5
TO CHARGE BATTERIES
Make connections to the battery per the instructions in preceding section of this manual. Determine the battery voltage and set initial charge
rate settings per chart. Turn the timer on. If a higher rate of charge is desired, turn the AMPS CHARGE switch to the appropriate 2, 3, 4 or HI
position. Always return the AMPS CHARGE switch to the LO position before advancing the VOLTS CHARGE switch.
12V CRANKING ASSIST AND BOOST STARTING
Turn off all lights and accessories in the vehicle.
Connect the charger to battery per previous instructions. Charge the battery at least five minutes. Make sure the battery is accepting current
before setting charger to crank assist. Always start on the lowest amperage crank setting. Put the switch in the "12V CRANK ASSIST"
position. Start the car with the charger connected to the battery. Follow the duty cycle on the unit. Turn the switch to OFF and remove the AC
power cord from the electric outlet before disconnecting the DC clamps.
DIESEL VEHICLES
Diesel engines have special starting requirements due to the high compression required to ignite the fuel mixture. Because of this, the starter
motors have to work harder which requires the battery to deliver a large amount of power for a period of time. Adequate voltage must be
supplied also to insure the glow plug will have enough power to preheat the chamber. When attempting to start a diesel vehicle, always fast
charge the battery at least five minutes. If time permits, charge the battery as long as possible or until the battery reaches 75% state of
charge. Make sure the battery is accepting current before setting charger to crank assist. Always start on the lowest amperage crank setting.
With the charger "ON" and attached to the battery, attempt to start the vehicle. Do not crank the engine more than 20 seconds in a five-minute
period. While allowing the starter to cool, allow the charger to continue to charge the battery.
If the vehicle has two batteries installed, read the "VEHICLES WITH TWO BATTERIES" section of this manual.
VEHICLES WITH TWO BATTERIES
Many diesel vehicles and service vehicles are equipped with two batteries. This is to provide the vehicle with greater starting power capacity
or longer reserve capacity to provide power for accessories. These batteries are wired into a parallel circuit. Because of this, it will take twice
as long to charge these batteries as indicated in the LENGTH OF CHARGE table. If one battery is charged and the other discharged, the
discharged battery should be removed from the vehicle and checked. When attaching the charger to this type of vehicle the charger should
be attached to the battery which is wired closest to the starter. This allows the charger to provide maximum starting power to the starter motor
by minimizing the voltage drop in the engine cables.
PARALLEL CHARGING
This charger may be used to parallel charge up to 10 batteries with a bus bar kit, or by using a minimum 6AWG gauge booster cables to
connect the batteries together in parallel.
CAUTION:
Do not connect 6 and 12 volt batteries in parallel with each other.
CHARGING SULFATED BATTERIES
If your battery has sat in the discharged state for an extended period of time, it can become SULFATED. This usually is seen as a white
deposit near the top of the battery. The sulfate is formed when a battery with low water levels remains discharged for an extended time.
Sulfated batteries exhibit the characteristic of accepting no charge regardless of the rate of charge.
The charging method is two staged. The first stage of attempting to break down the sulfation to allow the battery to accept a charge must be
closely watched to avoid excessive charge rates as the battery begins to charge and overheat. The second stage is a slow charging to restore
the battery to full charge.
READ AND FOLLOW ALL PRECAUTIONS AND WARNINGS IN YOUR INSTRUCTION MANUAL BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO CHARGE
SULFATED BATTERIES. FAILURE TO OBSERVE THESE WARNINGS MAY RESULT IN PROPERTY DAMAGE OR SERIOUS PERSONAL
INJURY OR DEATH.
To recharge a sulfated battery:
1.
Attach the battery clamps as described in the instruction manual.
2.
Always use the charger’s lowest rate when turning the charger on. Set the charger to the charger’s highest rate for the voltage of the
battery being charged.
CAUTION:
NEVER CHARGE A BATTERY AT VOLTAGE RATES ABOVE THAT OF THE BATTERY.
3.
The battery will show little or no amperage at the start of the charging process. This will continue until the sulfation begins to break
down.
CAUTION:
AS THE SULFATION BREAKS DOWN, THE AMPERAGE MAY RAPIDLY RISE. CONSTANT
ATTENTION MUST BE OBSERVED TO PREVENT SERIOUS OVERHEATING OF THE BATTERY.
4.
Lower the charge rate to the lowest rate for the voltage of battery being charged.
5.
Charge the battery at this low rate until the electrolyte reaches the fully charged state as described in the tables in your instruction
manual. This may take as long as two or three days.
NOTE:
SOME BATTERIES MAY BE SO BADLY SULFATED THEY CAN NOT BE RESTORED TO A NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION,
REGARDLESS OF THE RATE OF CHARGE OR THE LENGTH OF TIME THE CHARGE IS APPLIED. IF THE BATTERY CANNOT
BE RESTORED TO A FULLY CHARGED CONDITION BY A SLOW CHARGING, IT SHOULD BE REPLACED.
