OWNER'S MANUAL
Microprocessor Controlled, Fully Automatic
Operation Battery Charger
with Engine Starter
Plus Battery and Alternator Tester
2=AIVlP SLOW CHARGE
15=AMP FAST CHARGE
40-AMP RAPID CHARGE
125=AMP ENGINE START
FOR 12=VOLT
BATTERIES
Model No.
200.71226
CAUTION:
Read all Safety Rules and Operating Instructions,
and follow them with each use of this product.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 U.S.A.
0099000537/0206
WARRANTY ................................................................................................................2
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS ................................................................... 3
PERSONAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ...................................................................... 4
BEFORE USING YOUR BATTERY CHARGER ........................................................ 5
Plugging It In......................................................................................................... 5
Assembling Your Charger ..................................................................................... 5
Using An Extension Cord ...................................................................................... 5
PREPARING YOUR BATTERY TO BE CHARGED .................................................. 5
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS ................................................................................... 6
Charging Battery InThe Vehicle ........................................................................... 6
Charging Battery Removed From The Vehicle ..................................................... 7
Using Engine Start ................................................................................................ 7
USING YOUR BATTERY CHARGER ........................................................................ 8
CHARGER CONTROLS ............................................................................................. 9
CONTROL PANEL GUIDE ....................................................................................... 10
USING THE BUILT-IN BATTERY TESTER .............................................................. 11
USING THE BUILT-IN ALTERNATOR TESTER ...................................................... 12
BATTERY PERCENT AND CHARGE TIME ............................................................ 13
CHARGING TIPS ...................................................................................................... 14
MAINTENANCE AND CARE ................................................................................... 14
TROUBLESHOOTING .............................................................................................. 15
PARTS ....................................................................................................................... 16
WIRING DIAGRAM ................................................................................................... 16
PLEASE SAVE THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND READ BEFORE EACH USE.
The DieHard Model 71226 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.
For information about troubleshooting, call toll-free from anywhere in the U.S.A.
7 am to 4:30 pm Central Time Monday through Friday. 1-800-SEARS-64
(1-800-732-7764).
THREE-YEAR FULL WARRANTY
Ifthis Battery Charger fails due to a defect in material or workmanship within three
years from the date of purchase, RETURN IT TO ANY SEARS STORE or OTHER
DIEHARD OUTLET IN THE UNITED STATES FOR FREE REPLACEMENT.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights
which vary from state to state.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179
WARNING = RISK OF EXPLOSIVE GASES
WORKING IN VICINITY OF A LEAD-ACID BATTERY IS DANGEROUS. BAT-
TERIES 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.
• WARNING: Handling the cord on this • To reduce risk of electrical shock,
product or cords associated with ac- unplug the charger from the outlet
cessories sold with this product, may before attempting any maintenance or
expose you to lead, a chemical known cleaning.
to the State of California to cause • Always charge battery in a welt-venti-
cancer and birth defects or other lated area.
reproductive harm. Wash hands after
handling.
• Read all instructions and cautions
printed on the battery charger, battery,
and vehicle or equipment using bat-
tery.
• Use charger only on lead-acid type
rechargeabte batteries, such as those
used in cars, trucks, tractors, air-
planes, 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, ste-
reos, remote controls, etc. These bat-
teries may burst and cause personal
injury.
• Do not disassemble charger. Take it
to a qualified service professional if
service or repair is required. Incorrect
assembly may result in fire or electri-
cal shock.
o
WARNING: Battery chargers get hot
during operation and must have proper
ventilation. Air needs to flow around
entire charger. Do not set charger on
flammable 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 wilt permit.
Do not expose charger to rain or snow.
Never charge a frozen battery. If battery
fluid (electrolyte) becomes frozen, bring
battery into a warm area to thaw before
you begin charging.
Never allow battery acid to drip on
charger when reading specific gravity or
filling battery.
Never set a battery on top of the
charger.
Neverplacechargerdirectlyabove
batterybeingcharged.Thegasesfrom
thebatterywiltcorrodeanddamagethe
charger.
Nevertouchthebatteryclampstogether
whenthechargerison.Youcouldcause
aspark.
Neveroperatechargerifithasreceived
ahardblow,beendropped,orotherwise
damaged.Takeittoaqualifiedprofes-
sionalforinspectionandrepair.
Be sure to position the charger power
cord to prevent it from being stepped on,
tripped over, or damaged.
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 at-
tention.
Avoid touching your eyes while
working with a battery. Acid particles
(corrosion) may get into your eyes. If
this occurs, flush eyes immediately
with running cold water for at least 10
minutes. Then immediately get medi-
cal attention.
• Remove all personal metal items
from your body such as rings, brace-
lets, necklaces and watches, while
working with a lead-acid battery. A bat-
tery 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 flame
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.
Itisimportanttounderstandyourcharger'srequirements.Thissectionwilltellyouabout
yourcharger'selectricalrequirementsandhowtoprepareabatteryforcharging.
PLUGGINGITIN
Yourchargerrequiresa120VAC2-prong
walloutletreceptacleinstalledaccording
Wrapclampcablesafterunpluggingthe
powercordfromtheACwaltoutletand
storeyourchargerinadrylocation.
toalllocalcodesandordinances.
USINGANEXTENSIONCORD
Theuseofanextensioncordisnotrec-
ommended.Ifyoumustuseanextension
cord,pleasemakesurethatyoufollow
theseguidelines:
• Make sure that the pins on charger's
ASSEMBLINGYOURCHARGER
Includedwithyourbatterychargeraretwo
cordwrapcleatsforstorageoftheclamp
cables.
Toinstall,alignthetwotabstocorrespond
withthetworeceptaclesandpushuntilyou
hearasnap.
power cord fit firmly into the extension
cord, and that the extension cord fits
firmly into the receptacle.
• Check that the extension cord isproperly
wired and in good electrical condition.
• Make sure that the wire size is large
enough for its length and for the AC
ampere rating, as specified in the chart
below.
M .IMuMRECOEME"DE
Length of Cord, in Feet
AWG* Size of Cord
• AWG=American Wire Gauge
It is important that you read and follow these guidelines while you are preparing to
charge the battery.
• Make sure that you have a 12 volt
lead-acid battery. Determine voltage of
battery by referring to vehicle owner's
manual orthe battery markings. Charge
battery initially at charger's lowest
rate.
• Clean the batteryterminals. Becareful to
keep corrosion from getting inor around
your eyes or on your hands.
• Wearsafetygtasses. See additionat"Per-
sonal Safety Precautions" on page 4.
• Ifrequired, for batteries with removable
vent caps, add distilled water to each cell
until the battery acid reaches the level
recommended bythe manufacturer. This
wilt help purge excessive gases from the
cells. Be careful not tooverfill. Ifyou have
a sealed battery with non-removable
vent caps, no action is necessary.
• Take time to read all of the battery
manufacturer's specific precautions,
such as removing or not removing vent
caps white charging, and recommended
rates of charge.
• Be sure that the area around the bat-
tery 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 first. Turn off all vehicle acces-
sories to avoid sparks from occurring.
• NOTE: A marine (boat) battery installed
in a boat must be removed and charged
on shore.
NOTE:Amarine(boat)boatbatterymustberemovedandchargedonshore.To
chargeitonboardrequiresequipmentspeciallydesignedformarineuse.
IMPORTANT:Followallsafetyinstructionsandprecautionswhenchargingyourbat-
tery.Wearcompleteeyeprotectionandclothingprotection.Chargeyourbatteryina
welt-ventilatedarea.
CHARGINGBATTERYINTHE
VEHICLE:
1. Avoid personal injury by keeping clear
of fan blades, belts, pulleys and other
engine parts.
2. Avoid damaging the charger by keep-
ing 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 identification 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 ground-
ed or connected to the chassis. THIS
IS NORMALLY THE NEGATIVE
POST.
NEGATIVE GROUNDED SYSTEM
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 figure).
DO NOT connect clamp to negative
battery post, carburetor, fuel line or
sheet metal part.
Connecting to a positive-grounded
system: Connect the black (NEGA-
TIVE) 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
2-prong wall outlet. The charger will
be set to the default state of REGU-
LAR charge type, no charge rate
(tester mode).
7.
Press the appropriate control buttons
to select the desired charge rate and
charge type. Within a few seconds,
the CHARGING (yellow) LED should
light and the charging process should
start. If the CHECK (red) LED is on,
check for correct cable connections.
8. To disconnect the charger, unplug
its power cord before attempting to
disconnect the output clamps. Then,
standing away from the battery, re-
move the output clamp from the chas-
sis or engine block. Finally, remove
the output clamp from the battery
post.
9. Clean and store the charger in a dry
location.
CHARGINGBATTERYREMOVED
FROMTHE VEHICLE:
POSITIVE NEGATIVE
BATTERY _CHARGER
24", 6 GAUGE CABLE
1. Note the polarity of the battery posts by
checking the identification 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 a24-inch-long, 6-gauge
(AWG), insulated battery 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 2-
prong wall outlet. The chargerwilt be set
to the default state of REGULAR charge
type, no charge rate (tester mode).
6. Press the appropriate control buttons
to select the desired charge rate and
charge type. Within a few seconds, the
CHARGING (yellow) LED should light
and the charging process should start.
Ifthe CHECK (red) LED ison, check for
correct cable connections.
7. To disconnect the charger, unplug its
power cord before attempting to discon-
nect the charger clamps. Then, standing
away from the battery, remove the out-
put 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.
BATTERY
GROUNDED
POWER
OUTLET
POWER
USING ENGINE START
Your battery charger can be used to jump
start your car if the battery is low. Fol-
low these instructions on how to use the
ENGINE START feature.
IMPORTANT: Follow all safety instructions
and precautions when charging your bat-
tery. Wear complete eye protection and
clothing protection. Charge your battery
in a welt-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 6
and follow instructions 1-6 of CHARG-
ING BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE. With
the charger plugged in and connected
to the battery of the vehicle, set the
CHARGE RATE to 125A START. Only
the 125A START, VOLTAGE, and
CHARGING LEDs should be lit.
2. Crank the engine until it starts or 5 sec-
onds passes. 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 re-
sets, it sets itself for a 2A charge and
REGULAR battery.) 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 witl 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 crank-
ing stops. The digital display shows a
countdown of the remaining crank time
inseconds.Itstartsat5andcounts
downto0.
3.CoolDown-Aftercranking,thechar-
gerentersamandatory3-minute(180
second)cooldownstate.Duringthis
period,nosettingscanbechanged.The
buttonsareignored.Thedigitaldisplay
indicatestheremainingcooldowntime
inseconds.Itstartsat180andcounts
downto0.The125ASTARTLEDblinks
onceeverysecond.Duringthecool
downperiod,nocurrentisdeliveredto
thebattery.After3minutes,the125A
STARTLEDwillstopblinkingandwilt
lightcontinuously,indicatingthatan-
othercrankcyclecanbestarted.The
digitaldisplaywillchangefromdisplay-
ingthecountdownbacktodisplaying
thebatteryvoltage.TheCHARGING
LEDwillbelitagain.
ENGINE STARTING NOTES:
• If the battery is disconnected during
the cool down period, the charger wilt
reset.
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 CHARGE TYPE and
CHARGE RATE for your battery. The char-
ger will then do everything automatically.
This section explains a few details.
CHARGING: If the charger does not
detect a properly connected battery, the
CHECK (red) LED wilt light continuously
until such a battery is detected. Charging
will not begin while the CHECK LED is on.
When charging begins, the CHARGING
LED will be lit.
AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF: When the 2A,
15A or 40A charge rate 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 red
CHECK LED and digital display blink on
and off (at opposite times). 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, nor-
mal 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 CHECK (red) LED will blink.
COMPLETION OF CHARGING: Charge
completion is indicated by the CHARGED
(green) LED; when tit, the charger has
stopped charging and switched to the
Maintain Mode of operation, if the DEEP
CYCLE charge type was selected. For
other charge types, the CHARGED LED
comes on when the battery is charged
enough for normal use.
MAINTAIN MODE: When the CHARGED
(green) LED is tit, 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 current,
when necessary. The voltage is maintained
at a level determined by the CHARGE
TYPE selected. NOTE: For charge 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 efficient 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.
Ifthechargemodeischangedaftercharg-
inghasstarted(bypressingtheCHARGE
RATEorCHARGETYPEbutton),the
chargingprocesswiltberestarted.
71226CONTROLPANEL
DISPLAY MODE SWITCH
Use this switch 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 disptayshows 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.
CHARGE TYPE SWITCH
Use this switch button to set the type of
battery to be charged to one of the fol-
lowing.
• REGULAR: This is the type of battery
usually used in cars, trucks, and motor-
cycles. These batteries have vent caps
and are often marked "tow maintenance"
or "maintenance-free".
• DEEP CYCLE: Deep cycle batteries
are usually marked as "deep cycle" or
"marine". Deep cycle batteries are usu-
ally larger than the other types.
Thevoltagedisplayedduringchargingis
thechargingvoltageandusuallywillbe
higherthanthebattery'srestingvoltage.
• AGM/GEL: AGM and get cell batteries
have sealed cases without vent caps.
Such batteries are often smaller than
the other types.
TOP OFF: Use the Top Off charge ifyour
battery is not fully charged, but close
enough to cause the charger to quickly
change to the Maintain mode after one
of the other charge types is started. Se-
lecting Top Off will cause the charger to
advance to the later stages of its charging
process then change to regular maintain
mode after charging is complete.
With the exception of AGM and get 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. Ifthe battery type is unknown,
use the REGULAR setting. Make sure the
battery complies with the safety instruc-
tions on page 3.
CHARGE RATE SWITCH
Use this switch button to set the charge
rate to one of the following.
2ASLOWCHARGE RATE: Intended 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.
• 15A FAST or 40A RAPID CHARGE
RATE: Use for charging automotive
batteries, marine batteries, and deep
cycle batteries. Notintended for industrial
applications.
• 125A START: Provides 125 amps for
cranking an engine with a weak or run
down battery. Always use in combination
with a battery.
NOTE: To turn OFF the charger, unplug
from the power cord from the wall outlet.
71226 CONTROL PANEL GUIDE
MODE OF OPERATION
Initial power-up, battery not detected
No battery or reversed battery detected
Battery tester activated
Battery tester with charged battery
Battery tester with no battery
Voltage meter activated
Alternator tester activated
Alternator tester on good alternator
Alternator tester on bad alternator
2 Amp charge with battery detected
15 Amp charge activated
40 Amp charge activated
Charge complete - Maintain Mode started
125A Engine Start
Waiting for engine crank
Cranking engine
Cool down after cranking
Desulfation mode activated
Charge aborted
O indicates an LED that is on continuously. B indicates an LED that blinks on and off.
O
O
O User sel.
O User sel.
O User sel.
o
O
o
o Iol
O User selected
O
O
O O
O
o
User sel.
O
O
o
I I I
User selected
O
0
ol I I
User selected
User selected
User selected
User selected
User selected
User selected
User selected
User selected
User selected
User selected
0
User selected
User selected
O
o
B
User sel. User selected User selected
B I I I I I I
Digital
Display
0.0
0% or 0.0V
0-100%
100%
O%
0.0~17.0V
0-199%
0~199%
0~199%
xx% or xx.xV
xx% or xx.xV
xx% or xx.xV
100% or xx.xV
1.0~16.0V
50
180_0
15% or 16V
8.8.8.(B)
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 71226 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 2-prong walt outlet. Again,
be sure to follow all of the precautions
listed under "OPERATING INSTRUC-
TIONS".
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 display mode button to set
the tester to BATTERY % and read the
battery percent.
TESTER AND CHARGER
When first turned on, the 71226 oper-
ates only as a tester, not as a charger. To
continue to use it as only a tester, avoid
pressing the CHARGE RATE switch but-
ton. Selecting a charge rate activates the
battery charger and deactivates the tester.
Pressing the CHARGE RATE button when
the 125A 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 switch button is pressed within 15
minutes after the charger is first powered
up, the charger will automatically switch
from tester to charger, if a battery is
connected. In that case, the charger will
be set for the 2A charge rate and 12V
REGULAR charge type.
TESTER WITHOUT TIME LIMIT
Ifeither the DISPLAY MODE or
CHARGE TYPE button is pressed within
the first ten minutes after the charger is
powered up, the charger wilt remain a
tester (not a charger) indefinitely, unless
a charge rate is selected,
TESTING AFTER CHARGING
After the charger has been changed from
tester to charger (by selecting a charge
rate), it remains a charger. To change
the charger back to a tester, press the
CHARGE RATE switch until all CHARGE
RATE LEDs are OFF.
TESTER STATUS LEDs
When the 71226 is operating as a bat-
tery 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 CHECK (red) LED lights unless a
properly connected battery is detected.
• When the tester display mode is set to
VOLTAGE, the CHARGED and CHARG-
ING LEDs won't light.
INITIAL PERCENT CALCULATION
When a battery % is calculated for the
first time after connecting a battery, the
digital display will show three dashes
("---") for a period as tong 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 volt-
age 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 temporar-
ily creating a load on the battery, such as
by turning on lights or other accessories.
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.
11
Thisbatterychargerhasabuilt-inalter-
natortesterthatdisplayseitheranaccu-
ratealternatorvoltageoranestimateof
thealternator'srelativeoutputcompared
tonormalalternators.TheAlternator%
valuesdisplayedshouldbetakenas
generalreference,notprecisediagnosis.
Thealternatortesterfunctionsthesame
asthebatterytester(seeprevioussec-
tionofthismanualfordetails)withafew
differences.
TESTING SEQUENCE
There are three basic steps required to
use the 71226 as an alternator tester.
1. Connect the charger battery clamps to
the battery or charging system. Be sure
to follow all d the precautions listed
under "OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS".
2. Connect the charger power cord to a
120VAC 2-prong wall outlet. Again, be
sure to follow all d 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
DISPLAY MODE button to set the
tester to ALTERNATOR % and read
the alternator percent.
TESTER STATUS LEDs
When the 71226 is operating as an alter-
nator 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 CHECK (red) LED lights if the
VOLTAGE is much higher or lower
than normally desired.
• 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 DISPLAY MODE cannot be set to
ALTERNATOR % during charging.
12
This charger adjusts the charging time in
order to charge the battery completely,
efficiently and safely. The microproces-
sor 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 afew 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 11). 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 wilt 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 charg-
ing smaller batteries such as those
used for motorcycles and garden
tractors. Such batteries should not be
charged using the 15A or 40A rate.
The 15A and 40A rates are for charg-
ing larger batteries. In the 40A mode,
the charger begins at a tow=charge
rate and increases=the charge rate if
it is determined that the battery can
accept the higher 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 bat-
tery 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 first several
percent.
13
Read this entire manual before using your charger. The tips below serve only as a
guide for specific 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 125A START rate,
try charging the battery using the 40A
rate for 10 or 15 minutes. That should
charge the battery enough to allow the
125A START rate to start the vehicle. If
the vehicle will then be operated continu-
ously for an extended period (such as
a tong drive), the vehicle could charge
the battery back to normal during that
period. If the vehicle will only be oper-
ated for a short period (short drive), the
battery might need to be charged again
before it could start the vehicle again.
Reviving your battery: Ifyou only wish
to charge your battery enough to oper-
ate 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 13),
the battery has usually been charged
enough for the vehicle to start and oper-
ate normally.
Completing an interrupted charge: If
the charging process has been inter-
rupted and restarted after the charger
displays a battery % of 85 or more, the
charger could go straight to Maintain
Mode (see page 8). However, if the
original charge was started using 40A,
the charge can often be completed using
the 2A rate.
A minimal amount of care can keep your battery charger working properly for years.
1. Clean the clamps each time you are finished charging. Wipe off any battery fluid
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 pre-
vent accidental damage to the cords and charger.
3. Occasional cleaning of the case of the charger with a soft cloth wilt keep the finish
shiny.
14
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 The charger is in tester
and the charger is on, mode, not charger mode.
but isn't charging.
Press the CHARGE
RATE button to activate
charging and select a
charge rate.
Indicator lights are tit in
an erratic manner not
explained in the "Using
Your Battery Charger"
section.
You might have acciden-
tally activated a special
diagnostic mode.
Make sure nothing is
touching the control
panel, then unplug the
charger and plug it in
again.
The CHECK (red) LED
always flashes before
the battery is completely
charged.
Engine crank time is less
than specified.
The green CHARGED
LED lights a few minutes
after connecting to the
battery.
The charger may be
defective.
The incorrect CHARGE
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 30/12
Amp charger can deliver
within 24 hours. The bat-
tery may also be faulty.
Starter motor may be
drawing more than 80
Amps.
The battery may be
fully charged or recently
charged, leaving the bat-
tery voltage high enough
to appear to be fully
charged.
Return to place of pur-
chase for replacement.
Reset the charger by
unplugging it or briefly
disconnecting it or briefly
disconnecting the nega-
tive battery clip. Select
the desired CHARGE
RATE and CHARGE
TYPE again, if neces-
sary.
Charge the battery at
the 40A rate for 10 to 15
minutes then crank the
engine.
If the battery is in a ve-
hicle, turn the headlights
on for a few minutes
to reduce the battery
voltage and try charging
again.
The incorrect CHARGE
TYPE may have been
selected.
15
Reset the charger by un-
plugging it or briefly dis-
connecting the negative
battery clip. Select the
desired CHARGE RATE
and CHARGE TYPE
again, if necessary.
This section shows an illustration of your battery charger. Use it to become familiar
with part locations and appearance.
Replacement Parts List Sears 71226
iTEM DESCRIPTION PART NUMBER
1 HandleAssembly 2299001477
2 Case,Top 3799004060
3 Faceplate 0899002635
4 ControlBoardAssembly 2299001463
5 OutputCablesand 3899001198
Clamps
6 PowerCord 90026135
7 CordCleat 1199004390
8 Transformer 93026579
PowerBoard/
9 2299001482
HeatsinkAssembly
10 CircuitBreaker 3999000104
11 Fan 0099000453
12 Case,Bottom 3699001330
13 InstructionManual 0099000537
B_CK_3
C
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DDD
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DDDD
For information about troubleshooting, call toll-free from anywhere
in the U.S.A. 7 am to 4:30 pm Central Time Monday through Friday.
1-800-SEARS-64 (1-800-732-7764).
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