for the AC
ampere rating, as specied in the chart
below.
these guidelines:
• Make sure that the pins on charger's
power cord t rmly into the extension
cord, and that the extension cord ts
rmly into the receptacle.
MINIMUM RECOMMENDED EXTENSION CORD
Length of Cord, in Feet 25 50 100 150
AWG* Size of Cord 18 16 12 10
*AWG=American Wire Gauge
• Check that the extension cord is properly
wired and in good electrical condition.
PREPARING YOUR BATTERY TO BE CHARGED
It is important that you read and follow these guidelines while you are preparing to charge
the battery.
• Make sure that you have a 6 or 12 volt
lead-acid battery. Determine voltage of
battery by referring to vehicle owner’s
manual or the battery markings. Charge
battery initially at charger’s lowest rate.
• Clean the battery terminals. Be careful to
keep corrosion from getting in or around
your eyes or on your hands.
• Wear safety glasses. See additional “Personal Safety Precautions” on page 3.
• If required, for batteries with removable
vent caps, add distilled water to each cell
until the battery acid reaches the level
recommended by the manufacturer. This
will help purge excessive gases from the
cells. Be careful not to overll. If you have
a sealed battery with non-removable vent
caps, no action is necessary.
• Take time to read all of the battery
manufacturer’s specic precautions,
such as removing or not removing vent
caps while charging, and recommended
rates of charge.
• Be sure that the area around the battery is well ventilated while it is being
charged. Gas can be forcefully blown
away by using a piece of cardboard or
other nonmetallic material as a fan.
• If it is necessary to remove the battery
from the vehicle to charge it, always
remove the grounded terminal from the
battery rst. Turn off all vehicle accessories to avoid sparks from occurring.
• NOTE: A marine (boat) battery installed
in a boat must be removed and charged
on shore.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
NOTE: A marine (boat) boat battery must be removed and charged on shore. To charge
it on board requires equipment specially designed for marine use.
IMPORTANT: Follow all safety instructions and precautions when charging your battery.
Wear complete eye protection and clothing protection. Charge your battery in a wellventilated area.
CHARGING BATTERY IN THE
VEHICLE:
1. Avoid personal injury by keeping clear
of fan blades, belts, pulleys and other
engine parts.
2. Avoid damaging the charger by keeping
the power cord and output cords away
from the hood, door or moving engine
parts.
3. Note the polarity of the battery posts by
checking the identication marks on the
battery: POSITIVE (POS, P or +) and
NEGATIVE (NEG, N or -). The positive
post is usually larger than the negative
post.
4. Identify which battery post is grounded
or connected to the chassis. THIS IS
NORMALLY THE NEGATIVE POST.
4
NEGATIVE GROUNDED SYS-
5. Connecting to a negative-grounded
system: Connect the red (POSITIVE)
output clamp to the POSITIVE post of
the battery. Rock and twist the clamp
back and forth to be sure a solid electrical connection is made. Then connect
the black (NEGATIVE) output clamp
to a heavy, unpainted metal part of the
chassis or engine block, away from the
battery (see gure). DO NOT connect
clamp to negative battery post, carburetor, fuel line or sheet metal part.
Connecting to a positive-grounded
system: Connect the black (NEGATIVE) output clamp to the NEGATIVE
post of the battery. Rock and twist the
clamp back and forth to be sure a solid
electrical connection is made. Then connect the red (POSITIVE) output clamp
to a heavy, unpainted metal part of the
chassis or engine block, away from
the battery. DO NOT connect clamp to
positive battery post, carburetor, fuel
line or sheet metal part.
6. Plug power cord into a 120V AC wall
outlet. The charger will be set to the
default state of 12V REGULAR battery
type, no charge rate (tester mode). The
CONNECTED LED should be lit. If the
CONNECTED LED is not lit, check for
correct cable connections.
7. Press the appropriate control buttons
to select the desired charge rate and
battery type. Within a few seconds,
the CHARGING (yellow) LED should
light and the charging process should
start.
8. To disconnect the charger, unplug its
power cord before attempting to disconnect the output clamps. Then, standing
away from the battery, remove the output clamp from the chassis or engine
block. Finally, remove the output clamp
from the battery post.
9. Clean and store the charger in a dry
location.
CHARGING BATTERY RE-
BAT-
POW-
TO
1. Note the polarity of the battery posts by
checking the identication marks on the
battery: POSITIVE (POS, P or +) and
NEGATIVE (NEG, N or -). The positive
post is usually larger than the negative
post.
2. Attach at least a 24-inch-long, 6-gauge
(AWG), insulated batter y cable to
NEGATIVE (NEG, N or -) battery post.
Rock and twist the clamp back and forth
to be sure a solid electrical connection
is made.
3. Connect the red (POSITIVE) output
clamp to the POSITIVE battery post.
Rock and twist the clamp back and forth
to be sure a solid electrical connection
is made.
4. Position yourself as far away from the
battery as possible, and then connect
the black (NEGATIVE) output clamp to
the free end of the cable.
5. Plug the power cord into a 120V AC
wall outlet. The charger will be set to the
default state of 12V REGULAR battery
type, no charge rate (tester mode). The
CONNECTED LED should be lit. If the
CONNECTED LED is not lit, check for
correct cable connections.
6. Press the appropriate control buttons
to select the desired charge rate and
battery type. Within a few seconds,
5
the CHARGING (yellow) LED should
light and the charging process should
start.
7. To disconnect the charger, unplug its
power cord before attempting to disconnect the charger clamps. Then, standing
away from the battery, remove the output clamp from the NEGATIVE battery
post. Finally, remove the output clamp
from the POSITIVE battery post.
8. Clean and store the charger in a dry
location.
USING ENGINE START
Your battery charger can be used to jump
start your car if the battery is low. Follow these instructions on how to use the
ENGINE START feature.
IMPORTANT: Follow all safety instructions
and precautions when charging your battery. Wear complete eye protection and
clothing protection. Charge your battery
in a well-ventilated area.
IMPORTANT: Using the ENGINE START
feature WITHOUT a battery installed in
the vehicle could cause damage to the
vehicle’s electrical system.
1. For battery connections, see page 4 and
follow instructions 1 – 6 of CHARGING
BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE. With the
charger plugged in and connected to the
battery of the vehicle, press the CHARGE
START button until the ENGINE START
LED is lit. Only the ENGINE START,
CHARGING, CONNECTED, and VOLTAGE LEDs should be lit, unless the 6V
REGULAR battery type has been selected. In that case, the 6V REGULAR
LED will also be lit.
2. Crank the engine for no more than 5
seconds. If engine does not start, wait
3 minutes before cranking again.
3. After the engine starts, unplug the power
cord before disconnecting the output
clamps from the battery.
4. Clean and store the charger in a dry
location.
NOTE: During the starting sequence listed
above, the charger is set to one of three
states.
1. Wait for cranking - The charger
waits until the engine is actually being
cranked before delivering 125 amps
for engine start. The charger delivers
charge at a rate of up to 15 amps while
waiting and will reset if the engine
is not cranked within 15 minutes. (If
the charger resets, it sets itself for a
SMALL BATTERY charge and 12V
REGULAR BATTERY type.) While
waiting for cranking, the digital display
shows the battery voltage (it can’t be
set to percent).
2. Cranking - When cranking is detected,
the charger will automatically deliver up
to its maximum output (at least 125A)
as required by the starting system for
up to 5 seconds or until the engine
cranking stops. The digital display
shows a countdown of the remaining
crank time in seconds. It starts at 5 and
counts down to 0.
3. Cool Down - After cranking, the char-
ger enters a mandatory 3-minute (180
second) cool down state. During this
period, no settings can be changed. The
buttons are ignored. The digital display
indicates the remaining cool down time
in seconds. It starts at 180 and counts
down to 0. The ENGINE START LED
blinks once every second. During the
cool down period, no current is delivered to the battery. After 3 minutes, the
ENGINE START LED will stop blinking
and will light continuously, indicating that
another crank cycle can be started. The
digital display will change from displaying the countdown back to displaying
the battery voltage. The CHARGING
LED will then be lit.
ENGINE STARTING NOTES:
• If the battery is disconnected during
the cool down period, the charger will
reset.
6
USING YOUR BATTERY CHARGER
OVERVIEW
Using this battery charger is very simple.
First, connect the battery and AC power
following the precautions listed under
“OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS”. Then select the appropriate BATTERY TYPE and
charge rate for your battery. The charger
will then do everything automatically. This
section explains a few details.
CHARGING: If the charger does not
detect a properly connected battery,
the CONNECTED (yellow) LED will not
light. Charging will not begin unless the
CONNECTED LED is on. When charging
begins, the CHARGING LED will be lit.
AUTOMATI C SHUT OFF: When the
SMALL BATTERY or REGULAR BATTERY charge is selected, the charger
is set to perform an automatic charge.
When an automatic charge is performed,
the charger stops charging automatically
after the battery is charged.
ABORTED CHARGE: If charging can’t
be completed normally, charging will be
aborted. When charging is aborted, the
charger’s output is shut off and the digital
display blinks on and off. In that state, the
charger ignores all buttons. To reset from
after an aborted charge, either disconnect
the battery or unplug the charger.
DESULFATION MODE: If a battery is
left discharged for an extended period,
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. Activation of the special
desulfation mode is indicated by blinking
the CHARGING LED. If successful, normal charging will resume after the battery
is desulfated. The CHARGING LED will
then stop blinking and light continuously.
Desulfation could take up to 10 hours. If
desulfation fails, charging will be aborted
and the digital display will blink.
C O MPL ET I O N O F C HA RG I N G:
Cha r ge comp l etion is in dicated by
the CHARGED (green) LED; when
lit, the charger has stopped charging
and switched to the Maintain Mode of
operation, if the DEEP CYCLE battery type
was selected. For other battery types, the
CHARGED LED comes on when the battery is charged enough for normal use.
MAINTAIN MODE: When the CHARGED
(green) LED is lit, the charger has started
Maintain Mode. This mode of operation is
also known as Float-Mode Monitoring. In
this mode, the charger keeps the battery
fully charged by delivering a small amount
of current, when necessary. The voltage
is maintained at a level determined by the
BATTERY TYPE selected.
NOTE: For battery types other than DEEP
CYCLE, the charged LED might be lit before Maintain Mode is started.
GENERAL CHARGING NOTES:
The charger is designed to control its
cooling fan for efcient operation. Consequently, it is normal for the fan to start
and stop when maintaining a fully charged
battery. The fan does not run in Tester
Mode.
If the charge mode is changed after charging has started (by pressing the CHARGE
START or BATTERY TYPE button), the
charging process will be restarted.
The voltage displayed during charging
will usually be higher than the battery’s
resting voltage.
The voltage displayed during charging is
the battery voltage, not the RMS charging voltage.
7
CHARGER CONTROLS
DIGITAL DISPLAY
DIGITAL DISPLAY BUTTON
Use this button to set the function of the
digital display to one of the following.
• BATTERY %: The digital display shows
an estimate of the percent of charge of
the battery connected to the charger
battery clamps.
• VOLTAGE: The digital display shows the
voltage at the charger battery clamps in
DC volts.
• ALTERNATOR %: The digital display
shows an estimated percentage of the
output of the vehicle charging system
connected to the charger battery clamps
as compared to a properly functioning
system.
BATTERY TYPE BUTTON
Use this button to set the type of battery to
be charged to one of the following.
• 12V REGULAR: This is the type of
battery usually used in cars, trucks,
and motorcycles. These batteries have
vent caps and are often marked “low
maintenance” or “maintenance-free”.
• 12V DEEP CYCLE: Deep cycle batter-
ies are usually marked as “deep cycle”
or “marine”. Deep cycle batteries are
usually larger than the other types.
• 12V AGM/GEL: AGM and gel cell bat-
teries have sealed cases without vent
caps. Such batteries are often smaller
than the other types.
• 6V REGULAR: This is the type of bat-
tery usually used in antique and some
specialized vehicles. The 6V REGULAR
battery type is not selectable for batteries
greater than 8.5V DC.
With the exception of AGM and gel cell
batteries, all other battery types may or
may not have vent caps. Vent caps are
located on top of the battery and provide a
means to add distilled water when needed.
Batteries should be marked with their type.
If charging a battery that is not marked,
check the manual of the item that uses the
battery. If the battery type is unknown, use
the 12V REGULAR setting. Make sure the
battery complies with the safety instructions
on page 2.
CHARGE START BUTTON
Use this button to set the maximum charge
rate to one of the following.
• SMALL BATTERY: Provides 2A for
charging small batteries such as those
commonly used in garden tractors, snow
mobiles and motorcycles. The 2A rate
is not intended to be used as a trickle
charger for larger batteries.
• REGULAR BATTERY: Automatically
switches between 15 and 40 amps, or
provides 15 amps continuous depending on the battery. Use for charging
automotive batteries, marine batteries,
and deep cycle batteries. Not intended
for industrial applications.
• ENGINE START: Provides 125 amps for
cranking an engine with a weak or run
down battery. Always use in combination
with a battery.
• OFF: Charger returns to tester mode
and the SMALL BATTERY, REGULAR
BATTERY and ENGINE START LEDs
all stay OFF.
8
CONTROL PANEL GUIDE
PSC-12500A CONTROL PANEL GUIDE
MODE OF OPERATION
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Digital
Display
Initial power-up, battery not detected O O 0.0
No battery or reversed battery detected 0(%) or 0.0(V)
Battery tester activated O 0~100
Battery tester with charged battery O O O 100
Battery tester with no battery O 0
Voltage meter activated O 0.0~17.0
Alternator tester activated O 0~199
Alternator tester on good alternator O O O 85~130
Alternator tester on bad alternator O O 0~84,131~199
Small Battery (2A) charge activated O O O xx(%) or xx.x(V)
Regular Battery (15AŻŹ40A) charge activated O O O xx(%) or xx.x(V)
Charge complete - Maintain Mode started O O 100(%) or xx.x(V)
Engine Start
Waiting for engine crank O O O * O 1.0~16.0
Cranking engine O O * O 5ĺ0
Cool down after cranking O * B 180ĺ0
Desulfation mode activated B O 15(%) or 16(V)
Charge aborted O 8.8.8 (B)
Empty spaces indicate LEDs that are off.
O indicates an LED that is on continuously.
B indicates an LED that blinks on and off.
x indicates a digit 0 ~ 9.
* indicates an LED that is on if 6V Regular is selected.
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User selected
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User sel.
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User selected User selected
User sel. User sel.
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9
USING THE BUILT-IN BATTERY TESTER
OVERVIEW
This battery charger has a built-in battery
tester that displays either an accurate battery voltage or an estimate of the battery’s
relative charge based on the battery voltage and the Battery Council International
scale.
TESTING SEQUENCE
There are four basic steps required to use
the PSC-12500A as a battery tester.
1. Connect the charger battery clamps to
the battery. Be sure to follow all of the
precautions listed under “OPERATING
INSTRUCTIONS”.
2. Connect the charger power cord to a
120V AC wall outlet. Again, be sure to
follow all of the precautions listed under
“OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS”.
3. If necessary, press the BATTERY
TYPE button until the correct type is
indicated.
4. Read the voltage on the digital display
or press the DIGITAL DISPLAY button
to set the tester to BATTERY % and
read the battery percent.
TESTER AND CHARGER
When rst turned on, the PSC-12500A
operates only as a tester, not as a charger.
To continue to use it as only a tester, avoid
pressing the CHARGE START button. Selecting a charge rate activates the battery
charger and deactivates the tester. Pressing the CHARGE START button when the
ENGINE START LED is lit (except during
the 180 second cool down) will shut off the
charger and activate the tester.
POWER-UP IDLE TIME LIMIT
If no button is pressed within 15 minutes
after the PSC-12500A is rst powered up,
it will automatically switch from tester to
charger, if a battery is connected. In that
case, the charger will be set for the SMALL
BATTERY charge rate and 12V REGULAR
battery type.
TESTER WITHOUT TIME LIMIT
If either the DIGITAL DISPLAY or BATTERY TYPE button is pressed within the
rst 15 minutes after the PSC-12500A is
powered up, it will remain a tester (not a
charger) indenitely, unless a charge rate
is selected.
TESTING AFTER CHARGING
After the PSC-12500A has been changed
from tester to charger (by selecting a
charge rate), it remains a charger. To
change the PSC-12500A back to a tester,
press the CHARGE START button until all
charge rate LEDs are off.
TESTER STATUS LEDs
When the PSC-12500A is operating as a
battery tester, the status LEDs light under
the following conditions:
• The CHARGED (green) LED will light if
a charged battery is tested.
• The CHARGING (yellow) LED does not
light in the battery test mode.
• The CONNECTED LED lights if a properly
connected battery is detected.
• When the tester digital display is set to
VOLTAGE, the CHARGED and CHARGING LEDs won't light (it could be testing
a battery or an alternator).
INITIAL PERCENT CALCULATION
When a battery % is calculated for the rst
time after connecting a battery, the digital
display will show three dashes (“---”) for a
period as long as several seconds while
the tester analyzes the battery.
NOTES FOR TESTING BATTERY %
A recently charged battery could have a
temporarily high voltage due to what is
known as “surface charge”. The voltage
of such a battery will gradually drop during
the period immediately after the charging
system is disengaged. Consequently, the
tester could display inconsistent values
10
for such a battery. For a more accurate
reading, the surface charge should be
removed by temporarily creating a load on
the battery, such as by turning on lights or
other accessories.
USING THE BUILT-IN ALTERNATOR TESTER
The battery % ranges from 0 to 100.
The battery tester is only designed to test
batteries. Testing a device with a rapidly
changing voltage could yield unexpected
or inaccurate results.
This battery charger has a built-in alternator tester that displays either an accurate
alternator voltage or an estimate of the
alternator’s relative output compared
to normal alternators. The Alternator %
values displayed should be taken as
general reference, not precise diagnosis.
The alternator tester functions the same
as the battery tester (see previous section of this manual for details) with a few
differences.
TESTING SEQUENCE
There are three basic steps required to
use the PSC-12500A as an alternator
tester.
1. Connect the charger battery clamps to
the battery or charging system. Be sure
to follow all of the precautions listed under “OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS”.
2. Connect the charger power cord to a
120V AC wall outlet. Again, be sure to
follow all of the precautions listed under
“OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS”.
3. Start the vehicle and turn on the vehicle’s
headlights. Read the voltage on the
digital display or press the DIGITAL
DISPLAY button to set the tester to ALTERNATOR % and read the alternator
percent.
TESTER STATUS LEDs
When the PSC-12500A is operating as
an alternator tester, the status LEDs light
under the following conditions.
• The CHARGED (green) LED will light if
the output of the charging system is at
the normally desired level.
• The CHARGING (yellow) LED does not
light in the alternator test mode.
• The CONNECTED LED lights if a VOLTAGE is detected.
• When the tester display mode is set to
VOLTAGE, the CHARGED and CHARGING LEDs won't light (it could be testing
a battery or an alternator).
ALTERNATOR TESTING NOTES
• The alternator percent display can range
from 0 to 199.
• The DIGITAL DISPLAY cannot be set
to ALTERNATOR % during charging.
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BATTERY PERCENT AND CHARGE TIME
This charger adjusts the charging time in
order to charge the battery completely,
efciently and safely. The microprocessor automatically makes the necessary
decisions. However, this section includes
guidelines that can be used to estimate
charging times.
The duration of the charging process
depends on three factors:
1. Battery State – If a battery has only
been slightly discharged, it can be
charged in less than a few hours. The
same battery could take up to 10 hours
if very weak. The battery state can be
estimated by using the built-in tester
(see page 10). The lower the reading
the longer charging will take.
2. Battery rating – A higher rated battery
will take longer to charge than a lower
rated battery under the same conditions.
A battery is rated in ampere-hours (AH),
reserve capacity (RC) and cold cranking
amps (CCA). The lower the rating the
quicker the battery will be charged.
3. Charge rate – The charge rate is measured in amps. This charger provides
charge rates of 2A, 15A and 40A. The
125A rate is for engine start only. The
2A rate is for charging smaller batteries
such as those used for motorcycles and
garden tractors. Such batteries should
not be charged using the REGULAR
BATTERY setting. The 15A and 40A
rates are for charging larger batteries.
In the regular battery mode, the charger
begins at the 15A rate and increases
the charge rate if it is determined that
the battery can accept the 40A rate.
All charging modes will decrease the
charge rate as the battery approaches
maximum charge.
After the charging process has started, the
digital display can be used to determine
charging progress by selecting the BATTERY % mode.
There are some important facts to keep in
mind when charging a battery.
• When the display indicates 77%
charged, the battery has been charged
enough to start most vehicles and has
already been charged as much as by
many other battery chargers.
• When the display indicates 85% charged,
the battery has already been charged at
least as much as by most other battery
chargers.
• The battery % shown in tester mode is
an estimate based on the battery voltage
and the Battery Council International
scale. The battery % shown in charger
mode is an estimate of the relative charge
in the battery compared to the charge it
should have if the charging process is
allowed to complete.
• The battery % shown in tester mode can
be used to estimate the relative charge
time. The lower the % shown, the longer
the charge time for a given battery.
• The battery % shown in charger mode
is an indication of the relative progress
of the charging process. The higher the
battery % displayed, the less charge time
remains.
• The more a battery is discharged, the
faster it absorbs charge from a charger.
That means that the battery % increases
faster at the beginning of the charging
process than at the end. In other words,
it takes longer for the battery to absorb
the last few percent of charge than the
rst several percent.
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CHARGING TIPS
Read this entire manual before using your charger. The tips below serve only as a guide
for specic situations.
If your vehicle won’t start: You don’t
need to fully charge a battery to start your
vehicle. If the charger won’t start your
vehicle using the ENGINE START rate, try
charging the battery using the REGULAR
BATTERY rate for 10 or 15 minutes. That
should charge the battery enough to allow the ENGINE START rate to start the
vehicle. If the vehicle will then be operated
continuously for an extended period (such
as a long drive), the vehicle could charge
the battery back to normal during that
period. If the vehicle will only be operated
for a short period (short drive), the battery
might need to be charged again before it
could start the vehicle again.
Reviving your battery: If you only wish
to charge your battery enough to operate
your vehicle, you don’t need to wait for the
entire charging process to be completed.
When the charger displays a battery %
of 77 or more (see page 12), the battery
has usually been charged enough for the
vehicle to start and operate normally.
Completing an interrupted charge: If
the charging process has been interrupted
and restarted after the charger displays a
battery % of 85 or more, the charger could
go straight to Maintain Mode (see page 7).
However, if the original charge was started
using the REGULAR BATTERY rate, the
charge can often be completed using the
SMALL BATTERY setting.
MAINTENANCE AND CARE
A minimal amount of care can keep your battery charger working properly for years.
1. 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.
2. Coil the input and output cords neatly when storing the charger. This will help prevent accidental damage to the cords and charger.
3. Occasional cleaning of the case of the charger with a soft cloth will keep the nish
shiny.
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TROUBLESHOOTING
Performance problems often can be corrected by the user. Please read through this chart
for a possible solution to common problems.
PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE SOLUTION
The battery is connected
and the charger is on,
but isn't charging.
Indicator lights are lit in
an erratic manner not
explained in the “Using
Your Battery Charger”
section.
The DIGITAL DISPLAY
always ashes before
the battery is completely
charged.
The charger is in tester
mode, not charger mode.
You might have accidentally activated a special
diagnostic mode.
The charger may be
defective.
The incorrect BATTERY
TYPE may have been
selected.
This will happen if the
battery did not reach full
charge within 24 hours.
May be due to a very large
battery or a bank of batteries requiring more power
than a 1540 amp
charger can deliver within
24 hours. The battery may
also be faulty.
Press the CHARGE
START button to activate
charging and select a
charge rate.
Make sure nothing is
touching the control
panel, then unplug the
charger and plug it in
again.
Return to place of purchase for replacement.
Reset the charger by
briey unplugging it or
briey disconnecting the
negative battery clip. Select the desired charge
rate (SMALL or REGULAR BATTERY) and
BATTERY TYPE again, if
necessary.
Engine crank time is less
than specied.
The green CHARGED
LED lights a few minutes
after connecting to the
battery.
Starter motor may be
drawing more than 125
amps.
The battery may be
fully charged or recently
charged, leaving the battery voltage high enough
to appear to be fully
charged.
The incorrect BATTERY
TYPE may have been
selected.
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Charge the battery at the
REGULAR BATTERY
rate for 10 to 15 minutes
then crank the engine.
If the battery is in a vehicle, turn the headlights
on for a few minutes
to reduce the battery
voltage and try charging
again.
Reset the charger by
briey unplugging it or
briey disconnecting the
negative battery clip.
Select the desired charge
rate (SMALL or REGULAR BATTERY) and
BATTERY TYPE again, if
necessary.
WARRANTY
SCHUMACHER ELECTRIC CORPORATION,
801 BUSINESS CENTER DRIVE,
MOUNT PROSPECT, ILLINOIS 60056-2179
MAKES THIS LIMITED WARRANTY TO THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER AT RETAIL OF
THIS PRODUCT. THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS NOT TRANSFERABLE.
Schumacher Electric Corporation warrants this battery charger for ve years from date
of purchase at retail against defective material or workmanship. If such should occur, the
unit will be repaired or replaced at the option of the manufacturer. It is the obligation of
the purchaser to forward the unit together with proof of purchase, transportation and/or
mailing charges prepaid to the manufacturer or its authorized representative.
This limited warranty is void if the product is misused, subjected to careless handling, or
repaired by anyone other than the manufacturer or its authorized representative.
The manufacturer makes no warranty other than this limited warranty and expressly
excludes any implied warranty including any warranty for consequential damages.
THIS IS THE ONLY EXPRESS LIMITED WARRANTY AND THE MANUFACTURER NEITHER ASSUMES NOR AUTHORIZES ANYONE TO ASSUME OR MAKE ANY OTHER
OBLIGATION TOWARDS THE PRODUCT OTHER THAN THIS EXPRESS LIMITED
WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER MAKES NO WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR PURPOSE OF THIS PRODUCT AND EXPRESSLY EXCLUDES
SUCH FROM THIS LIMITED WARRANTY.
SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL
OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LENGTH OF IMPLIED WARRANTY SO THE
ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE
OTHER RIGHTS THAT VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.
WARRANTY VALIDATION: The enclosed “Warranty Validation Card” must be completed
and mailed within 10 days of product purchase to activate this limited warranty.
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