Schumacher 1200A Battery Charger User Manual


 
11
USING YOUR BATTERY CHARGER
OVERVIEW
Using the battery charger is very simple.
First, connect the battery and AC power
following the precautions listed under
“OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS”. Then
select the appropriate BATTERY TYPE
and CHARGE RATE for your battery. The
charger will then do everything auto-
matically. This section explains a few
details.
CHARGING: If the charger does not
detect a properly connected battery, the
CHECK (red) LED will light continuously
until a battery is detected. Charging will
not begin while the CHECK light is on.
When charging begins, the CHARGING
LED will be lit.
AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF: When the 2A,
8A, or 12A 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 fully
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 meter 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 de-
signed for such batteries. Activation of
the special desulfation mode is
indicated by blinking the CHARGING
LED. If successful, normal 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 lit, the
charger has stopped charging and
switched to the Maintain Mode of
operation.
MAINTAIN MODE: When the CHARGED
(green) LED is lit, 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 BATTERY
TYPE selected.
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
normally run in Tester Mode.
If the charge mode is changed after
charging has started (by pressing the
CHARGE RATE or BATTERY TYPE
button), the charging process will be
restarted.
The voltage displayed during charging
is the charging voltage and usually will
be higher than the battery’s resting
voltage.