Sears Automobile Battery Charger 287124 User Guide

OPERATOR’S MANUAL  
6v/12v Manual  
Battery charger  
& Engine Starter  
Model No.  
28.71240  
Read and follow all Safety  
Rules and Operating Instructions  
before Every Use of this Product.  
SAvE ThESE INSTRUcTIONS.  
Sears Brands Management corporation, hoffman Estates, IL 60179 U.S.A.  
00-99-001014/0510  
 
TABLE Of cONTENTS  
SEcTION  
PAgE  
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS  
PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS  
PREPARING TO CHARGE  
2
3
3
4
4
CHARGER LOCATION  
DC CONNECTION PRECAUTIONS  
FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY IS INSTALLED IN VEHICLE  
FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY IS OUTSIDE VEHICLE  
GROUNDING AND AC POWER CORD CONNECTIONS  
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS  
5
6
7
7
FEATURES/CONTROL PANEL  
10  
11  
12  
12  
13  
13  
15  
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS  
CALCULATING CHARGE TIME  
MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS  
MOVING AND STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS  
TROUBLESHOOTING  
BEFORE RETURNING FOR REPAIRS  
DIEhARD ThREE-YEAR fULL WARRANTY  
When operated and maintained according to all supplied instructions, if this DieHard  
product fails due to a defect in material or workmanship within 3 years from the date  
of purchase, return it to any DieHard outlet in the United States for free replacement.  
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights  
which vary from state to state.  
Sears Brands Management Corporation, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179  
fOR cUSTOMER ASSISTANcE OR REPLAcEMENT PARTS,  
cALL TOLL-fREE fROM 7 AM TO 5 PM cT  
MONDAY ThROUgh fRIDAY: 1-800-732-7764  
 
IMPORTANT: READ AND SAvE ThIS SAfETY AND INSTRUcTION MANUAL.  
SAvE ThESE INSTRUcTIONS – The 71240 battery charger offers a wide  
range of features to accommodate your needs. This manual will show you how  
to use your charger safely and effectively. Please read, understand and follow  
these instructions and precautions carefully, as this manual contains important  
safety and operating instructions. The safety messages used throughout this  
manual contain a signal word, a message and an icon.  
The signal word indicates the level of the hazard in a situation.  
Indicates an imminently hazardous situation which, if not avoided,  
will result in death or serious injury to the operator or bystanders.  
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided,  
could result in death or serious injury to the operator or bystanders.  
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided,  
could result in moderate or minor injury to the operator  
or bystanders.  
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided,  
could result in damage to the equipment or vehicle or  
property damage.  
Safety messages in this manual contain two different sentence styles.  
Unnumbered sentences state the hazard.  
Numbered sentences state how to avoid the hazard.  
The icon gives a graphical description of the potential hazard.  
Pursuant to California Proposition 65, this product contains chemicals  
known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or  
other reproductive harm.  
1 •  
 
1.  
IMPORTANT SAfETY INSTRUcTIONS - SAvE ThESE INSTRUcTIONS -  
This manual contains important safety and operating instructions  
RISK Of ELEcTRIc ShOcK OR fIRE.  
1.1  
1.2  
1.3  
Keep out of reach of children.  
Do not expose the charger to rain or snow.  
Use only recommended attachments. 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 or damage to property.  
1.4  
1.5  
To reduce the risk of damage to the electric plug or 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:  
That the pins on the plug of the extension cord are the same number, size  
and shape as those of the plug on the charger.  
That the extension cord is properly wired and in good electrical condition.  
That the wire size is large enough for the AC ampere rating of the charger  
as specified in section 8.  
1.6  
1.7  
1.8  
1.9  
To reduce the risk of electric shock, unplug the charger from the outlet  
before attempting any maintenance or cleaning. Simply turning off the  
controls will not reduce this risk.  
Do not operate the charger with a damaged cord or plug; have the cord or plug  
replaced immediately by a qualified service person. (Call customer service at:  
1-800-732-7764.)  
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 service person. (Call  
customer service at: 1-800-732-7764.)  
Do not disassemble the charger; take it to a qualified service person when  
service or repair is required. Incorrect reassembly may result in a risk of fire or  
electric shock. (Call customer service at: 1-800-732-7764.)  
RISK Of EXPLOSIvE gASES.  
1.10 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 ALL INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL EACH TIME YOU  
USE THE CHARGER.  
1.11 To reduce the risk of a battery explosion, follow all instructions in this manual  
and those published by the battery manufacturer and the manufacturer of  
any equipment you intend to use in the vicinity of the battery. Review the  
cautionary markings on these products and on the engine.  
2 •  
 
2.  
PERSONAL PREcAUTIONS  
RISK Of EXPLOSIvE gASES.  
2.1  
2.2  
NEVER smoke or allow a spark or flame in the vicinity of a battery or engine.  
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.  
2.3  
2.4  
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 part that may cause  
an explosion.  
Use this charger for charging LEAD-ACID batteries only. It is not intended to  
supply power to a low voltage electrical system other than in a starter-motor  
application. Do not use this 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.  
2.5  
2.6  
2.7  
NEVER charge a frozen battery.  
NEVER overcharge a battery.  
Consider having someone close enough by to come to your aid when you work  
near a lead-acid battery.  
2.8  
2.9  
Have plenty of fresh water and soap nearby in case battery acid contacts your  
skin, clothing or eyes.  
Wear complete eye and body protection, including safety goggles and  
protective clothing. Avoid touching your eyes while working near the battery.  
2.10 If battery acid contacts your skin or clothing, immediately wash the area with  
soap and water. If acid enters your eye, immediately flood the eye with cold  
running water for at least 10 minutes and get medical attention right away.  
2.11 If battery acid is accidentally swallowed, drink milk, the whites of eggs or water.  
DO NOT induce vomiting. Seek medical attention immediately.  
3.  
PREPARINg TO chARgE  
RISK Of cONTAcT WITh BATTERY AcID.  
BATTERY AcID IS A hIghLY cORROSIvE  
SULfURIc AcID.  
3.1  
If it is necessary to remove the battery from the vehicle to charge it, always  
remove the grounded terminal first. Make sure all of the accessories in the  
vehicle are off to prevent arcing.  
3.2  
3.3  
Be sure the area around the battery is well ventilated while the battery is  
being charged.  
Clean the battery terminals before charging the battery. During cleaning, keep  
airborne corrosion from coming into contact with your eyes, nose and mouth.  
Use baking soda and water to neutralize the battery acid and help eliminate  
airborne corrosion. Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth.  
3 •  
 
3.4  
3.5  
3.6  
Add distilled water to 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 (VRLA), carefully follow  
the manufacturer’s recharging instructions.  
Read, understand and follow all instructions for the charger, battery, vehicle  
and any equipment used near the battery and charger. Study all of the battery  
manufacturer’s specific precautions while charging and recommended rates  
of charge.  
Determine the voltage of the battery by referring to the vehicle owner’s manual  
and make sure that the output voltage selector switch is set to the correct  
voltage. If the charger has an adjustable charge rate, charge the battery in the  
lowest rate first.  
3.7  
4.  
Make sure that the charger cable clips make tight connections.  
chARgER LOcATION  
RISK Of EXPLOSION AND  
cONTAcT WITh BATTERY AcID.  
4.1  
4.2  
Locate the charger as far away from the battery as the DC cables permit.  
Never place the charger directly above the battery being charged; gases from  
the battery will corrode and damage the charger.  
4.3  
4.4  
Do not set the battery on top of the charger.  
Never allow battery acid to drip onto the charger when reading the electrolyte  
specific gravity or filling the battery.  
4.5  
Do not operate the charger in a closed-in area or restrict the ventilation in  
any way.  
5.  
Dc cONNEcTION PREcAUTIONS  
5.1  
Connect and disconnect the DC output clips only after setting all of the charger  
switches to the “off” position (if applicable) and removing the AC plug from the  
electrical outlet. Never allow the clips to touch each other.  
5.2  
Attach the clips to the battery and chassis, as indicated in sections 6 and 7.  
4 •