VEC1086 A
REV101103
3
PREPARING TO CHARGE
1. Determine voltage of battery by referring to car owner's manual.
2. If it is necessary to remove battery from vehicle to charge, or to clean terminals, always remove grounded terminal
from battery first. Make sure all accessories in the vehicle are off, so as not to cause an arc.
3. Clean battery terminals. Be careful to keep corrosion from coming in contact with eyes.
4. Add distilled water in each cell until battery acid reaches level specified by battery manufacturer. This helps purge
excessive gas from cells. Do not overfill. For a battery without cell caps (maintenance free), carefully follow
manufacturer's charging instructions.
5. Study all battery manufacturers' specific precautions such as removing or not removing cell caps while charging
and recommended rates of charge.
6. Area around battery should be well ventilated while battery is being charged.
7. Make sure the initial charging rate does not exceed battery manufacturers requirement.
CHARGER LOCATION
1. Locate charger as far away from battery as cables permit.
2.
NEVER
place charger directly above battery being charged; gases from battery will corrode and
damage charger.
3.
NEVER
allow battery acid to drip on charger when reading specific gravity or filling battery.
4.
NEVER
operate charger in a closed-in area or restrict ventilation in any way.
5. Marine batteries must be removed and charged on shore.
6. Do not set a battery on top of charger.
DC CONNECTION PRECAUTIONS
1. Connect and disconnect DC output clamps only after removing AC cord from electric outlet.
2. Never allow clamps to touch each other.
3. Attach clamps to battery posts and check for secure connection. This will hold clamps securely on terminals
and helps to reduce risk of sparking.
FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY IS INSTALLED IN VEHICLE. A SPARK NEAR BATTERY MAY CAUSE BATTERY EXPLOSION.
TO REDUCE RISK OF A SPARK NEAR BATTERY:
a. Position AC and DC cords to reduce risk of damage by hood, door, or moving engine part.
b. Stay clear of fan blades, belts, pulleys, and other parts that can cause injury to persons.
c. Check polarity of battery posts. POSITIVE (POS, P, +) battery post usually has larger diameter than
NEGATIVE (NEG, N,-) post.
d. Determine which post of battery is grounded (connected) to the chassis. If negative post is grounded to chassis
as in most vehicles), see (e). If positive post is grounded to the chassis, see (f).
e. For negative-grounded vehicle, connect POSITIVE (RED) clamp from battery charger to POSITIVE (POS, P, +) post
of battery. Connect NEGATIVE (BLACK) clamp to vehicle chassis or engine block away from battery. Do not connect
clip to carburetor, fuel lines, or sheet-metal body parts. Connect to heavy gauge metal part of the frame or engine block.
f. For positive-grounded vehicle, connect NEGATIVE (BLACK) clamp from battery charger to NEGATIVE (NEG, N, -)
ungrounded post of battery. Connect POSITIVE (RED) clamp to vehicle chassis or engine block away from battery.
Do not connect clip to carburetor, fuel lines, or sheet-metal body parts. Connect to a heavy gauge metal part of the
frame or engine block.
g. When disconnecting charger, turn switches to off, disconnect AC cord, remove clamp from vehicle chassis, and then
remove clamp from battery terminal.
h. See operating instructions for length of charge information.
i. Do not charge the battery while the engine is operating.
