Lincoln Electric IM10130 K3149-1 (11860) Wheel Charger - Manual (Page 5)

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NOTE: A slow bubbling sound may be heard coming
from the battery during the charging process.
This is a normal condition and just another
indicator the battery is being charged.
To reduce the risk of battery overcharging, it is important to
thoroughly read this instruction manual.
SPARK PREVENTION
MAKE SURE no sparks or flames occur near the battery,
especially during charging. It takes very little to ignite the
explosive gasses produced by a lead-acid battery. Read,
understand, and follow the safety information provided in the
SAFETY SUMMARY section of this manual before attempt-
ing to work with or near a lead-acid battery.
For more information about batteries and battery charging,
contact Battery Council International at (312) 644-6610, and
request their BATTERY SERVICE MANUAL, which is avail-
able for a nominal charge.
DEEPLY-DISCHARGED LEAD-CALCIUM
BATTERIES
Many newer automotive batteries are of a lead-calcium plate
design. When deeply discharged, they may require an acti-
vation period before accepting a measurable charge. This
activation period may take as long as 4 to 8 hours.
If, at the beginning of the charging process, you notice that
the ammeter (if so equipped) is at or near zero, but you
have determined that the battery is very discharged (less
than 25% of charge), this is a good indication that an activa-
tion period is required (see PRE-CHARGE BATTERY ACTI-
VATION).
DESCRIPTION
This battery charger is designed to handle the majority of
your charging and starting needs.
‡ MULTIPLE CHARGE RATES for various battery sizes.
‡ High-AMPERAGE ENGINE START to help start vehi-
cles when the battery is too weak to do the job alone.
‡ An AMMETER to monitor charging progress
‡ A TIMER switch to set the desired charge time.
‡ LARGE SAW-TOOTH CLAMPS assure good connec-
tion to top or side-mount battery terminals.
‡ WHEEL AND HANDLE KIT for easy moving around
your shop.
‡ HEAVY-DUTY CONSTRUCTION for long, trouble-free
life.
HOW BATTERIES CHARGE
A charger DOES NOT FORCE current into a battery - it
makes a limited amount of current available and the battery
draws as much of it as it needs, up to or slightly greater
than the rated output current capability of the charger.
The closer a battery is to zero charge ( dead battery), the
more charging current it will want to draw. When charging
begins, on a
dead battery, the chargers ammeter will regis-
ter toward the high end of the ammeter scale and move
toward zero as the battery becomes more fully charged.
KEEP IN MIND, the ammeter registers the amount of
amperage being drawn from the charger by the battery, not
what the charger is capable of delivering.
One would expect a battery to draw zero amps when it
reaches 100% charge. But at 100% charge, the battery will
continue to draw a low level of current and convert it into
heat within the battery. If left connected and charging after
reaching 100% charge, the battery acid will begin to boil,
resulting in overcharging and possible battery damage.
INTRODUCTION