Schumacher SC-1200A-CA,SSC-1500A-CA Owner's Manual
0099001460-00
Models / Modelos:
SC-1200A-CA, SSC-1500A-CA
Automatic Battery Charger
Cargador de baterías automático
OWNERS MANUAL
MANUAL DEL USUARIO
PLEASE SAVE THIS OWNERS MANUAL AND READ BEFORE EACH USE. This manual
will explain how to use the battery charger safely and effectively. Please read and follow these
instructions and precautions carefully.
POR FAVOR CONSERVE ESTE MANUAL DEL USUARIO Y LEALO ANTES DE CADA
USO. En este manual le explica cómo utilizar el cargador de batería de manera segura y
conable. Por favor, lea y siga las siguientes instrucciones y precauciones.
SSC-1500A-CA
SC-1200A-CA
• 2 •
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING – RISK OF EXPLOSIVE GASES
WORKING IN THE VICINITY OF A LEAD-ACID BATTERY IS DANGEROUS. BATTERIES
GENERATE EXPLOSIVE GASES DURING NORMAL OPERATION. FOR THIS REASON,
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS EACH TIME YOU USE
THE CHARGER.
To reduce the risk of a battery explosion, follow these instructions and those published
by the manufacturer of the battery and any equipment you intend to use in the vicinity
of the battery. Review the cautionary markings on these products and on the engine.
WARNING: 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.
Wash hands after handling.
• Keep out of reach of children.
• Use the battery charger on LEAD-ACID and
AGM-type rechargeable batteries, with
recommended rated capacities of 24Ah (6V)
and 44-75Ah (12V), as used in automobiles,
trucks, tractors, airplanes, vans, RVs,
trolling motors, etc. This charger is not
intended to supply power to low-voltage
electrical systems, other than in a motor-
starting application.
WARNING: Do not use battery charger with
dry cell batteries that are commonly used with
home appliances. These batteries may burst
and cause injury or damage to property.
• Use only attachments recommended or sold
by the battery charger’s manufacturer. Use
of non-recommended attachments may
result in a re, electric shock or injury.
• Locate the battery charger’s power cord so
it cannot be stepped on, tripped over, or
subjected to damage or stress.
• Do not operate the charger if it has received
a sharp blow, been dropped, or otherwise
damaged in any way. Take it to a qualied
professional for inspection and repair.
• Do not disassemble the charger. Take it to a
qualied professional when service or repair
is required.
• To reduce the risk of electric shock, unplug
the charger from the outlet before
attempting any maintenance or cleaning.
• Do not use an extension cord.
• Always charge the battery in a well-
ventilated area.
• Do not set the charger on ammable
materials, such as carpeting, upholstery,
paper, cardboard, etc.
• NEVER smoke or allow sparks or ames in
the vicinity of the battery or engine.
WARNING: RISK OF EXPLOSIVE GAS.
• Operate the charger as far away from the
battery as DC charger cables permit.
• Do not expose the charger to rain or snow.
• NEVER charge a frozen battery.
• NEVER set a battery on top of the charger.
• NEVER place the charger directly above a
battery being charged. Gases from the
battery will corrode and damage the charger.
• NEVER touch the battery clamps together
when the charger is energized.
• When disconnecting the battery charger, pull
by the plug, not by the cord. Pulling on the
cord may cause damage to the cord or plug.
• Do not operate the charger with a damaged
cord or plug.
• NEVER allow battery acid to drip onto the
charger.
• NEVER overcharge a battery.
PERSONAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
• Wear complete eye protection and
protective clothing when working near
lead-acid batteries. Always have someone
nearby for help.
• Have plenty of fresh water, soap and baking
soda nearby for use, in case battery acid
contacts your eyes, skin, or clothing. Wash
immediately with soap and water and seek
medical attention.
• If battery acid comes in contact with eyes,
ush eyes immediately for a minimum 10
minutes and get medical attention.
• Neutralize any acid spills thoroughly with
baking soda before attempting to clean up.
• Remove all personal metal items from your
body, such as rings, bracelets, necklaces
and watches. A battery can produce a short
circuit current high enough to weld a ring to
metal, causing a severe burn.
• Do not drop a metal tool onto the battery.
• If it is necessary to remove the battery from
the vehicle to charge it, always remove the
grounded terminal rst.
• 3 •
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
Remove all cord wraps and uncoil the cables prior to using the battery charger.
GROUNDING AND AC POWER CORD CONNECTIONS
This battery charger is for use on a nominal
120 volt circuit. The plug must be plugged
into an outlet that is properly installed and
grounded in accordance with all local codes
and ordinances. The plug pins must t the
receptacle (outlet). Do not use with an
ungrounded system.
NOTE: Pursuant to Canadian Regulations,
use of an adapter plug is not allowed in
Canada. Use of an adapter plug in the
United States is not recommended and
should not be used.
USING AN EXTENSION CORD
The use of an extension cord is not
recommended. If you must use an
extension cord, follow these guidelines:
• Pins on plug of extension cord must be the
same number, size, and shape as those of
plug on charger.
• Ensure that the extension cord is properly
wired and in good electrical condition.
• Wire size must be large enough for the AC
ampere rating of charger, as specied below:
Length of cord (feet)
25 50 100 150
AWG* size of cord
18 18 16 14
*AWG-American Wire Gauge
FEATURES
LED INDICATORS
CLAMPS REVERSED (red) LED
ashing:The connections are reversed.
CHARGING (yellow/orange) LED lit:
The charger is charging the battery.
CHARGING (yellow/orange) LED
ashing: The charger is in abort mode.
CHARGED (green) LED pulsing:
The battery is fully charged and the charger
is in maintain mode.
NOTE: See the Operating Instructions
section for a complete description of the
charger modes.
DIGITAL DISPLAY
The display will show the battery VOLTAGE
when the charger is not charging a battery.
When it goes into charging mode, the display
will automatically change to ON (to show
charging has started) and then show the
percent-of-charge of the battery being
charged and either 6 or 12 (the voltage of the
battery, determined by the charger). If you
manually stop the charging process (by
pressing the CHARGING RATE button)
before the battery is fully charged, the display
will show OFF.
NOTE: During charging, the display will go
into sleep mode and will not show the
percentage of charge or voltage of the
battery. To turn the display back on, press
any button.
• Battery % – The digital display shows an
estimated charge percentage of the battery
connected to the charger’s battery clamps.
• Voltage – The digital display shows the
voltage at the charger battery clamps, in
DC volts.
CHARGING RATE BUTTON
Use this button to select one of the following:
• 3A – For charging small batteries, such as
those commonly used in garden tractors,
snowmobiles and motorcycles. Also used to
maintain fully charged large batteries.
• 12A or 15A – For charging automotive,
marine and light truck batteries. Not intended
for industrial applications.
BATTERY TYPE BUTTON
Use this button to select the type of battery.
•
– Used in cars, trucks and motorcycles,
these batteries have vent caps and are often
marked “low maintenance” or “maintenancefree”. This type of battery is designed to
deliver quick bursts of energy (such as
starting engines) and has a greater plate
count. The plates are thinner and have
somewhat different material composition.
Regular batteries should not be used for
deep-cycle applications.
•
– The Absorbed Glass Mat 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. 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 batteries.
• 4 •
Model SSC-1500A-CA only:
•
– 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 those for other styles of lead-acid
battery. This is probably the most sensitive
cell in terms of adverse reactions to
overvoltage charging. Gel batteries are best
used in VERY DEEP cycle application and
may last a bit longer in hot weather
applications. If the wrong battery charger is
used on a gel cell battery, poor performance
and premature failure will result.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING: A spark near battery may cause
a battery explosion.
IMPORTANT: Do not start the vehicle with
the charger connected to the AC outlet, or it
could result in damage to the charger.
NOTE: This charger is equipped with an
auto-start feature. Current will not be
supplied to the battery clamps until a battery
is properly connected. The clamps will not
spark if touched together.
CHARGING A BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE
1. Turn off all the vehicle’s accessories.
2. Keep the hood open.
3. Clean the battery terminals.
4. Place the charger on a dry, non-ammable
surface.
5. Lay the AC/DC cables away from any
fan blades, belts, pulleys and other
moving parts.
6. For a negative-ground vehicle (as in
most vehicles), connect the charger’s
POSITIVE (RED) clamp to the POSITIVE
(POS, P, +) battery post. Next, connect
the charger’s NEGATIVE (BLACK) clamp
to the vehicle chassis or engine block,
away from the battery.
7. For a positive-ground vehicle, connect the
charger’s NEGATIVE (BLACK) clamp to the
NEGATIVE (NEG, N, -) battery post. Next,
connect the charger’s POSITIVE (RED)
clamp to the vehicle chassis or engine
block away from the battery. NEVER
connect any clamps to the carburetor, fuel
lines or sheet-metal body parts.
8. Connect the charger to an electrical outlet.
9. Select the battery type and charging rate.
10. When charging is complete, disconnect
the charger from the AC power, remove
the clamps from the vehicle’s chassis,
and then remove the clamp from the
battery terminal.
CHARGING A BATTERY
OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE
1. Place battery in a well-ventilated area.
2. Clean the battery terminals.
3. Connect a 24-inch long, 6-gauge (AWG)
insulated battery cable to the NEGATIVE
(NEG, N, -) battery post (i.e., jumper
cable) (not provided).
4. Connect the POSITIVE (RED) clamp to
the POSITIVE (POS, P, +) battery post.
5. Position yourself and the “negative post
extension” cable as far away from the
battery as possible, and connect the
NEGATIVE (BLACK) clamp to the cable’s
free end.
6. Connect the charger to the electrical outlet.
7. Select the battery type and charging rate.
8. When charging is complete, disconnect
the charger from the AC power,
disconnect the negative clamp, and nally
the positive clamp.
9. A marine (boat) battery must be removed
and charged on shore.
CHARGE RATE
The charger will automatically adjust the
charging current, based on battery size, in
order to charge the battery completely,
efciently and safely.
AUTOMATIC CHARGING MODE
When the Automatic Charge is performed,
the charger switches to the maintain mode
automatically after the battery is charged.
ABORTED CHARGE
If charging cannot be completed normally,
charging will abort. When charging aborts,
the charger’s output is shut off and the
CHARGING
(yellow/orange) LED will
ash. To reset after an aborted charge,
unplug the charger from the AC outlet, wait
a few moments and plug it back in.
DESULFATION MODE
Desulfation could take 8 to 10 hours.
If desulfation fails, charging will abort and
the CHARGING
(yellow/orange) LED
will ash.
COMPLETION OF CHARGE
Charge completion is indicated by the
CHARGED (green) LED. When
pulsing, the charger has switched to the
maintain mode of operation.
• 5 •
MAINTAIN MODE
(FLOAT-MODE MONITORING)
When the CHARGED (green) LED is
pulsing, the charger has started maintain
mode. In this mode, the charger keeps the
battery fully charged by delivering a small
current when necessary. If the charger has
to provide its maximum maintain current for
a continuous 12 hour period, it will go into
abort mode (see Aborted Charge section).
This is usually caused by a drain on the
battery or the battery could be bad. Make
sure there are no loads on the battery. If
there are, remove them. If there are none,
have the battery checked or replaced.
MAINTAINING A BATTERY
The SC-1200A-CA and SSC-1500A-CA
maintain both 6 and 12 volt batteries,
keeping them at full charge.
NOTE: The maintain mode technology
allows you to safely charge and maintain a
healthy battery for extended periods of time.
However, problems with the battery, electrical
problems in the vehicle, improper
connections or other unanticipated conditions
could cause excessive current draws. As
such, occasionally monitoring your battery
and the charging process is required.
USING THE BATTERY VOLTAGE TESTER
1. With the charger unplugged from the
AC outlet, connect the charger to the
battery following the instructions given in
previous sections.
2. Plug the charger AC power cord into the
AC outlet.
3. If necessary, press the BATTERY TYPE
button until the correct type is indicated.
4. Read the voltage on the digital display.
Keep in mind that this reading is only a
battery voltage reading; a false surface
charge may mislead you. Compare the
reading to the chart below.
6 V Battery
Voltage
Reading
12 V Battery
Voltage
Reading
Battery
Condition
6.4 or more 12.8 or more Charged
6.1 to 6.3 12.2 to 12.7
Needs
charging
Less than
6.1
Less than
12.2
Discharged
POWER-UP IDLE TIME LIMIT
If no button is pressed within 10 minutes after
the battery charger is rst powered up, the
charger will automatically switch from tester to
charger if a battery is connected. In that case,
the charger will be set to charge at the 3A rate
and AGM battery type (SC-1200A-CA) or gel
cell battery type (SSC-1500-CA).
TESTING AFTER CHARGING
After the unit has been changed from tester
to charger (by selecting a charge rate), it
remains a charger. To change the battery
charger back to a tester, press the
CHARGING RATE button until all charge
rate LEDs are off.
MAINTENANCE AND CARE
A minimal amount of care can keep your
battery charger working properly for years.
• 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.
• Occasionally cleaning the case of the
charger with a soft cloth will keep the nish
shiny and help prevent corrosion.
• Coil the input and output cords neatly when
storing the charger. This will help prevent
accidental damage to the cords and charger.
• Store the charger unplugged from the AC
power outlet, in an upright position.
• Store inside, in a cool, dry place. Do not
store the clamps clipped together, clipped to
the handle, on or around metal, or clipped
to the cables.
TROUBLESHOOTING/ERROR CODES
Error Codes
ERROR
CODE
DESCRIPTION REASON/SOLUTION
F01
The battery voltage is still
under 10V (for a 12V battery)
or 5V (for a 6V battery) after 2
hours of charging.
The battery could be bad. Have it checked or
replaced.
F02
The charger cannot desulfate
the battery.
The battery could not be desulfated; have it
checked or replaced.
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