Harbor Freight Tools 03418 Operation, About Charging Batteries, Power Requirements

Page 6

Operation

About Charging Batteries

Batteries draw as much power as they need from the charger. The charger does not force current into the battery. When a battery is close to dead or very low charged, it will want to draw more current. When a dead or low battery is charged, the charger’s ammeter will register at the high end. As the battery charges, the reading will move down toward the low end, resting on zero, when the battery is fully charged. See FIGURE 1 below.

FIGURE 1

Note: The ammeter shows the amount of current being drawn from the charger. It does not show what the charger is capable of delivering. When the battery is fully charged and registering zero on the ammeter, a small trickle charge will continue to move from the charger to the battery. If you do not disconnect the charger from the battery, eventually the heat build up from the trickle charge will cause the battery acid to boil and overcharge the battery causing damage to the battery. You must constantly monitor battery charging progress.

Power Requirements

This charger must have a 120 volt, 60 Hertz AC (alternating current) power source fused at an amperage greater than or equal to the input rating of this charger. Do not plug this charger in until directed to do so in the following pages of this manual.

This charger has a 3-prong plug. The power outlet/receptacle must be grounded. If you use an adapter (3-prong to 2-prong) to connect the plug from the charger to the outlet, the adapter must be a properly grounded adapter and must only be used temporarily, until a qualified electrician can install a properly grounded receptacle.

Extension cord use is determined by the input amp rating (2.2 amps) of the charger. Minimum size (AWG rating) of a 25 foot cord is 18 gauge.

Minimum size (AWG rating) of a 50 foot cord is 18 gauge. Minimum size (AWG rating) of a 100 foot cord is 14 gauge. Minimum size (AWG rating) of a 150 foot cord is 12 gauge. Never alter extension cords.

SKU 03418

For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.

Page 6

Image 6
Contents Battery CHARGER/STARTER For technical questions and replacement parts, please callRead all instructions before using this Charger SpecificationsBasic Safety Warnings and Precautions Save This ManualUnpacking Battery Charger Specific Warnings Fire Hazards More Charger WarningsPower Requirements OperationAbout Charging Batteries Preparing the Battery Connection to a battery outside a vehicle ChargingDisconnecting after charging Ammeter ReadingsEngine Starting Troubleshooting More on charging timesParts List and Assembly Drawing Maintenance