Schumacher SC-1200A, SC-1000A User Manual
Models SC-600A, SC-1000A, SC-1200A,
TM
SSC-1000A, SSC-1500A
®
SC-600A
SC-1200A
SSC-1000A
Owner’s Manual
READ ENTIRE MANUAL BEFORE
USING THIS PRODUCT
SC-1000A
SSC-1500A
00-99-000909/0109
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION PAGE
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 1
PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS 2
PREPARING TO CHARGE 3
CHARGER LOCATION 3
DC CONNECTION PRECAUTIONS 3
FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY IS
INSTALLED IN VEHICLE. 4
FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY IS
OUTSIDE VEHICLE. 4
BATTERY CHARGING - AC CONNECTIONS 5
CONTROL PANEL 6
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS 9
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS 9
CALCULATING CHARGE TIME 13
MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS 15
STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS 15
TROUBLESHOOTING 15
LIMITED WARRANTY 18
IMPORTANT: READ AND SAVE THIS SAFETY AND INSTRUCTION MANUAL.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS1.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS – The SpeedCharge Series battery 1.1
chargers offer a wide range of features to accommodate the needs for
home or light commercial use. This manual will show you how to use your
charger safely and effectively. Please read, understand and follow these
instructions and precautions carefully, as this manual contains important
safety and operating instructions.
WARNING:1.2 Pursuant to California Proposition 65, this product contains
chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth
defects or other reproductive harm.
Do not expose charger to rain or snow.1.3
Use only recommended attachments. Use of an attachment not recom-1.4
mended or sold by Schumacher® Electric Corporation may result in a risk
of re, electric shock or injury to persons.
To reduce the risk of damage to electric plug or cord, pull by the plug 1.5
rather than the cord when disconnecting the charger.
An extension cord should not be used unless absolutely necessary. Use 1.6
of an improper extension cord could result in a risk of re and electric
shock. If an extension cord must be used, make sure:
That the pins on the plug of the extension cord are the same number, •
size and shape as those of the plug on the charger.
That the extension cord is properly wired and in good electrical condition.•
That the wire size is large enough for the AC ampere rating of the charger •
as specied in the table in section 8.
Do not operate the charger with a damaged cord or plug; take it to a 1.7
qualied service person. (Call customer service at: 1-800-621-5485.)
Do not operate the charger if it has received a sharp blow, been dropped 1.8
or otherwise damaged in any way; take it to a qualied service person.
(Call customer service at: 1-800-621-5485.)
Do not disassemble the charger; take it to a qualied service person 1.9
when service or repair is required. Incorrect reassembly may result in a
risk of re or electric shock. (Call customer service at: 1-800-621-5485.)
To reduce the risk of electric shock, unplug the charger from the outlet 1.10
before attempting any maintenance or cleaning. Simply turning off the
controls will not reduce this risk.
WARNING – RISK OF EXPLOSIVE GASES.
• 1 •
WORKING IN THE 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.
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF BATTERY EXPLOSION, FOLLOW THESE
INSTRUCTIONS AND THOSE PUBLISHED BY THE BATTERY
MANUFACTURER AND THE MANUFACTURER OF ANY EQUIPMENT
YOU INTEND TO USE IN THE VICINITY OF THE BATTERY. REVIEW
THE CAUTIONARY MARKINGS ON THESE PRODUCTS AND ON THE
ENGINE.
PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS2.
Consider having someone close enough by to come to your aid when you 2.1
work near a lead-acid battery.
Have plenty of fresh water and soap nearby in case battery acid contacts 2.2
your skin, clothing or eyes.
Wear complete eye and body protection, including safety goggles and 2.3
protective clothing. Avoid touching your eyes while working near the battery.
If battery acid contacts your skin or clothing, wash immediately with soap 2.4
and water. If acid enters your eye, immediately ood the eye with cold
running water for at least 10 minutes and get medical attention right away.
NEVER smoke or allow a spark or ame in the vicinity of a battery or 2.5
engine.
Be extra cautious to reduce the risk of dropping a metal tool onto the 2.6
battery. It might spark or short-circuit the battery or other electrical part
that may cause an explosion.
Remove personal metal items such as rings, bracelets, necklaces and 2.7
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.
Use this charger for charging a LEAD-ACID battery only. It is not intended 2.8
to supply power to a low voltage electrical system other than in a
starter-motor application. Do not use this 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.
NEVER charge a frozen battery.2.9
NEVER overcharge a battery.2.10
• 2 •
PREPARING TO CHARGE3.
If it is necessary to remove the battery from the vehicle to charge it, 3.1
always remove the grounded terminal rst. Make sure all of the
accessories in the vehicle are off, to prevent arcing.
Be sure the area around the battery is well ventilated while the battery is 3.2
being charged.
Clean the battery terminals before charging the battery. During cleaning, 3.3
keep airborne corrosion from coming into contact with your eyes, nose
and mouth. Use baking soda and water to neutralize battery acid and help
eliminate airborne corrosion. Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
Add distilled water to each cell until the battery acid reaches the level 3.4
specied by the battery manufacturer. Do not overll. For a battery without
removable cell caps, such as valve regulated lead-acid-batteries, carefully
follow the manufacturer’s recharging instructions.
Read, understand and follow all instructions for the charger, battery, 3.5
vehicle and any equipment used near the battery and charger. Study all
of the battery manufacturer’s specic precautions while charging and
recommended rates of charge.
Determine the voltage of the battery by referring to the vehicle owner’s 3.6
manual and make sure that the output voltage selector switch is set to the
correct voltage. If the charger has an adjustable charge rate, charge the
battery in the lowest rate rst.
Make sure that the charger cable clips make tight connections.3.7
CHARGER LOCATION4.
Locate the charger as far away from the battery as the DC cables permit.4.1
Never place the charger directly above the battery being charged; gases 4.2
from the battery will corrode and damage the charger.
Do not set the battery on top of the charger.4.3
Never allow battery acid to drip onto the charger when reading the 4.4
electrolyte specic gravity or lling the battery.
Do not operate the charger in a closed-in area or restrict the ventilation in 4.5
any way.
DC CONNECTION PRECAUTIONS5.
Connect and disconnect the DC output clips only after setting all of the 5.1
charger switches to the “off” position and removing the AC plug from the
electrical outlet. Never allow the clips to touch each other.
Attach the clips to the battery and chassis, as indicated in steps 6.5, 6.6 5.2
and 7.2 through 7.4.
• 3 •
FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY IS INSTALLED IN 6.
VEHICLE.
A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY MAY CAUSE A BATTERY
EXPLOSION. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY:
Position the AC and DC cables to reduce the risk of damage by the hood, 6.1
door and moving or hot engine parts.
Stay clear of fan blades, belts, pulleys and other parts that can cause injury.6.2
Check the polarity of the battery posts. The POSITIVE (POS, P, +) battery 6.3
post usually has a larger diameter then the NEGATIVE (NEG, N, -) post.
Determine which post of the battery is grounded (connected) to the chassis. 6.4
If the negative post is grounded to the chassis (as in most vehicles), see
step 6.5. If the positive post is grounded to the chassis, see step 6.6.
For a negative-grounded vehicle, connect the POSITIVE (RED) clip from 6.5
the battery charger to the POSITIVE (POS, P, +) ungrounded post of
the battery. Connect the NEGATIVE (BLACK) clip to the vehicle chassis
or engine block away from the battery. Do not connect the clip to the
carburetor, fuel lines or sheet-metal body parts. Connect to a heavy gauge
metal part of the frame or engine block.
For a positive-grounded vehicle, connect the NEGATIVE (BLACK) clip 6.6
from the battery charger to the NEGATIVE (NEG, N, -) ungrounded post
of the battery. Connect the POSITIVE (RED) clip to the vehicle chassis
or engine block away from the battery. Do not connect the clip to the
carburetor, fuel lines or sheet-metal body parts. Connect to a heavy gauge
metal part of the frame or engine block.
When disconnecting the charger, turn all switches to off, disconnect the 6.7
AC cord, remove the clip from the vehicle chassis and then remove the
clip from the battery terminal.
See CALCULATING CHARGE TIME for length of charge information.6.8
FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY IS OUTSIDE VEHICLE. 7.
A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY MAY CAUSE A BATTERY
EXPLOSION. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY:
Check the polarity of the battery posts. The POSITIVE (POS, P, +) battery 7.1
post usually has a larger diameter than the NEGATIVE (NEG, N, -) post.
Attach at least a 24-inch long 6-gauge (AWG) insulated battery cable to 7.2
the NEGATIVE (NEG, N, -) battery post.
Connect the POSITIVE (RED) charger clip to the POSITIVE (POS, P, +) 7.3
post of the battery.
Position yourself and the free end of the cable you previously attached to 7.4
the NEGATIVE (NEG, N, -) battery post as far away from the battery as
possible – then connect the NEGATIVE (BLACK) charger clip to the free
end of the cable.
• 4 •
Do not face the battery when making the nal connection.7.5
25 50 100 150
(7.6) (15.2) (30.5) (45.6)
0 2 18 18 18 16
2 3 18 18 16 14
3 4 18 18 16 14
4 5 18 18 14 12
5 6 18 16 14 12
6 8 18 16 12 10
8 10 18 14 12 10
10 12 16 14 10 8
12 14 16 12 10 8
14 16 16 12 10 8
16 18 14 12 8 8
18 20 14 12 8 6
a
If the input rating of a charger is given in watts rather than in
amperes, the corresponding ampere rating is to be determined
by dividing the wattage rating by the voltage rating ± for
example:
1250 watts/125 volts = 10 amperes
Length of cord, feet (m)
AWG size of cord
AC input rating,
amperes
a
But less
than
At least
When disconnecting the charger, always do so in the reverse order of the 7.6
connecting procedure and break the rst connection while as far away
from the battery as practical.
A marine (boat) battery must be removed and charged on shore. To 7.7
charge it onboard requires equipment specially designed for marine use.
BATTERY CHARGING - AC CONNECTIONS8.
This battery charger is for use on a nominal 120-volt circuit.8.1
DANGER – Never alter AC cord or plug provided – if it does not t the
outlet, have proper outlet installed by a qualied electrician. Improper
connection can result in a risk of an electric shock.
Recommended minimum AWG size for extension cords for battery 8.2
chargers:
• 5 •
8.3
Grounding Methods
CONTROL PANEL 9.
SC-600A
• 6 •
SC-1000A
SC-1200A
SSC-1000A
• 7 •
SSC-1500A
DIGITAL DISPLAY9.1
The Digital Display gives a digital indication of % of charge or voltage,
depending on the Display Mode chosen.
DISPLAY MODE BUTTON
Use this button to set the function of the Digital Display to one of the following:
Battery %• – The Digital Display shows an estimated charge percent of
the battery connected to the charger battery clamps.
Voltage• – The Digital Display shows the voltage at the charger battery
clamps in DC volts.
CHARGE RATE BUTTON 9.2
Use this button to set the maximum charge rate to one of the following:
2A Slow Charge Rate• – Intended for charging small batteries such as
those commonly used in garden tractors, snow mobiles and motorcycles.
4A, 6A, 8A Medium Charge Rate• – Use for charging automotive, marine
and deep-cycle batteries. Not intended for industrial applications.
10A, 12A, 15A Fast Charge Rate• - Use for charging automotive and light
truck batteries. Not intended for industrial applications.
BATTERY TYPE BUTTON 9.3
Use this button to set the type of battery to be charged.
6V• – This battery type is usually used in garden tractors, motorcycles and
antique vehicles.
12V• – This battery type is usually used in automotive, marine and deep
cycle situations.
• 8 •
Regular (Standard)• – This battery type is usually used in cars, trucks
and motorcycles. These batteries have vent caps and are often marked
“Low Maintenance” or “Maintenance-free”. This type of battery is de-
signed to deliver quick bursts of energy (such as starting engines) and
have a greater plate count. The plates will also be thinner and have
somewhat different material composition. Regular batteries should not be
used for deep cycle applications.
Deep-Cycle• – Deep-cycle batteries are usually marked as “Deep-Cycle”
or “Marine”. Deep-cycle batteries are usually larger than the other types.
This type of battery has less instant energy but somewhat greater
long-term energy delivery than regular batteries. Deep cycle batteries
have thicker plates and can survive a number of discharge cycles.
AGM• – The Absorbed Glass Matt construction allows the electrolyte to be
suspended in close proximity with the plate’s active material. In theory,
this enhances both the discharge and recharge efciency. Actually, the
AGM batteries are a variant of Sealed VRLA (valve regulated lead acid)
batteries. Popular uses include high performance engine starting, power
sports, deep cycle, solar and storage battery.
GEL• – The Gel Cell is similar to the AGM style because the electrolyte
is suspended, but different because technically the AGM battery is still
considered to be a wet cell. The electrolyte in a GEL cell has a silica
additive that causes it to set up or stiffen. The recharge voltages on
this type of cell are lower than the other styles of lead acid battery.
This is probably the most sensitive cell in terms of adverse reactions to
over-voltage charging. Gel Batteries are best used in VERY DEEP cycle
application and may last a bit longer in hot weather applications. If the
incorrect battery charger is used on a Gel Cell battery, poor performance
and premature failure is certain.
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS10.
No assembly required.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS11.
Overview11.1
Connect the battery and AC power following the precautions listed in 1.
sections 6 and 7.
Select the appropriate battery type and charge rate for your battery. 2.
CHARGING11.2
If the charger does not detect a properly connected battery, the CON-
NECTED (red) LED will not light until such a battery is detected. Charging
will not begin while the CONNECTED (red) LED is not on. When charging
begins, the CHARGING (yellow) LED will be lit.
• 9 •
BATTERY PERCENT AND CHARGE TIME11.3 : This charger adjusts
the charging time in order to charge the battery completely, efciently
and safely. The microprocessor automatically performs the necessary
functions. This section includes guidelines that can be used to estimate
charging times.
The duration of the charging process depends on three factors:
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. With Models SC-1200A, SSC-1000A and SSC-1500A
the battery state can be estimated by using the built-in voltage tester.
The lower the reading the longer charging will take.
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 charge.
Charge Rate • – The charge rate is measured in amps. 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 higher
rates. The 4A, 6A and 8A rates are for charging automotive, marine and
deep-cycle batteries. The 10A, 12A and 15A rates are for charging
automotive and light truck batteries. 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 deter-
mine charging progress by selecting the BATTERY % mode. (Models
SC-1200A, SSC-1000A and SSC-1500A)
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.
When the battery is fully charged, the display will indicate 100% charged.•
The battery % shown in tester mode is an estimate based on the battery •
voltage.
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 and 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 percents of charge than the rst several
percents.
• 10 •
AUTOMATIC CHARGING MODE11.4 : When a charge rate is selected, the
charger is set to perform an automatic charge. When an automatic charge
is performed, the charger switches to the maintain mode (see below)
automatically after the battery is charged.
ABORTED CHARGE 11.5
If charging can not be completed normally, charging will abort. When
charging aborts, the charger’s output is shut off and the CONNECTED
(red) LED will blink. In that state, the charger ignores all buttons. To reset
after an aborted charge, either disconnect the battery or unplug the charger.
DESULFATION MODE11.6 : 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. Activation of the special
desulfation mode is indicated by the CHARGING (yellow) LED blinking.
If successful, normal charging will resume after the battery is desulfated.
The CHARGING (yellow) LED will then stop blinking and stay lit. Desulfation
could take up to 10 hours. If desulfation fails, charging will abort and the
CONNECTED (red) LED will blink.
COMPLETION OF CHARGE: 11.7 Charge completion is indicated by the
CHARGED (green) LED. When lit, the charger has stopped charging and
switched to the Maintain Mode of operation. On Models SSC-1000A and
SSC-1500A, if the DEEP CYCLE battery type is selected, the CHARGED
(green) LED comes on when the battery is charged enough for normal
use.
MAINTAIN MODE11.8 : When the CHARGED (green) LED is lit, the charger
has started Maintain Mode. In this mode, the charger keeps the battery
fully charged by delivering a small current, when necessary. The voltage is
maintained at a level determined by the BATTERY TYPE selected.
USING THE BATTERY VOLTAGE TESTER 11.9
(MODELS SC-1200A, SSC-1000A AND SSC-1500A ONLY)
Overview
This battery charger has a built-in voltmeter to test your battery’s state
of charge. The charger does not have a built in load tester. As such, 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 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 for a couple of minutes before you read the
display. Read it a couple of minutes after you have shut the headlights off.
Testing Sequence: There are four basic steps required to test the battery
state of charge:
• 11 •
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