A smart battery charger is built to monitor a battery as it charges and indicate when it is fully charged. This helps prevent you from overcharging and possibly damaging the battery. In order to do this, you need to follow precise directions so you are properly operating the charger and charging the battery. Instructions can always vary, so looking over your charger's own manual is always recommended.
Connecting the Battery
Connect the charger clamps to the battery terminals. The red clamp should go onto the positive terminal and the black one onto the negative terminal. Plug the charger into a 120 volt outlet and check the charger's display panel. The display indicating a good connection and applied power can vary, but it often involves a circulating pattern on the digital number/letter displays. If there is a problem, it can be shown by certain letters or numbers on the display or other indicator light on the panel. Check your charger's instruction manual for the specific problem the charger is indicating.
Charging
Press the "charge" or "amp" button to begin charging. The charge will start at the charger's lowest output rate--usually two amps. Pressing the button again will increase the charge to its next highest rate; once you've reached the charger's highest possible rate, pressing the button one more time should stop the output and reset the button's cycle. Charging the battery at the lowest output is the safest, especially if you don't know the battery's size. As the battery charges, the display will originally display the charge rate. Press the charger's "voltage" button to change the display to the battery voltage; press it again to switch back to the charge rate. The charger should automatically drop its charge rate as the battery approaches full charge. When the battery is fully charged, a light or the display will indicate it as such.
Float Charging
Float charging helps make sure the battery is really fully charge. If your charger is capable of automatic float charging, leave it connected to the battery after the "full" display comes on. Eventually, the display panel will switch from "full" to "float." From here, you can still view the battery's current voltage with the "voltage" button. The display will switch back to "full" one the float charge is complete. To safely disconnect the charger once you are finished, unplug the charger, remove the negative clamp and then the positive one.
Tags: charge rate, display will, your charger, battery charges, display panel, full float