Schumacher SF-520MA, SF-125A, SF-5212A, SF-1275A User Manual
Battery
Charger
Models:
SF-125A, SF-1275A,
SF-5212A, SF-520MA
Battery Charger
Owner's Manual
–Save–
Important Safety Instructions
Read Rules for Safe Operation and Instructions Carefully
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.
WARNING: Handling the cord on this product or cords associated with accessories sold with this product, will expose you to lead, a
chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
A. GENERAL BATTERY SAFETY
Wash hands after handling.
1. Before you use your battery charger, be sure to read all
instructions and cautions printed on:
• Battery Charger
• Battery
• Vehicle or unit using battery
2. Use battery charger on LEAD ACID type rechargeable
batteries only, such as used in autos, trucks, tractors,
airplanes, vans, RV's, trolling motors, etc. Charger is not
intended to supply power to low-voltage electrical system
other than in an automotive application.
WARNING: Do
cell batteries that are commonly used with home appliances.
These batteries may burst and cause injury to persons and
damage to property.
3. Use only attachments recommended or sold by
manufacturer. Use of non-recommended attachments may
result in fire, electric shock, or injury.
4. When disconnecting the battery charger, pull by the plug
not by the cord. Pulling on the cord may cause damage to
cord or plug.
5. Locate battery power cord so it cannot be stepped on, tripped
over, or subjected to damage or stress.
6. Do not operate charger with damaged cord or plug. Have
cord replaced immediately.
7. Do not operate charger if it has received a sharp blow, been
dropped, or otherwise damaged in any way. Take it to a
qualified professional for inspection and repair.
8. Do not disassemble charger. Take it to a qualified
professional when service or repair is required. Incorrect
reassembly may result in electric shock or fire.
9. To reduce risk of electric shock, unplug charger from outlet
before attempting any maintenance or cleaning.
not use battery charger for charging dry-
10. Do not use an extension cord unless absolutely necessary.
Use of an improper extension cord could result in fire or
electric shock. If an extension cord must be used, make
sure that:
• Pins on plug of extension cord are the same number,
size, and shape as those of plug on charger.
• Extension cord is properly wired and in good electrical
condition.
• Wire size is large enough for AC ampere rating of charger,
as specified below:
Length of cord (feet): 25 50 100 150
AWG size of cord: 16 14 10 8
11. Always charge battery in a well ventilated area.
NEVER operate in a closed-in or restricted area without
adequate ventilation.
WARNING: Risk of explosive gas.
12. Locate charger as far away from battery as DC charger
cables permit.
13. Do not expose charger to rain or snow.
14. NEVER charge a frozen battery. If battery fluid (electrolyte)
is frozen, bring into a warm area to thaw before charging.
15. NEVER allow battery acid to drip on charger when reading
specific gravity or filling battery.
16. NEVER set a battery on top of charger.
17. NEVER place charger directly above battery being charged.
Gases from battery will corrode and damage charger.
18. NEVER touch the battery clamps together when the charger
is energized.
SCHUMACHER ELECTRIC CORPORATION
801 BUSINESS CENTER DRIVE • MOUNT PROSPECT, ILLINOIS 60056-2179
Send Warranty Product Repairs to: 1025 E. Thompson, Hoopeston, IL 60942-0280
In Canada, for warranty claims and replacement, please return item to place of purchase during warranty period with receipt of purchase.
Call Customer Service if you have questions: 1-800-621-5485
00-00-000634/0103
1
B. PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS AND SAFETY
1. WARNING: Wear complete eye protection and clothing
protection, when working with lead-acid batteries.
2. Make sure someone is within range of your voice or close
enough to come to your aid when you work with or near a
lead-acid battery.
3. Have plenty of fresh water and soap nearby for use if battery
acid contacts skin, clothing, or eyes. If battery acid contacts
skin or clothing, wash immediately with soap and water.
4. Avoid touching your eyes while working with a battery. Acid
particles (corrosion) may get into your eyes! If acid enters
your eye, immediately flood eye with running cold water for
at least 10 minutes. Get medical attention immediately.
5. Remove all personal metal items such as rings, bracelets,
necklaces, and 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.
6. Take care not to drop a metal tool or other metal onto the
battery. Metal may cause sparking or short circuit the battery
or another electrical devise. Sparking may cause an
explosion.
7. Always operate battery charger in an open well ventilated
area.
8. NEVER smoke or allow a spark or flame in the vicinity of
the battery or engine. Batteries generate explosive gases!
C. PREPARING TO CHARGE
1. Make sure you have a 6 or 12 volt lead-acid battery. Check
car owner manual to make sure.
2. Clean battery terminals. Take care to keep corrosion from
coming in contact with your eyes.
3. If required, add distilled water in each cell until battery acid
reaches levels specified by battery manufacturer. This helps
purge excessive gas from cells. Do not overfill. For a battery
without cell caps, carefully follow manufacturer's recharging
instructions.
4. Study all battery manufacturer's specific precautions, such
as removing or not removing cell caps while charging, and
recommended rates of charge.
5. Be sure area around battery is well ventilated while battery
is being charged. Gas can be forcefully blown away by using
a piece of cardboard or other non-metallic material as a
fan.
6. If necessary to remove battery from vehicle to charge,
always remove grounded terminal from battery first. Make
sure all accessories in the vehicle are off, so as not to cause
an arc.
7. A marine (boat) battery must be removed and charged on
shore. To charge it on board requires equipment specially
designed for marine use.
8. Select charge rate suitable for the battery being charged (2 or 15 Amps).
GROUNDING AND AC POWER CORD CONNECTION
INSTRUCTIONS - Charger should be grounded to reduce risk
of electric shock. Charger is equipped with an electric cord having an equipment-grounding conductor and a grounding plug.
The plug must be plugged into an outlet that is properly installed
and grounded in accordance with local codes and ordinances.
DANGER - Never alter AC cord or plug provided - if it will not fit
outlet, have proper outlet installed by a qualified electrician. Improper connection can result in a risk of electric shock.
This battery charger is for use on a nominal 120-volt circuit, and
has a grounding plug that looks like the plug illustrated in sketch
A. A temporary adapter, which looks like the adapter illustrated
in sketch B, may be used to connect this plug to a two-pole
receptacle as shown in sketch B if a properly grounded outlet is
not available. The temporary adapter should be used only until
a properly grounded outlet can be installed by a qualified electrician.
During operation do not place the charger or its cables on the
vehicle seat or carpeting.
GROUNDED OUTLET
GROUNDING PIN
When charging a battery in a boat, RV or motor home always
connect one lead of the output cable to the battery. Never connect to a remote receptacle or other means for the purpose of
remotely charging the battery. The wires may be inadequate for
handling the charge current of this charger and may over heat.
Often these wires are bundled in with other wires which could
be damaged and lead to a direct short across the battery and
charger. If this occurs a fire can result, equipment and appliances operated from the battery may also be damaged.
DANGER - Before using adapter as illustrated, be certain that
center screw of outlet plate is grounded. The green-colored rigid
ear or lug extending from adapter must be connected to a properly grounded outlet - make certain it is grounded. If necessary,
replace original outlet cover plate screw with a longer screw
that will secure adapter ear or lug to outlet cover plate and make
ground connection to grounded outlet.
Use of an adapter plug is not allowed in Canada.
METAL SCREW
COVER
OF GROUNDED
OUTLET BOX
(A)
Grounding Methods
ADAPTER
(B)
2
D. METER AND SWITCH FUNCTIONS
MODEL: SF-125A
12 VOLT
2 AMP
6 VOLT
15 AMP
MANUAL
OFF
6 VOLT
125 VOLT ENGINE START
VOLT/AMP SELECTOR FOR MANUAL OPERATION
(For Automatic operation, set dial to any
position except (OFF.)
OFF: This position disconnects AC power supplied by your out-
let from the rest of the charger.
6 VOLT 15 AMP: Used for charging medium and large size 6
volt batteries, typical application are for crank starting of farm
equipment and antique automobiles. Do not charge small batteries such as used in motorcycles, lawn and garden equipment.
12 VOLT 2 AMP: The 2 Amp charge rate is recommended for
small batteries, motorcycles etc. If used for maintaining the full
charge level of larger batteries, limit the charge period to a few
days at a time. This amperage setting is both automatic or
manual. See switch below.
12 VOLT 125 AMP START: Used for crank starting of 12 volt
vehicles. The engine start position should not be used for battery charging, doing so will cause the charger to over heat and
thus protect itself by cycling off and on.
12 VOLT 15 AMP: Use for charging medium and large size
batteries. This most popular charge rate can operate in either
the Automatic or Manual mode of charging. See Automatic/
Manual 3-way Switch.
6 VOLT 125 AMP START: Used for crank starting of 6 volt vehicles.
NOTE: Not recommended for use on 8 volt systems.
12 VOLT
125 AMP
ENGINE
START
12 VOLT
15 AMP
TYPICAL DISPLAY FOR A FULLY
CHARGED BATTERY AT THE 15
AMP CHARGE RATE
Percent
FULL
CHARGE
(GREEN
©©
©
©©
INDICATOR)
Ä
% 100 75 50 25 0
TYPICAL DISPLAY FOR A
DISCHARGED BATTERY
AT THE 15 AMP RATE
Ä
START
REVERSED
HOOKUP
©
(RED
INDICATOR)
METER: The meter indicates the amount of current measured
in amperes that is being drawn from the charger by a battery. In
the 15 Amp charge rate a typical discharged battery may initially draw more than 15 Amps during the first few minutes of
charge. As the battery continues to charge current should gradually taper to within 6 to 8 amps at full charge.
The START area of the meter is reserved to indicate when a
high rate of current is being drawn from the charger. It is normal
for the meter pointer to be in this area while cranking a vehicle.
When using the 2 amp charge rate the meter may indicate some
activity but doesn’t have the resolution to accurately display the
battery’s state of charge. For this reason you should depend on
the full charge light indicator.
ENGINE START:
1. Set 3-way switch to “MANUAL” setting.
2. Connect the battery charger as outlined in Section H.
3. For best results charge the battery for 10 minutes before
cranking the engine at 15 amp setting.
4. Set the rotary charge rate selector switch to the 125 Amp
start position that matches the voltage of the vehicle’s battery
– 6 or 12 volt.
5. Crank the engine for 5 seconds, if the engine fails to start,
set the charge rate switch to the 15 Amp rate and charge
the battery for the next 5 to 10 minutes before cranking
again.
6. If the engine fails to start after several tries, there maybe a
problem elsewhere in the vehicle.
MANUAL
BATTERY TYPE SWITCH
2 AMP, 12 VOLT AUTOMATIC
L
L
L
15 AMP, 12 VOLT
AUTOMATIC
3
Loading...