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WARNING
ELECTRIC SPARK & OPEN FLAME: NEVER
smoke or allow a source of
electric spark or open flame in the vicinity of the battery or engine. (For
example: Don't charge the battery next to a gas water heater.)
VENTILATION:
Do not operate the charger where ventilation is restricted.
The intent here is to allow sufficient airflow to minimize and dissipate the
heat generated by the charger and to diffuse the gasses that may be
emitted by the battery.
CHARGER MAINTENANCE:
NEVER DISASSEMBLE OR ATTEMPT TO
DO INTERNAL REPAIRS. THIS VOIDS THE WARRANTY.
Assembling
the charger incorrectly may result in the risk of electric shock or create a
fire hazard.
PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS
WARNING
WHEN YOU WORK NEAR LEAD-ACID BATTERIES:
1. Someone should be within range of your voice or close enough to
come to your aid if you have an accident;
2. Have plenty of fresh water and soap nearby in case battery acid
contacts skin, clothing, or eyes;
3. Wear complete eye protection and protective clothing. Avoid touching
your eyes while working near a battery. If battery acid contacts your
skin or clothing, wash immediately with soap and water. If acid enters
an eye, immediately flood the eye with running cold water for at least
10 minutes and get medical attention as soon as possible;
4. Be extra cautious when handling metal tools around a battery. If you
drop a metal tool near a battery it might spark or create a short circuit
between the battery terminals and some other metal part. Either event
may cause a dangerous electrical shock hazard, a fire, or even an
explosion;
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-circuited current high enough to weld a metal ring
or other piece of jewelry, causing a severe burn;
6.
Use
Battery Tender® Solar Chargers
for charging lead-acid
batteries only.
They are not intended to supply power to an extra low-
voltage electrical system or to charge dry-cell batteries. Charging dry-
cell batteries may cause them to burst and cause injury to persons and
damage to property;
INFORMATION NOTE ABOUT DRY-CELL BATTERIES:
There are some wet, non-spillable, lead acid batteries on the market whose
manufacturers' make the claim that they are dry-cell batteries. These
batteries are sealed, gas-recombinant, starved electrolyte, possibly with
AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) type construction. It is perfectly safe to use the
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Battery Tender® Solar Charger
to charge these types of batteries. The
dry-cell battery warning is intended for rechargeable or non-rechargeable
alkaline and other similar types of batteries. If you have any doubt about
the type of battery that you have, please contact the battery manufacturer
before attempting to charge the battery.
7.
NEVER
charge a visibly damaged or
frozen battery.
PREPARING TO CHARGE:
First, follow all General &
Personal Precautions as previously explained, and then
continue.
WARNING
IF THE BATTERY MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE
VEHICLE:
1. To avoid an electric arc (or spark), turn off or disconnect all of the
accessories in the vehicle. Then always remove the cable that is
connected to grounded terminal from battery first;
2.
If necessary, clean the battery terminals. Be careful to keep the
corrosion and other debris from coming in contact with your eyes;
3.
If the battery is not a sealed battery, then if necessary, add distilled
water to each cell until the battery acid solution reaches the level
specified by battery manufacturer. Do not overfill;
4. Before connecting the charger to the solar panel, check the polarity of
the battery posts, and
attach at least a 24 inch long 6 (AWG) insulated,
battery extension cable to the negative battery post. Then connect the
appropriate charger DC output connectors to the battery and the
extension cable, positive to positive and negative to negative. Never
allow the alligator clips or terminal rings to touch each other after they
are connected to the battery charger.
5. Connect the charger’s Input Leads to the solar panel.
WARNING
IF THE BATTERY REMAINS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE:
1.
DO NOT CONNECT THE CHARGER’S INPUT LEADS TO THE
SOLAR PANEL UNTILL ALL OTHER CONNECTIONS ARE MADE!
2.
Place both the INPUT and OUTPUT DC power cords in the best
position to avoid accidental damage by movable vehicle parts, i.e.
hoods, doors, or moving engine parts (fan blades, belts, or pulleys).
3.
Check the polarity of the battery posts. If the positive (pos, p, +) post is
connected to the vehicle chassis, then the vehicle has a positive
ground system. If the negative (neg, n, -) post is connected to the
vehicle chassis, then the vehicle has a negative ground system.
Negative ground systems are the most common.
4. For negative ground systems, connect the positive (red) alligator clip,
or ring terminal to the positive battery post. Then connect the negative
(black) alligator clip, or ring terminal to the vehicle chassis. Do not
make the negative charger clip or ring connection to the carburetor,
fuel lines, or thin, sheet metal parts. Make that connection to the
engine block or a heavy gauge metal part of the frame.
5. For positive ground systems, connect the negative (black) alligator clip,
or ring terminal to the negative battery post. Then connect the positive
(red) alligator clip, or ring terminal to the vehicle chassis. Do not make
