Motomaster Classic Series Battery Charger

Introduction

The MotoMaster® Classic Series Battery Charger features advanced technology designed to make battery charging faster, easier, and safer, while helping to maximize the performance and lifespan of your batteries.

This charger is designed for use with all types of 12-volt lead-acid batteries, including Wet (flooded), Maintenance-free (MF), Calcium (Ca), Enhanced Flooded (EFB), Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM), and Gel. It is suitable for charging batteries rated from 10 to 160 Amp-hours and maintaining batteries from 10 to 400 Amp-hours.

This manual provides instructions on how to use the charger safely and effectively. Please read and follow these instructions and precautions carefully.

Important Safety Instructions

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.

• Read all instructions, warnings, and cautions printed on the battery charger, battery, and vehicle or equipment using the battery.
• ? DO NOT expose the charger to rain or snow.
• Use of an attachment not recommended or sold by the battery charger manufacturer may result in a risk of fire, electric shock, or injury to persons.
• To reduce the risk of damage to the electric plug and cord, pull by the plug rather than the cord when disconnecting the charger.
• An extension cord should not be used unless absolutely necessary. Use of an improper extension cord could result in a risk of fire and electric shock. If an extension cord must be used, make sure:
  • The pins on the plug of the extension cord are the same number, size, and shape as those of the plug on the charger.
  • The extension cord is properly wired and in good electrical condition.
  • The wire size is large enough for the AC ampere rating of the charger, as specified in the chart below.
• ? DO NOT operate the charger with a damaged cord or plug—replace the cord or plug immediately.
• ? DO NOT operate the charger if it has received a sharp blow, been dropped, or otherwise damaged in any way—take it to a qualified serviceman.
• ? DO NOT disassemble the charger. Take it to a qualified service professional if service or repair is required. Incorrect assembly may result in fire or electric shock.

Warning: Risk of Explosive Gases

⚠️ WORKING IN THE VICINITY OF A LEAD-ACID BATTERY IS DANGEROUS. BATTERIES GENERATE EXPLOSIVE GASES DURING NORMAL BATTERY OPERATION. FOR THIS REASON, IT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT YOU FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS EACH TIME YOU USE THE CHARGER.

To reduce the risk of battery explosion, follow these instructions and those published by the battery manufacturer and the manufacturer of any equipment you intend to use in the vicinity of the battery. Review cautionary markings on these products and on the engine.

Personal Safety Instructions

• Consider having someone close by to come to your aid when you work 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 protection 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 immediately.
• NEVER smoke or allow a spark or flame in the vicinity of the battery or engine.
• Take extra precautions to avoid dropping a metal tool onto the battery. It may spark or create a short circuit that can 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 a ring or the like to metal, causing a severe burn.
• Use the charger for charging a LEAD-ACID battery only. 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 that are commonly used with home appliances. These batteries may burst and cause injury to persons and damage to property.
• NEVER charge a frozen battery.

AC Electrical Connections

Plugging Charger In

Your charger requires a 120 V AC electrical wall outlet receptacle installed according to local codes and ordinances.

Using an Extension Cord

An extension cord should not be used unless absolutely necessary. Use of an improper extension cord could result in a risk of fire and electric shock. If an extension cord must be used, make sure:

• The pins on the plug of the extension cord are the same number, size, and shape as those of the plug on the charger.
• The extension cord is properly wired and in good electrical condition.
• The wire size is large enough for the AC ampere rating of the charger, as specified in the chart below.

Minimum Recommended Extension Cord

*AWG = American Wire Gauge

Preparing to Charge

• If it is necessary to remove the battery from the vehicle to charge, always remove the grounded terminal from the battery first. Make sure all accessories in the vehicle are off so as not to cause an arc.
• Be sure the area around the battery is well ventilated while the battery is being charged.
• Clean battery terminals. Be careful to keep corrosion from coming in contact with eyes.
• Add distilled water in each cell until the battery acid reaches the level specified by the battery manufacturer. Do not overfill. For a battery without removable cell caps, such as valve-regulated lead-acid batteries, carefully follow the manufacturer's recharging instructions.
• Study all battery manufacturer's specific precautions while charging and follow recommended rates of charge.
• Determine the voltage of the battery by referring to the car owner's manual and make sure that the output voltage selector switch is set at the correct voltage. If the charger has an adjustable charge rate, charge the battery initially at the lowest rate.

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 in any way.
• Do not set a battery on top of the charger.

DC Connection Precautions

• Connect and disconnect DC output clips only after removing the AC cord from the electrical outlet. Never allow clips to touch each other.
• Attach clips to the battery and chassis as indicated in the "Connecting Your Battery" section.

Connecting Your Battery

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 risk of damage by hood, door, or moving engine part.
• Stay clear of fan blades, belts, pulleys, and other parts that can cause injury to persons.
• Check polarity of battery posts. The POSITIVE (POS, P, +) battery post usually has a larger diameter than the NEGATIVE (NEG, N, -) post.
• Determine which post of the battery is grounded (connected) to the chassis. If the negative post is grounded to the chassis (as in most vehicles), see "For negative-grounded vehicle". If the positive post is grounded to the chassis, see "For positive-grounded vehicle".
• For a negative-grounded vehicle, 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 the clip to the carburetor, fuel lines, or sheet-metal body parts. Connect to a heavy-gauge metal part of the frame or engine block.
• For a positive-grounded vehicle, 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 the clip 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.

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 polarity of battery posts. POSITIVE (POS, P, +) battery post usually has a larger diameter than NEGATIVE (NEG, N, -) post.
• Attach at least a 24" (61 cm) 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 the 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.

⚠️ WARNING: A SPARK NEAR A BATTERY MAY CAUSE A BATTERY EXPLOSION! Battery chargers may get hot during operation. DO NOT set charger on flammable materials like carpeting, upholstery, paper, cardboard, etc. Charger may damage leather and plastic.

Controls and Indicators

The Motomaster Classic Series Battery Charger features a digital display and status indicators to provide information about the charging process.

A. Digital Display

During charging, the digital display will alternate between Volts (V), Amps (A), and Battery State of Charge (%). It can also display Fault Codes if a charging error is detected.

• Volts: Actual charging voltage will be displayed. Charging voltage can reach up to 14.4 V—this is normal and required to effectively charge a 12-volt battery.
• Amps: Actual charging amperage will be displayed. While you may select 2 A, 4 A, or 8 A charge modes, these are maximum currents, and the battery charger will reduce the actual current delivered to the battery based on feedback from the battery and other factors.
• Stage of Charge: The approximate battery state of charge is displayed. A reading of "LO" indicates that the battery is below 50% state of charge. Above 50%, the percentage will display in 10% increments between 60% to 90% capacity. Once the battery is fully charged, the display will read "100%". NOTE: About 30 minutes after reaching full charge, the battery charger will enter a power-saving mode and the digital display will turn off.
• Fault Codes: The charger will continuously monitor charge progress and collect feedback from the battery during charging. In the event an abnormal condition is detected, charging will stop and a fault code (e.g., "F01") may be displayed. (See "Troubleshooting/Fault Codes" for possible causes and solutions.) NOTE: A fault condition will also be indicated by the ⚠️ LED illuminating.

B. Charge Status Indicators

• CHARGING LED: Indicates the battery is charging.
• CHARGED/MAINTAINING LED: Indicates charging is complete and the battery charger has entered the Maintain stage. (See Understanding Charging Stages.)
• ⚠️ LED: Indicates one of three possible error conditions:
  • Amber (solid): No battery detected. Check to ensure that clamp connections to the battery posts are clean and solid. If connections are good, the battery is severely discharged (<1.5 V) and may be unsafe to charge. The battery should be tested or replaced.
  • Red (flashing): A fault has been detected and charging has been aborted. Check the digital display for a Fault Code and see "Troubleshooting/Fault Codes" for possible causes and solutions.
  • Red (solid): Reverse polarity has been detected. Reverse clamp connections.

C. Charging Modes

There are 4 charging modes to choose from. Pressing the MODE button repeatedly will cycle through each of the charge modes. See below for an overview of each mode. Charging will automatically begin about 5 seconds after the charge mode has been selected.

NOTE: The battery charger will retain the last selected mode in memory. In the event AC power is disrupted (e.g., power failure), the charger will re-start in the last selected mode once power is restored.

*About the 2 A<>8 A mode—To help a battery deliver its maximum performance and lifespan, it is important to charge it at a rate that is appropriate and safe for its capacity. Charging a battery at too high a charge rate, while fast, can overheat a battery and shorten its expected life. Conversely, charging a battery at too low a charge rate, while safer, can take unnecessarily long and can even result in the battery never truly reaching full charge. In the "2 A<>8 A" mode, the charger starts charging at a low, safe current and gradually increases the rate as the battery demonstrates it can accept a higher current. The result is a balance between shortest charging time and safely charging a battery to its utmost capacity.

Examples of Battery Sizes in Common Applications

For reference only. Please check the specifications listed on your battery or consult with the battery manufacturer.

Charging Your Battery

1. Connect the charger clamps to the battery (following the steps outlined in "Connecting Your Battery").
2. Plug the charger AC plug into an electrical outlet. NOTE: If a fault or error is detected, the ⚠️ LED will illuminate (see Charge Status Indicators).
3. Press the MODE button to select a charging program. NOTE: If no selection is made within 5 seconds, the charger will default to the last selection in memory and automatically begin charging.
4. Your battery is fully charged when the CHARGED/MAINTAINING LED illuminates and the display reads "100%". NOTE: Your battery is ready to start an engine once it reaches 80%.
5. Stop charging at any time by disconnecting the charger AC plug from the electrical outlet.

Understanding Factors That Affect Charging Time

The time it takes to fully recharge a battery depends on several factors including:

1. Battery Depth of Discharge: The greater the depth of discharge, the longer it will take to fully charge a battery. For example, a battery discharged to a level of 50% will take about twice as long to fully charge than a battery discharged only 25%.
2. Battery Size: If charged at the same current, a larger (higher capacity) battery will require more time to fully charge than a smaller (lower capacity) battery. This difference can be overcome by charging larger batteries at a higher current.
3. Battery Age and Condition: As a battery ages, its internal resistance will increase, impacting its ability to accept current. This effect is particularly noticeable in batteries that have not been well-maintained over their life.
4. Battery Type: Some battery chemistries, such as AGM and gel, have lower internal resistance, which means they can accept charge better without generating damaging heat. Such batteries can charge up to 2 times faster than traditional wet battery types.
5. Charge Rate: The charge rate is measured in amperes (A). A battery charged at a lower rate will take longer to fully charge than a battery charged at a higher rate. This does not mean that one should always charge a battery at the highest ampere available, as this can cause overheating and premature battery failure. A battery should be charged at a rate appropriate for its size—a good, safe rule of thumb is about 1/10th its Amp-hour capacity (e.g., 100 Ah battery x 1/10 = 10 A).
6. Cold Temperature: Cold temperatures slow down the chemical reaction that takes place inside a battery when it is charging. Charging a battery at a cold temperature can greatly increase the amount of time required to charge the battery. Ideal charging temperature is between 10 to 25 °C (50 to 77°F).

Understanding the Multi-Stage Charging Process

The charger utilizes a 6-stage charging process:

Stage 1: Desulphation* - Pulses of voltage and current help recover sulphated or deeply discharged batteries. (*If necessary)

Stage 2: Soft Start* - Gently introduces current to condition deeply discharged batteries and prevent overheating that could damage the battery. (*If necessary)

Stage 3: Bulk - Charging with maximum current to bring the battery to about 80% capacity.

Stage 4: Absorption - Charging with constant voltage while reducing current to safely bring the battery to 100% capacity. This stage is key to maximizing battery performance and battery life.

Stage 5: Analyze - Tests if the battery is holding charge.

Stage 6: Maintenance - Monitors battery voltage and provides top-up charging when necessary to keep the battery fully charged.

Maintenance and Care

• Wipe clean cords and clamps after each use.
• Store the power and output cables neatly to prevent damage.
• The charger housing may be cleaned using a damp cloth and mild cleaning agent.
• Always unplug the charger when not in use.
• Keep the charger stored in a cool, dry place.

Troubleshooting/Fault Codes

Technical Specifications