Schumacher Understanding Automatic Charging and Maintenance Features of Battery Chargers

11.4Automatic Charging Mode: When a charge rate is selected, the charger is set to perform an automatic charge. When an automatic charge is performed, the charger switches to the maintain mode (see below) automatically after the battery is charged.

11.5Aborted Charge

If charging can not be completed normally, charging will abort. When charging aborts, the charger’s output is shut off and the CONNECTED

(red) LED will blink. In that state, the charger ignores all buttons. To reset after an aborted charge, either disconnect the battery or unplug the char- ger.

11.6Desulfation Mode: If the battery is left discharged for an extended period of time, it could become sulfated and not accept a normal charge. If the charger detects a sulfated battery, the charger will switch to a special mode of operation designed for such batteries. Activation of the special desulfation mode is indicated by the CHARGING (yellow) LED blinking.

If successful, normal charging will resume after the battery is desulfated.

The CHARGING (yellow) LED will then stop blinking and stay lit. Desulfation could take up to 10 hours. If desulfation fails, charging will abort and the

CONNECTED (red) LED will blink.

11.7Completion Of Charge: Charge completion is indicated by the

CHARGED (green) LED. When lit, the charger has stopped charging and switched to the Maintain Mode of operation. On Models SSC-1000A and SSC-1500A, if the DEEP CYCLE battery type is selected, the CHARGED

(green) LED comes on when the battery is charged enough for normal use.

11.8Maintain Mode: When the CHARGED (green) LED is lit, the charger has started Maintain Mode. In this mode, the charger keeps the battery fully charged by delivering a small current, when necessary. The voltage is maintained at a level determined by the BATTERY TYPE selected.

11.9Using the Battery Voltage Tester

(Models SC-1200A, SSC-1000A and SSC-1500A only) Overview

This battery charger has a built-in voltmeter to test your battery’s state of charge. The charger does not have a built in load tester. As such, a recently charged battery could have a temporarily high voltage due to what is known as “surface charge”. The voltage of such a battery will gradually drop during the period immediately after the charging system is disengaged. Consequently, the tester could display inconsistent values for such a battery. For a more accurate reading, the surface charge should be removed by temporarily creating a load on the battery, such as by turning on lights or other accessories for a couple of minutes before you read the display. Read it a couple of minutes after you have shut the headlights off.

Testing Sequence: There are four basic steps required to test the battery state of charge:

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