Schumacher 520A-PE Owner'S Manual Download Page 3

Page: 3 / 16

THE 612A-PE & 5216A-PE OFFER FOUR ACTIVE MODES
OF OPERATION.

Modes 1 and 2 are selected by Switch #1, both offer automatic
charging. Mode 1 offers a 10 Amp charge rate for 6 volt batter-
ies.

Mode 2 offers a 10 Amp charge rate for 12 volt batteries. Modes
3 and 4 are selected by Switch #3.

Mode 3 offers a 2 Amp charge rate for 12 volt batteries. This
position operates in the manual mode of charging.

Mode 4 offers 50 Amps to assist in engine cranking of 12 volt
systems. Do not use for crank starting of 6 volt systems, doing
so will cause overloading and may result in permanent damage
to the charger. Use the 50 Amp position for crank starting auto-
mobiles and light trucks. Use only in combination with a battery
in the vehicle. This will reduce the chance of damaging sensi-
tive electronic equipment in the vehicle.

Switch #2 is used to select the automatic or manual operations
of either Switch #1 or Switch #3.

MANUAL 2 AMP - FOR 12 VOLT BATTERIES.

When the manual 2 Amp position is selected the charger will
continue to charge and will not shut off. You must keep a visual
check on the ammeter to determine when the battery is fully
charged. When the ammeter reads around 1 Amp the battery is
charged. The 2 Amp rate is mainly intended for use with small
batteries like those used with motorcycles and lawn and garden
equipment. For larger batteries the 2 Amp rate may be used for
overnight warming of an automotive battery in cold climate con-
ditions, do not leave connected for more than 12 hours at a
time. Do not, under any conditions, leave the charger perma-
nently connected to a battery for the purpose of maintaining it
during long periods of non-use. Doing so will result in perma-
nent damage to the battery.

WARNING:

In the 2 Amp manual position, the charger will con-

tinue to charge even after the battery is fully charged.

WARNING:

Overcharging will damage the battery.

AUTOMATIC CHARGING

When the battery reaches the full charge state, charge current
is turned off and the charger switches to the maintainer mode of
operation. This action occurs when the ammeter tapers down to
approximately 5 Amps. In this state, the battery voltage is con-
stantly being monitored. When the battery voltage drops to a
predetermined value, charge will turn on for a few seconds re-
placing the small amount of energy that was lost while the charge
current was at 0 Amps.

MANUAL VERSUS AUTOMATIC CHARGING
(612A-PE & 5216A-PE)

For your safety, in the 6 and 12 volt 10 Amp position, these
chargers will only turn on when properly connected to a battery
with a voltage over 0.7 volts. In the 2 Amp position, the charger
will turn on for any condition. If a battery is so depleted of charge
that it’s voltage is less than 0.7 volts, switch to the 2 Amp posi-
tion for a few seconds then back to the 10 Amp position. You
may use Switch #2 to rapidly toggle between settings. For 12
volt batteries only, you may leave in the 2 Amp position until the
ammeter begins to move up the scale. Note: The longer a bat-
tery has been left under this condition the more severe the dam-
age may be to the battery. The damage may not be fully recov-
erable by charging.

ENGINE STARTING (612A-PE & 5216A-PE)

Connect and disconnect the battery charger following the
instructions given in the section for, "Charging a Battery in
a Vehicle."

Charge the battery for 10 minutes before cranking the
engine. This allows you the benefit of drawing current from
both the battery and the charger.

Select the 50 Amp Start position and crank the engine.

If the engine fails to start, recharge the battery for 10 minutes
or longer and try again. If after several repeated tries the
engine fails to start, a problem may lie elsewhere within the
vehicle.

AMMETER AND LED INDICATOR(S)

The ammeter gives a reading of the amp draw on the charger.
When a fully discharged battery is connected to the charger, the
ammeter will read the maximum output rating of the 10 amp
charge rate. The charge current will gradually taper down as the
battery approaches full charge. As the charge current tapers,
the ammeter needle will move to the left.

For 612A-PE: When fully charged, the ammeter needle will sud-
denly drop to 0 and a green LED will turn on. For 5216A-PE and
520A-PE, the Full Charge LED glows green. (They also have
Power On LEDs that glow yellow.) The 0 is not printed on the
meter scale, the LEDs are located in its place. When using the 2
Amp setting, use the Full Charge LED as the indicator of a fully
charged battery. Ignore needle.

NOTE:

As the battery approaches the full charge state the am-

meter needle and LED will fluctuate back and forth between
CHARGED and CHARGING. For the average size automotive
battery, allow 5 to 10 minutes for the battery to stabilize.

▲

SWITCH

AUTOMATIC MANUAL

SWITCH

Select the 2 Amp setting for small 12 volt batteries and the 10 Amp setting
for larger ones. This charger does not have an engine start feature.

2 amp

rate

10 amp
rate

SWITCH

520A-PE (12 Volt Batteries)

(MODE 1) (MODE 2)

(MODE 3) (MODE 4)