IMpORTANT SAFETy INSTRUcTIONS
1. SAVE THESE INSTRUcTIONS –
7. Do not operate charger if it has received a sharp
This manual contains important safety and
operating instructions for this battery charger.
blow, been dropped, or otherwise damaged in
any way; take it to a qualified serviceman.
2. Do not expose charger to rain or snow.
8. Do not disassemble charger; take it to a
qualified serviceman when service or repair
is required. Incorrect reassembly may
result in a risk of electric shock or fire.
3. 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.
9. To reduce risk of electric shock, unplug charger
from outlet before attempting any maintenance or
cleaning. Turning off controls will not reduce this risk.
4. To reduce risk of damage to electric
plug and cord, pull by plug rather than
cord when disconnecting charger.
10. WARNING – RISK OF EXPLOSIVE GASES.
5. An extension cord should not be used unless
absolutely necessary. Use of improper extension
cord could result in a risk of fire and electric shock.
If an extension cord must be used, make sure:
a. WORKING IN 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.
a. That pins on plug of extension cord
are the same number, size, and shape
as those of plug on charger;
b. That extension cord is properly wired
and in good electrical condition; and
b. To reduce risk of battery explosion, follow
these instructions and those published by
battery manufacturer and manufacturer of
any equipment you intend to use in vicinity
of battery. Review cautionary marking
on these products and on engine.
c. That wire size is large enough for AC ampere
rating of charger as specified in Table A.
Table A: Recommended minimum AWG size
for extension cords for battery chargers
11. PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS
AWG size of cord
Ac input rating, amperes*
a. Consider having someone close
enough by to come to your aid when
you work near a lead-acid battery.
Length of cord, feet
Equal to or
greater than
But less
than
25 50 100 150
b. Have plenty of fresh water and soap nearby in
case battery acid contacts skin, clothing, or eyes.
0
2
2
3
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
16
16
16
14
14
18
18
18
18
16
16
14
14
12
12
12
12
18
16
16
14
14
12
12
10
10
10
8
16
14
14
12
12
10
10
8
c. Wear complete eye protection and
clothing protection. Avoid touching
eyes while working near battery.
3
4
4
5
5
6
d. If battery acid contacts skin or clothing,
wash immediately with soap and water.
If acid enters eye, immediately flood eye with
running cold water for at least 10 minutes
and get medical attention immediately.
6
8
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
10
12
14
16
18
8
e. NEVER smoke or allow a spark or flame
in vicinity of battery or engine.
8
f. Be extra cautious to reduce risk of dropping
a metal tool onto battery. It might spark
or short-circuit battery or other electrical
part that may cause explosion.
8
8
6
* If the input rating of a charger is given in watts rather than in
amperes, the corresponding ampere rating is to be determined by
dividing the wattage rating by the voltage rating – for example:
1250 watts/125 volts = 10 amperes
g. 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.
6. Do not operate charger with damaged cord or plug
– replace the cord or plug immediately.
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Page 3
h. Use 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 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.
15. FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY
IS INSTALLED IN VEHICLE. A SPARK NEAR
BATTERY MAY CAUSE BATTERY EXPLOSION.
TO REDUCE RISK OF A SPARK NEAR BATTERY:
a. Position AC and DC cables to reduce risk of
damage by hood, door, or moving engine part.
b. Stay clear of fan blades, belts, pulleys, and
other parts that can cause injury to persons.
i. NEVER charge a frozen battery.
12. PREPARING TO CHARGE
c. Check polarity of battery posts. POSITIVE
(POS, P, +) battery post usually has larger
diameter than NEGATIVE (NEG, N,–) post.
a. If necessary to remove battery from vehicle
to charge, always remove grounded terminal
from battery first. Make sure all accessories in
the vehicle are off, so as not to cause an arc.
d. Determine which post of battery is grounded
(connected) to the chassis. If negative post is
grounded to chassis (as in most vehicles), see (e).
If positive post is grounded to the chassis, see (f).
b. Be sure area around battery is well
ventilated while battery is being charged.
e. For negative-grounded vehicle, connect
POSITIVE (RED) clip from battery charger to
POSITIVE (POS, P, +) ungrounded post of
battery. Connect NEGATIVE (BLACK) clip to
vehicle chassis or engine block away from battery.
Do not connect clip to carburetor, fuel lines, or
sheet-metal body parts. Connect to a heavy
gauge metal part of the frame or engine block.
c. Clean battery terminals. Be careful to keep
corrosion from coming in contact with eyes.
d. Add distilled water in each cell until battery
acid reaches level specified by battery
manufacturer. Do not overfill. For a battery
without removable cell caps, such as valve
regulated lead acid batteries, carefully follow
manufacturer’s recharging instructions.
f. For positive-grounded vehicle, connect
NEGATIVE (BLACK) clip from battery charger
to NEGATIVE (NEG, N, –) ungrounded post of
battery. Connect POSITIVE (RED) clip to vehicle
chassis or engine block away from battery.
Do not connect clip to carburetor, fuel lines, or
sheet-metal body parts. Connect to a heavy
gauge metal part of the frame or engine block.
e. Study all battery manufacturer’s
specific precautions while charging and
recommended rates of charge.
f. Determine voltage of battery by referring to vehicle
owner’s manual and make sure it matches output
rating of battery charger. If charger has adjustable
charge rate, charge battery initially at lowest rate.
g. When disconnecting charger,
disconnect AC cord, remove clip from
vehicle chassis, and then remove
clip from battery terminal.
13. CHARGER LOCATION
a. Locate charger as far away from
battery as DC cables permit.
h. See operating instructions for
length of charge information.
b. Never place charger directly above
battery being charged; gases from battery
will corrode and damage charger.
16. FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY
IS OUTSIDE VEHICLE. A SPARK NEAR THE
BATTERY MAY CAUSE BATTERY EXPLOSION.
TO REDUCE RISK OF A SPARK NEAR BATTERY:
c. Never allow battery acid to drip on charger when
reading electrolyte specific gravity or filling battery.
d. Do not operate charger in a closed-in
area or restrict ventilation in any way.
a. Check polarity of battery posts. POSITIVE
(POS, P, +) battery post usually has a larger
diameter than NEGATIVE (NEG, N, –) post.
e. Do not set a battery on top of charger.
14. DC CONNECTION PRECAUTIONS
b. Attach at least a 24-inch-long 6-gauge
(AWG) insulated battery cable to
a. Connect and disconnect DC output clips only
after setting any charger switches to “off” position
and removing AC cord from electric outlet.
Never allow clips to touch each other.
NEGATIVE (NEG, N, –) battery post.
c. Connect POSITIVE (RED) charger clip to
POSITIVE (POS, P, +) post of battery.
d. Position yourself and free end of cable
as far away from battery as possible
– then connect NEGATIVE (BLACK)
charger clip to free end of cable.
b. Attach clips to battery and chassis as indicated
in 15(e), 15(f), and 16(b) through 16(d).
e. Do not face battery when making final connection.
Page 4
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Item 60431
f. When disconnecting charger, always do
so in reverse sequence of connecting
procedure and break first connection while
as far away from battery as practical.
24. Do not charge more than one battery at one time.
25. Have your charger serviced by a qualified repair
person using only identical replacement parts.
This will ensure that the safety of
g. A marine (boat) battery must be removed and
charged on shore. To charge it on board requires
equipment specially designed for marine use.
the charger is maintained.
26. Do not use charger while you are tired or under
the influence of drugs, alcohol or medication.
A moment of inattention while operating charger
may result in serious personal injury.
17.
Wear ANSI-approved splash-resistant
safety goggles and heavy-duty rubber
work gloves whenever connecting,
disconnecting, or working near battery.
Battery acid can cause
27. Before moving charger, disconnect power supply
and battery, then allow charger to cool.
permanent blindness.
28. People with pacemakers should consult their
physician(s) before use. Electromagnetic fields in
close proximity to heart pacemaker could cause
pacemaker interference or pacemaker failure.
In addition, people with pacemakers should:
• Avoid operating alone.
18. Maintain labels and nameplates on the charger.
These carry important safety information.
If unreadable or missing, contact
Harbor Freight Tools for a replacement.
19. This product is not a toy.
Keep it out of reach of children.
• Properly maintain and inspect to avoid
electrical shock.
• Properly ground power cord. Ground Fault Circuit
Interrupter (GFCI) should also be implemented
– it prevents sustained electrical shock.
20. Unplug the Battery Charger from its
electrical outlet before connecting its cables
to a battery, or performing any inspection,
maintenance, or cleaning procedures.
29. WARNING: Handling the cord on this product will
expose you to lead, a chemical known to the State of
California to cause cancer, and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling.
(California Health & Safety Code § 25249.5, et seq.)
21. This charger does NOT have an automatic cut off.
It is equipped with a timer. check battery
and time manually; do NOT depend
solely on timer. Leaving charger unattended
can result in fire and property damage.
30. The warnings, precautions, and instructions
discussed in this instruction manual cannot
cover all possible conditions and situations
that may occur. It must be understood by the
operator that common sense and caution are
factors which cannot be built into this product,
but must be supplied by the operator.
22. Use this charger with flooded lead-acid
batteries only. When charging a maintenance-free
battery, always monitor the progress of
the charge by viewing the Charge Meter.
Do not overcharge a maintenance-free battery.
23. Do not attempt to charge non-rechargeable
or defective batteries.
SAVE THESE INSTRUcTIONS.
Grounding and Ac power cord connection Instructions
Charger should be grounded to reduce risk of electric
shock. Charger is equipped with an electric cord
having an equipment-grounding conductor and a
grounding plug. The plug must be plugged into an
outlet that is properly installed and grounded in
accordance with all local codes and ordinances.
DANGER – Never alter AC cord or plug provided
– if it will not fit outlet, have proper outlet installed
by a qualified electrician. Improper connection
can result in a risk of an electric shock.
cAUTION – Risk of Fire or Electric Shock.
Connect battery charger directly to grounding
receptacle (three-prong). An adapter should
not be used with battery charger.
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Page 5
Specifications
Electrical Rating
120VAC / 60Hz / 1.3A
6A, 12V
Charge Settings* 2A, 12V
6A, 6V
6' 7", 18 AWG
Battery Cables
Red = Positive
Black = Negative
3125044
Power Cord
Features
6'
Charge Meter
Self-resetting circuit breaker
*Amperage is only present while connected to a battery.
Page 6
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Item 60431
Operating Instructions
Read the ENTIRE IMpORTANT SAFETy INFORMATION section at the beginning of this
manual including all text under subheadings therein before set up or use of this product.
TO pREVENT SERIOUS INJURy:
Assemble charger according to Assembly Instructions before use.
DO NOT pLUG IN cHARGER UNTIL DIREcTED TO DO SO.
controls
charge Meter (6 amp charge mode only):
100
75
50
25
0
cHARGE LEVEL %
Figure B: DIScHARGED BATTERy
Initial charge current to the battery is at maximum.
Mode
charge Meter
Switch
Figure A: controls
Mode Switch: Use this to set the
voltage/amperage output.
100
75
50
25
0
Note: The Charge Meter 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 100%
on the Charge Meter, a small charge will continue to
move from the charger to the battery. If the charger
is not disconnected from the battery, eventually
heat build up will cause the battery acid to boil and
overcharge the battery causing damage to the battery.
Monitor battery charging progress constantly and
if battery gets warm, stop charging it immediately.
cHARGE LEVEL %
FIGURE c: BATTERy ALMOST FULLy cHARGED
Charge current to the battery is reduced.
100
75
50
25
0
cHARGE LEVEL %
Figure D: FULLy cHARGED BATTERy
Charge current to the battery is minimal
and the green LED is on.
Sometimes conditions such as a cold battery,
a sulfated battery, or a deeply discharged lead calcium
battery may cause Charge Meter to read near
a full charge when charging process is only beginning.
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Page 7
preparing to charge
Use this charger only on flooded lead-acid batteries.
Other batteries may be damaged or may overheat, leak, or catch fire.
TO pREVENT SERIOUS INJURy:
Wear ANSI-approved splash-resistant safety goggles and heavy-duty rubber work gloves
whenever connecting, disconnecting, or working near battery.
Battery acid can cause permanent blindness.
1. If necessary to remove battery from vehicle to
charge, always remove grounded terminal from
battery first. Make sure all accessories in the
vehicle are off, so as not to cause an arc.
6. Determine voltage of battery by referring to vehicle
owner’s manual and make sure it matches output
rating of battery charger. If charger has adjustable
charge rate, charge battery initially at lowest rate.
2. Make sure area around battery is well
ventilated while battery is being charged.
7. A marine (boat) battery must be removed and
charged on shore. To charge it on board requires
equipment specially designed for marine use.
3. Clean battery terminals. Be careful to keep
corrosion from coming in contact with eyes.
SHORTED BATTERIES - will read on
Charge Meter as a high end peg at beginning of
charging process. If after 5-10 minutes, needle
does not move off high end, the battery probably has
a short circuit. Unplug charger and discontinue use.
Have battery checked by a qualified technician.
4. Add distilled water in each cell until battery acid
reaches level specified by battery manufacturer.
Do not overfill. For a battery without
removable cell caps, such as valve
regulated lead acid batteries, carefully follow
manufacturer’s recharging instructions.
cOLD BATTERIES - begin charging at a low rate,
increase as battery reaches a normal temperature,
then rate will decrease normally.
5. Study all battery manufacturer’s specific precautions
while charging and recommended rates of charge.
DO NOT cHARGE A FROZEN BATTERy.
BATTERIES WITH HyDROMETER EyE: Do not depend
on hydrometer eye to determine battery charge level.
charger Location
1. Locate charger as far away from
battery as DC cables permit.
3. Never allow battery acid to drip on charger when
reading electrolyte specific gravity or filling battery.
2. Never place charger directly above battery
being charged; gases from battery will
corrode and damage charger.
4. Do not operate charger in a closed-in area
or restrict ventilation in any way.
5. Do not set a battery on top of charger.
TABLE B: cHARGING RATE/TIME
Battery
Voltage
Switch
Setting
charging
Typical Battery Uses
Time
12 V
12 V
6 V
Right
(12 V, 6 A)
6 to 8 hours Vehicles, machinery with large engines
Center
(12 V, 2 A)
3 to 8 hours Motorcycles, snowmobiles, small engines.
For batteries rated at 28 Ah.
Left
(6 V, 6 A)
6 to 8 hours Vehicles, machinery with large
engines using 6 volt battery
WARNING! TO pREVENT SERIOUS INJURy, FIRE, AND pROpERTy DAMAGE:
Monitor charging during use. This charger is not automatic and can overcharge and damage
a battery if allowed to operate for extended periods of time.
Page 8
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Item 60431
charging Battery Installed in Vehicle
A SpARK NEAR BATTERy MAy cAUSE BATTERy EXpLOSION.
TO REDUcE RISK OF A SpARK NEAR BATTERy FOLLOW THESE INSTRUcTIONS EXAcTLy.
TO pREVENT SERIOUS INJURy:
Wear ANSI-approved splash-resistant safety goggles and heavy-duty rubber work gloves
whenever connecting, disconnecting, or working near battery.
Battery acid can cause permanent blindness.
1. Position AC and DC cables to reduce risk of
damage by hood, door, or moving engine part.
6. For positive-grounded vehicle, connect NEGATIVE
(BLACK) clip from battery charger to NEGATIVE
(NEG, N, –) ungrounded post of battery.
2. Stay clear of fan blades, belts, pulleys, and
other parts that can cause injury to persons.
Connect POSITIVE (RED) clip to vehicle chassis
or engine block away from battery. Do not
connect clip to carburetor, fuel lines, or sheet-
metal body parts. Connect to a heavy gauge
metal part of the frame or engine block.
3. Check polarity of battery posts. POSITIVE
(POS, P, +) battery post usually has larger
diameter than NEGATIVE (NEG, N,–) post.
7. See Table B on page 8 for
length of charge information.
4. Determine which post of battery is grounded
(connected) to the chassis. If negative post is
grounded to chassis (as in most vehicles), see 5.
If positive post is grounded to the chassis, see 6.
Note: If the charger cycles between maximum charge
level and a lower charge level when first connected,
then the battery may be fully charged or nearly fully
charged. Further charging may not be needed.
If charging is attempted, charge at a lower rate and
carefully monitor charge level to avoid battery damage.
5. For negative-grounded vehicle, connect
POSITIVE (RED) clip from battery charger to
POSITIVE (POS, P, +) ungrounded post of battery.
Connect NEGATIVE (BLACK) clip to vehicle
chassis or engine block away from battery.
Do not connect clip to carburetor, fuel lines, or
sheet-metal body parts. Connect to a heavy
gauge metal part of the frame or engine block.
8. When disconnecting charger, disconnect AC cord,
remove clip from vehicle chassis, and then
remove clip from battery terminal.
9. After use clean, then store the charger
indoors out of children’s reach.
charging Battery Outside Vehicle
A SpARK NEAR BATTERy MAy cAUSE BATTERy EXpLOSION.
TO REDUcE RISK OF A SpARK NEAR BATTERy FOLLOW THESE INSTRUcTIONS EXAcTLy.
TO pREVENT SERIOUS INJURy:
Wear ANSI-approved splash-resistant safety goggles and heavy-duty rubber work gloves
whenever connecting, disconnecting, or working near battery.
Battery acid can cause permanent blindness.
1. Check polarity of battery posts. POSITIVE
(POS, P, +) battery post usually has a larger
diameter than NEGATIVE (NEG, N, –) post.
5. Do not face battery when making final connection.
6. See Table B on page 8 for
length of charge information.
2. Attach at least a 24-inch-long 6-gauge
(AWG) insulated battery cable to
7. When disconnecting charger, always do
so in reverse sequence of connecting
procedure and break first connection while
as far away from battery as practical.
NEGATIVE (NEG, N, –) battery post.
3. Connect POSITIVE (RED) charger clip to
POSITIVE (POS, P, +) post of battery.
8. After use clean, then store the charger
indoors out of children’s reach.
4. Position yourself and free end of cable as far away
from battery as possible – then connect NEGATIVE
(BLACK) charger clip to free end of cable.
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Page 9
Maintenance Instructions
procedures not specifically explained in this manual must
be performed only by a qualified technician.
TO pREVENT SERIOUS INJURy: Unplug the charger, disconnect any battery, and allow charger
to cool completely before performing any inspection, maintenance, or cleaning procedures.
TO pREVENT SERIOUS INJURy FROM TOOL FAILURE:
Do not use damaged equipment. If abnormal noise or vibration occurs,
have the problem corrected before further use.
1. BEFORE EAcH USE, inspect the general
2. AFTER USE, wipe external surfaces
condition of the charger. Check for:
of the tool with clean cloth.
• loose hardware,
3.
WARNING! If the supply cord of this
charger is damaged, it must be replaced
only by a qualified service technician.
DO NOT OpEN cHARGER HOUSING,
NO USER-SERVIcEABLE pARTS INSIDE.
• cracked or broken parts,
• damaged electrical wiring or cable insulation, and
• any other condition that may
affect its safe operation.
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Item 60431
Troubleshooting
problem
possible causes
Defective battery.
Likely Solutions
Check or replace battery.
Charge Meter
display reads
maximum.
No Charge Meter
reading.
1. Battery not connected.
2. No power to charger.
1. Connect battery to charger. Charge Meter
will have no reading until battery attached.
2. Check power and cable outlet connections.
3. Battery cables not making connection. 3. Clean battery cables and reset cable clamps.
4. Two-amp charge rate being used.
1. Battery is partially charged.
4. None, meter will not indicate at this rate.
1. Continue charging battery.
Charging current
not to full output.
2. Defective battery, will not
hold full charge.
2. Check and/or replace battery.
Charge Meter needle 1. Reversed battery connections.
moves up to full
charge, then drops
1. Double-check connection polarity.
If wrong, shut off charger and correct
cable lead connections.
to zero. Makes
“clicking” noise.
2. Battery is completely dead.
2. Continue charging battery.
Charger will continue to reset itself until
the battery reaches a chargeable level.
3. Defective battery.
3. Check and/or replace battery.
4. Charger is resetting itself
after circuit overload.
4. Wait until Charger automatically resets itself.
5. Circuit breaker is cycling.
5. May be the wrong switch position.
Follow all safety precautions whenever diagnosing or servicing the tool.
Disconnect power supply before service.
Record product’s Serial Number Here:
Note: If product has no serial number, record month and year of purchase instead.
Note: Internal parts are not user-serviceable and are not available.
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Page 11
Limited 90 Day Warranty
Harbor Freight Tools Co. makes every effort to assure that its products meet high quality and durability standards,
and warrants to the original purchaser that this product is free from defects in materials and workmanship for the
period of 90 days from the date of purchase. This warranty does not apply to damage due directly or indirectly,
to misuse, abuse, negligence or accidents, repairs or alterations outside our facilities, criminal activity, improper
installation, normal wear and tear, or to lack of maintenance. We shall in no event be liable for death, injuries
to persons or property, or for incidental, contingent, special or consequential damages arising from the use of
our product. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the
above limitation of exclusion may not apply to you. THIS WARRANTY IS EXPRESSLY IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER
WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS.
To take advantage of this warranty, the product or part must be returned to us with transportation charges
prepaid. Proof of purchase date and an explanation of the complaint must accompany the merchandise.
If our inspection verifies the defect, we will either repair or replace the product at our election or we may
elect to refund the purchase price if we cannot readily and quickly provide you with a replacement. We will
return repaired products at our expense, but if we determine there is no defect, or that the defect resulted
from causes not within the scope of our warranty, then you must bear the cost of returning the product.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
3491 Mission Oaks Blvd. ꢀ pO Box 6009 ꢀ camarillo, cA 93011 ꢀ 1-888-866-5797
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