Schumacher Electric SC1304 Owner's Manual page 5

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.
• 15A – For charging automotive, marine
and light truck batteries. Not intended for
industrial applications.
BATTERY TYPE BUTTON
Use this button to select the battery type.
– Used in cars, trucks and
motorcycles, these batteries have
vent caps and are often marked "low
maintenance" or "maintenance-free".
11. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING: A spark near the battery may
cause an 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-
flammable surface.
5. Lay the AC/DC cables away from any
fan blades, belts, pulleys and other
moving parts.
6. Connect the battery, following the
precautions listed in sections 6 and 7.
7. Connect the charger to an electrical
outlet.
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
efficiency. 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.
– 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.
8. Select the battery type and charging
rate.
9. 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 the battery, following the
precautions listed in sections 6 and 7.
4. Connect the charger to the electrical
outlet.
5. Select the battery type and
charging rate.
6. When charging is complete,
disconnect the charger from the AC
power, disconnect the negative clamp,
and finally the positive clamp.
7. A marine (boat) battery must be
removed and charged on shore.
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