Harbor Freight Tools 3418 manual Setup, About Charging Batteries, Preparing the Battery

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Setup

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.

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 and if battery gets warm, stop charging it immediately.

Note: This charger is not recommended for batteries with a built in Hydrometer eye. The reading of the built in eye will conflict with the ammeter readings.

Do not plug this charger in until directed to do so

in the following pages of this manual.

Preparing the Battery

1.If necessary, remove the battery from the vehicle to charge it. When removing the battery, always remove the grounded battery cable first.

Reminder: The vehicle’s engine must be OFF when removing, replacing, or charging a battery.

REV 08f, 09h

SKU 03418

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

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Contents Battery CHARGER/STARTER Important Safeguards SpecificationsPersonal Precautions Charger Location Specific Safety Rules for the Battery Charger Risk of Explosion UnpackingPreparing the Battery SetupAbout Charging Batteries Charging Batteries Engine Starting Ammeter ReadingsParts List and Assembly Diagram MaintenanceLimited 90 DAY Warranty