Schumacher SC1280 Automatic Battery Charger

1. Important Safety Instructions

Save These Instructions: This manual contains important safety and operating instructions for the Schumacher SC1280 battery charger.

• This charger is not intended for use by children.
• Do not expose the charger to rain or snow.
• Using an attachment not recommended or sold by the manufacturer may result in fire, electric shock, or injury.
• To reduce the risk of damage to the electric plug and cord, pull by the plug, not the cord, when disconnecting.
• An extension cord should not be used unless absolutely necessary. If used, ensure pins match the charger's plug, the cord is properly wired and in good electrical condition, and wire size is sufficient for the charger's AC ampere rating (refer to Section 8).
• Do not operate the charger with a damaged cord or plug; replace them immediately.
• Do not operate the charger if it has received a sharp blow, been dropped, or otherwise damaged; take it to a qualified serviceman.
• Do not disassemble the charger; take it to a qualified serviceman when service or repair is required. Incorrect reassembly may result in electric shock or fire.
• To reduce the risk of electric shock, unplug the charger from the outlet before any maintenance or cleaning. Turning off controls will not reduce this risk.

Warning: Risk of Explosive Gases.

• Working in the vicinity of a lead-acid battery is dangerous. Batteries generate explosive gases during normal operation. It is of utmost importance to follow these instructions each time the charger is used.
• To reduce the risk of battery explosion, follow these instructions and those published by the battery manufacturer and the manufacturer of any equipment used near the battery. Review cautionary markings on these products and on the engine.

2. Personal Safety Precautions

• Consider having someone close by to assist when working near a lead-acid battery.
• Have plenty of fresh water and soap nearby in case battery acid contacts skin, clothing, or eyes.
• Wear complete eye and clothing protection. Avoid touching eyes while working near the battery.
• If battery acid contacts skin or clothing, wash immediately with soap and water. If acid enters the eye, immediately flood the eye with running cold water for at least 10 minutes and get medical attention.
• Never smoke or allow a spark or flame in the vicinity of the battery or engine.
• Be extra cautious to reduce the risk of dropping a metal tool onto the battery. It might spark or short-circuit the battery or other electrical parts, which could cause an explosion.
• Remove personal metal items such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, and watches when working with a lead-acid battery. A lead-acid battery can produce a short-circuit current high enough to weld metal, causing severe burns.
• Use the charger only for charging lead-acid (STD, AGM, Gel, or deep-cycle) rechargeable batteries. It is not recommended for batteries smaller than 24Ah. It is not intended to supply power to a low voltage electrical system other than in a starter-motor application. Do not use the battery charger for charging dry-cell batteries, as they may burst and cause injury or property damage.
• Never charge a frozen battery.

3. Preparing to Charge

• If removing the battery from the vehicle to charge, always remove the grounded terminal first. Ensure all vehicle accessories are off to prevent arcing.
• Ensure the area around the battery is well ventilated while charging.
• Clean battery terminals. Be careful to prevent corrosion from contacting eyes.
• Add distilled water to each cell until the battery acid reaches the level specified by the battery manufacturer. Do not overfill. For batteries without removable cell caps (e.g., valve-regulated lead-acid batteries), carefully follow the manufacturer's recharging instructions.
• Study all battery manufacturer's specific precautions and recommended charge rates.
• Determine the battery voltage by referring to the car owner's manual and ensure the charger's output voltage selector switch is set correctly. If the charger has an adjustable charge rate, charge initially at the lowest rate.

4. Charger Location

• Locate the charger as far away from the battery as DC cables permit.
• Never place the charger directly above the battery being charged; gases from the battery will corrode and damage the charger.
• Never allow battery acid to drip on the charger when reading electrolyte specific gravity or filling the battery.
• Do not operate the charger in a closed-in area or restrict ventilation.
• Do not set a battery on top of the charger.

5. DC Connection Precautions

• Connect and disconnect DC output clips only after setting any charger switches to 'off' and removing the AC cord from the electric outlet. Never allow clips to touch each other.
• Attach clips to the battery and chassis as indicated in Sections 6 and 7.

6. Follow These Steps When Battery Is Installed in Vehicle

Warning: A spark near the battery may cause a battery explosion. To reduce the risk of a spark near the battery:

• Position AC and DC cords to reduce the risk of damage by the hood, door, or moving engine parts.
• Stay clear of fan blades, belts, pulleys, and other parts that can cause injury.
• Check the polarity of battery posts. The POSITIVE (POS, P, +) post usually has a larger diameter than the NEGATIVE (NEG, N, −) post.
• Determine which battery post is grounded (connected) to the chassis.
• For negative-grounded vehicles: Connect the POSITIVE (RED) clip from the battery charger to the POSITIVE (POS, P, +) ungrounded post of the battery. Connect the NEGATIVE (BLACK) clip to the vehicle chassis or engine block away from the battery. Do not connect to the carburetor, fuel lines, or sheet-metal body parts. Connect to a heavy gauge metal part of the frame or engine block.
• For positive-grounded vehicles: Connect the NEGATIVE (BLACK) clip from the battery charger to the NEGATIVE (NEG, N, −) ungrounded post of the battery. Connect the POSITIVE (RED) clip to the vehicle chassis or engine block away from the battery. Do not connect to the carburetor, fuel lines, or sheet-metal body parts. Connect to a heavy gauge metal part of the frame or engine block.
• When disconnecting the charger, turn switches to off, disconnect the AC cord, remove the clip from the vehicle chassis, and then remove the clip from the battery terminal.
• See Operating Instructions for charge information.

7. Follow These Steps When Battery Is Outside Vehicle

Warning: A spark near the battery may cause a battery explosion. To reduce the risk of a spark near the battery:

• Check the polarity of battery posts. The POSITIVE (POS, P, +) post usually has a larger diameter than the NEGATIVE (NEG, N, −) post.
• Attach at least a 24-inch-long 6-gauge (AWG) insulated battery cable to the NEGATIVE (NEG, N, −) battery post.
• Connect the POSITIVE (RED) charger clip to the POSITIVE (POS, P, +) post of the battery.
• Position yourself and the free end of the cable as far away from the battery as possible – then connect the NEGATIVE (BLACK) charger clip to the free end of the cable.
• Do not face the battery when making the final connection.
• When disconnecting the charger, always do so in reverse sequence of the connecting procedure and break the first connection while as far away from the battery as practical.
• A marine (boat) battery must be removed and charged on shore. To charge it on board requires equipment specially designed for marine use.

8. Grounding and AC Power Cord Connections

• This battery charger is for use on a nominal 120 volt circuit. The plug must be plugged into an outlet that is properly installed and grounded in accordance with all local codes and ordinances. The plug pins must fit the receptacle (outlet). Do not use with an ungrounded system.

• Danger: Never alter the AC cord or plug provided. If it does not fit the outlet, have a proper grounded outlet installed by a qualified electrician. An improper connection can result in electric shock or electrocution.

  Note: Pursuant to Canadian Regulations, the use of an adapter plug is not allowed in Canada. The use of an adapter plug in the United States is not recommended and should not be used.

• Using an Extension Cord

  The use of an extension cord is not recommended. If an extension cord must be used, follow these guidelines:

  • Pins on the plug of the extension cord must be the same number, size, and shape as those of the plug on the charger.
  • Ensure the extension cord is properly wired and in good electrical condition.
  • Wire size must be large enough for the AC ampere rating of the charger, as specified:

  Length of cord (feet)	25	50	100	150
  AWG* size of cord	18	18	16	14

  *AWG-American Wire Gauge

9. Assembly Instructions

• Remove all cord wraps and uncoil the cables prior to using the battery charger.

10. Control Panel

Start/Stop Button

Press to immediately begin charging your properly connected battery. If the button is not pressed, charging should begin in ten minutes.

Charging Status LED Indicators

• Charging (yellow/orange) LED lit: The charger is charging the battery.
• Charged (green) LED lit: The battery is fully charged and the charger is in maintain mode.
• Clamps Reversed (red) LED flashing: The connections are reversed.
• Bad Battery (red) LED lit: The charger has detected a problem with the battery. See Troubleshooting for more information.

Note: See Operating Instructions for a complete description of the charger modes.

Digital Display

The display will show the battery VOLTAGE when the charger is not charging a battery. When it goes into charging mode, the display will automatically change to 'On' (to show charging has started) and then show the percent-of-charge of the battery being charged and either 6 or 12 (the voltage of the battery, determined by the charger). If you manually stop the charging process (by pressing the START/STOP button) before the battery is fully charged, the display will show 'OFF'.

Note: During charging, the display will go into sleep mode and will not show the percentage of charge or voltage of the battery. To turn the display back on, press any button.

• Voltage: The Digital Display shows the voltage at the charger battery clamps in DC volts, or the voltage of the battery, depending on what mode the charger is in.
• %: The Digital Display shows an estimated charge percent of the battery connected to the charger battery clamps.

Charge Rate

The charger will automatically adjust the charging current, based on battery size, to charge the battery completely, efficiently, and safely.

Rate Selection Button

Use this button to set the maximum charge rate. Press the button until the desired charge rate is selected.

• 3A: For charging small batteries, such as those commonly used in garden tractors, snowmobiles, and motorcycles. Also used to maintain fully charged large batteries.
• 15A: For charging automotive, marine, and light truck batteries. Not intended for industrial applications.

Battery Type Button

Use this button to select the battery type.

• Standard: Used in cars, trucks, and motorcycles, these batteries have vent caps and are often marked "low maintenance" or "maintenance-free". This type of battery is designed to deliver quick bursts of energy (such as starting engines) and has a greater plate count. The plates are thinner and have somewhat different material composition. Standard batteries should not be used for deep-cycle applications.
• AGM: The Absorbed Glass Mat construction allows the electrolyte to be suspended in close proximity with the plate's active material. In theory, this enhances both discharge and recharge efficiency. AGM batteries are a variant of Sealed VRLA (valve regulated lead-acid) batteries. Popular uses include high-performance engine starting, power sports, deep-cycle, solar, and storage batteries.
• GEL: The electrolyte in a GEL cell has a silica additive that causes it to set up or stiffen. The recharge voltages on this type of cell are lower than those for other styles of lead-acid battery. This is probably the most sensitive cell in terms of adverse reactions to overvoltage charging. Gel batteries are best used in VERY DEEP cycle applications and may last a bit longer in hot weather applications. If the wrong battery charger is used on a gel cell battery, poor performance and premature failure will result.

11. Operating Instructions

Warning: A spark near the battery may cause an explosion.

Important: Do not start the vehicle with the charger connected to the AC outlet, or it could result in damage to the charger.

Note: This charger is equipped with an auto-start feature. Current will not be supplied to the battery clamps until a battery is properly connected. The clamps will not spark if touched together.

Charging a Battery in the Vehicle

1. Turn off all the vehicle's accessories.
2. Keep the hood open.
3. Clean the battery terminals.
4. Place the charger on a dry, non-flammable surface.
5. Lay the AC/DC cables away from any fan blades, belts, pulleys, and other moving parts.
6. Connect the battery, following the precautions listed in Sections 6 and 7.
7. Connect the charger to a live grounded AC outlet.
8. Select the battery type and charge rate.
9. Charging will begin within ten minutes and finish automatically. (Press the START/STOP button to begin charging immediately.)
10. When charging is complete, disconnect the charger from the AC power, remove the clamps from the vehicle's chassis, and then remove the clamp from the battery terminal.

Charging a Battery Outside of the Vehicle

1. Place the battery in a well-ventilated area.
2. Clean the battery terminals.
3. Connect the battery, following the precautions listed in Sections 6 and 7.
4. Connect the charger to a live grounded AC outlet.
5. Select the battery type and charge rate.
6. Charging will begin within ten minutes and finish automatically. (Press the START/STOP button to begin charging immediately.)
7. When charging is complete, disconnect the charger from the AC power, disconnect the negative clamp, and finally the positive clamp.
8. A marine (boat) battery must be removed and charged on shore.

Automatic Charging Mode

When an Automatic Charge is performed, the charger switches to the maintain mode automatically after the battery is charged.

Battery Charging Times

Times are based on a 50% discharged battery and may change, depending on the age and condition of the battery.

Aborted Charge

If charging cannot be completed normally, charging will abort. When charging aborts, the charger's output is shut off and the BAD BATTERY (red) LED will light. The digital display will show an error code (see the Troubleshooting section for a description of the error codes). Do not continue attempting to charge this battery. Check the battery and replace, if necessary.

Desulfation Mode

Desulfation could take 8 to 10 hours. During this time, the display will show "SUL" and the BAD BATTERY (red) LED will light. If desulfation fails, charging will abort, the display will show "F02" and the BAD BATTERY (red) LED will stay on.

Completion of Charge

Charge completion is indicated by the CHARGED (green) LED. When lit, the charger has switched to the maintain mode of operation.

Maintain Mode (Float-Mode Monitoring)

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. If the charger has to provide its maximum maintain current for a continuous 12 hour period, it will go into abort mode (see Aborted Charge section). This is usually caused by a drain on the battery or the battery could be bad. Make sure there are no loads on the battery. If there are, remove them. If there are none, have the battery checked or replaced.

Maintaining a Battery

The SC1280 charges and maintains 6-volt and 12-volt batteries.

Note: The maintain mode technology allows for safe charging and maintenance of a healthy battery for extended periods. However, battery problems, vehicle electrical problems, improper connections, or other unanticipated conditions could cause excessive current draws. Occasional monitoring of the battery and charging process is required.

Using the Battery Voltage Tester

1. With the charger unplugged from the AC outlet, connect the charger to the battery following the instructions given in previous sections.
2. Plug the charger AC power cord into the AC outlet.
3. If necessary, press the BATTERY TYPE button until the correct type is indicated.
4. Read the voltage on the digital display. Keep in mind that this reading is only a battery voltage reading; a false surface charge may mislead you. Compare the reading to the chart below.

Power-Up Idle Time Limit

If no button is pressed within 30 seconds after the battery charger is first powered up, the charger will automatically switch from tester to charger if a battery is connected. In that case, the charger will be set to charge at the 15A rate and AGM battery type.

12. Maintenance and Care

• A minimal amount of care can keep your battery charger working properly for years.
• Clean the clamps each time charging is finished. Wipe off any battery fluid that may have come in contact with the clamps to prevent corrosion.
• Occasionally clean the case of the charger with a soft cloth to keep the finish shiny and help prevent corrosion.
• Coil the input and output cords neatly when storing the charger. This will help prevent accidental damage to the cords and charger.
• Store the charger unplugged from the AC power outlet in an upright position.
• Store inside, in a cool, dry place. Do not store the clamps clipped together, on or around metal, or clipped to the cables.

13. Troubleshooting/Error Codes

Error Codes

If you get an error code, check the connections and settings and/or replace the battery.

Troubleshooting

14. Before Returning for Repairs

If these solutions do not eliminate the problem, or for more information about troubleshooting, contact customer service for assistance:

• Email: services@schumacherelectric.com
• Website: www.batterychargers.com
• Phone: 1-800-621-5485

For repair or return, contact Customer Service at 1-800-621-5485. Do not ship the unit until a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number is received from Customer Service at Schumacher Electric Corporation.

15. Specifications

16. Limited Warranty

Warranty not valid in Mexico.

Schumacher Electric Corporation, 801 Business Center Drive, Mount Prospect, IL 60056-2179, makes this limited warranty to the original retail purchaser of this product. This limited warranty is not transferable or assignable.

Schumacher Electric Corporation (the “Manufacturer”) warrants this battery charger for two (2) years from the date of purchase at retail against defective material or workmanship that may occur under normal use and care. If the unit is not free from defective material or workmanship, the Manufacturer's obligation under this warranty is solely to repair or replace the product with a new or reconditioned unit at the option of the Manufacturer. It is the obligation of the purchaser to forward the unit, along with proof of purchase and mailing charges prepaid to the Manufacturer or its authorized representatives, for repair or replacement to occur.

The Manufacturer does not provide any warranty for any accessories used with this product that are not manufactured by Schumacher Electric Corporation and approved for use with this product. This Limited Warranty is void if the product is misused, subjected to careless handling, repaired, or modified by anyone other than the Manufacturer, or if this unit is resold through an unauthorized retailer.

The Manufacturer makes no other warranties, including, but not limited to, express, implied, or statutory warranties, including without limitation, any implied warranty of merchantability or implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose. Further, the Manufacturer shall not be liable for any incidental, special, or consequential damage claims incurred by purchasers, users, or others associated with this product, including, but not limited to, lost profits, revenues, anticipated sales, business opportunities, goodwill, business interruption, and any other injury or damage. Any and all such warranties, other than the limited warranty included herein, are hereby expressly disclaimed and excluded. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages or length of implied warranty, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and it is possible you may have other rights which vary from this warranty.

This limited warranty is the only express limited warranty and the manufacturer neither assumes nor authorizes anyone to assume or make any other obligation towards the product other than this warranty.

Schumacher® and the Schumacher logo are registered trademarks of Schumacher Electric Corporation.

Warranty Card / Tarjeta de Garantía

To activate your warranty faster, register your product online at www.batterychargers.com. If internet access is unavailable, a physical warranty card can be mailed to Schumacher Electric Corporation, 801 Business Center Drive, Mount Prospect, IL 60056-2179.