OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS. Schumacher DL-15D, Duralast DL-15D Battery Charger/Maintainer

Below you will find brief information for Battery Charger DL-15D. This manual explains how to safely and effectively use the Duralast DL-15D Battery Charger/Maintainer. It covers important safety instructions, personal safety precautions, how to prepare for charging, charger location, DC connection precautions, and operating instructions, including charging batteries in and out of vehicles. The manual also includes maintenance, troubleshooting, and specifications. This manual will provide the user with all the information needed to safely use the device.

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Battery % –

The Digital Display shows an estimated charge percent of the battery connected to the charger battery clamps.

Voltage –

The Digital Display shows the voltage at the charger battery clamps in

DC volts, or the voltage of the battery, depending on what mode the charger is in.

CHARGE RATE

The charger will automatically adjust the charging current, based on battery size, in order to charge the battery completely, efficiently and safely.

CHARGING RATE BUTTON

Use this button to set the maximum charge rate. Press the button until the desired charge rate is selected.

3A –

For charging small batteries, such as those commonly used in garden tractors, snowmobiles and motorcycles.

Also used to maintain fully charged large batteries.

15A –

For charging automotive, marine and light truck batteries. Not intended for industrial applications.

BATTERY TYPE BUTTON

Use this button to set the type of battery to charge.

Regular –

Set the button to .

Used in cars, trucks and motorcycles, these batteries have vent caps and are often marked “low maintenance” or

11. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING:

A spark near the battery may cause an explosion.

IMPORTANT:

Do not start the vehicle with the charger connected to the AC outlet, or it could result in damage to the charger

NOTE:

This charger is equipped with an auto-start feature. Current will not be supplied to the battery clamps until a battery is properly connected. The clamps will not spark if touched together.

CHARGING A BATTERY

IN THE VEHICLE

Turn off all the vehicle’s accessories.

Keep the hood open.

Clean the battery terminals.

Place the charger on a dry, nonflammable surface.

Lay the AC/DC cables away from any fan blades, belts, pulleys and other moving parts.

“maintenance-free”. This type of battery is designed to deliver quick bursts of energy

(such as starting engines) and has a greater plate count. The plates are thinner and have somewhat different material composition. Regular batteries should not be used for deep-cycle applications.

AGM –

Set the button to . The

Absorbed Glass Mat construction allows the electrolyte to be suspended in close proximity with the plate’s active material. In theory, this enhances both the discharge and recharge efficiency. The AGM batteries are a variant of Sealed VRLA

(valve regulated lead-acid) batteries.

Popular uses include high-performance engine starting, power sports, deep-cycle, solar and storage batteries.

GEL –

Set the button to . The electrolyte in a GEL cell has a silica additive that causes it to set up or stiffen.

The recharge voltages on this type of cell are lower than those for other styles of lead-acid battery. This is probably the most sensitive cell in terms of adverse reactions to overvoltage charging. Gel batteries are best used in VERY DEEP cycle application and may last a bit longer in hot weather applications. If the wrong battery charger is used on a gel cell battery, poor performance and premature failure will result.

Connect the battery, following the precautions listed in sections 6 and 7.

Connect the charger to an electrical outlet.

Select the battery type and the charge rate.

When charging is complete, disconnect the charger from the AC power, remove the clamps from the vehicle’s chassis, and then remove the clamp from the battery terminal.

CHARGING A BATTERY

OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE

Place battery in a well-ventilated area.

Clean the battery terminals.

Connect the battery, following the precautions listed in sections 6 and 7.

Connect the charger to the electrical outlet.

Select the battery type and the charge rate.

• 6 •

When charging is complete, disconnect the charger from the AC power, disconnect the negative clamp, and finally the positive clamp.

A marine (boat) battery must be removed and charged on shore.

BATTERY CHARGING TIMES

APPLICATION

POWERSPORTS

BATTERY

SIZE

6 Ah

CHARGING TIME (hours)

6A 8A 10A 15A

2 1.5 1.5 1

AUTOMOTIVE

32Ah

300 CCA

5 4.5 4 2

4 3.5 3 1.5

MARINE

1000 CCA

50 Ah

10 8 7 4

5 4 3.5 2

105 Ah 11 10 8 5

Times are based on a 50% discharged battery and may change, depending on age and condition of battery.

AUTOMATIC CHARGING MODE

When an Automatic Charge is performed, the charger switches to the maintain mode automatically after the battery is charged.

ABORTED CHARGE

If charging cannot be completed normally, charging will abort. When charging aborts, the charger’s output is shut off and the display will show “ bad

/ bat

” and an error code. Do not continue attempting to charge this battery. Check the battery and replace, if necessary.

DESULFATION MODE

The display will show “

SUL

” when a sulfated battery is detected, and the charger will go into desulfation mode. If the desulfation is not successful after 10 hours, the charger will go into abort mode. The display will show “ bAd

/ bAt

F02

”.

COMPLETION OF CHARGE

Charge completion is indicated by the

CHARGED/MAINTAINING (green)

LED. When lit, the charger has switched to the maintain mode of operation.

MAINTAIN MODE

(FLOAT MODE MONITORING)

When the CHARGED/MAINTAINING

(green) LED is lit, the charger has started maintain mode. In this mode, the charger keeps the battery fully charged by delivering a small current when necessary. If the charger has to provide its maximum maintain current for a continuous 12 hour period, it will go into abort mode (see

Aborted Charge

section).

This is usually caused by a drain on the battery or the battery could be bad. Make sure there are no loads on the battery. If there are, remove them. If there are none, have the battery checked or replaced.

MAINTAINING A BATTERY

The DL-15D charges and maintains both

6 and 12 volt batteries.

NOTE:

The maintain mode technology allows you to safely charge and maintain a healthy battery for extended periods of time. However, problems with the battery, electrical problems in the vehicle, improper connections or other unanticipated conditions could cause excessive current draws. As such, occasionally monitoring your battery and the charging process is required.

USING THE BATTERY VOLTAGE

TESTER

With the charger unplugged from the

AC outlet, connect the charger to the battery following the instructions given in previous sections.

Plug the charger AC power cord into the AC outlet.

If necessary, press the BATTERY TYPE button until the correct type is indicated.

Read the voltage on the digital display.

Keep in mind that this reading is only a battery voltage reading; a false surface charge may mislead you. Compare the reading to the chart below.

Voltage

Reading

6.4 or More

6.1 to 6.3

Voltage

Reading

Less than 6.1 Less than 12.2

Battery

Condition

12.8 or More Charged

12.2 to 12.7 Needs Charging

Discharged

POWER-UP IDLE TIME LIMIT

If no button is pressed within 10 minutes after the battery charger is first powered up, the charger will automatically switch from tester to charger if a battery is connected. In that case, the charger will be set to charge at the 3A rate and gel cell battery type.

TESTING AFTER CHARGING

After the unit has been changed from tester to charger (by selecting a charge rate), it remains a charger. To change the battery charger back to a tester, press the

CHARGING RATE button until all charge rate LEDs are off.

• 7 •

Key features

Battery Charger/Maintainer
Automatic Charge Mode
Maintain Mode
Battery Type Selection (Regular, AGM, GEL)
Charge Rate Selection (3A, 15A)
Automatic Voltage Detection
Error Code Display

Frequently asked questions

Use the charger for charging only 6V and 12V LEAD-ACID (STD or AGM) rechargeable batteries.

The battery voltage is still below 10V (for a 12V battery) or 5V (for a 6V battery) after 2 hours of charging. The battery may be defective. Make sure there are no loads on the battery. If there are, remove them. If there are none, have the battery checked or replaced.

The display will show “SUL” when a sulfated battery is detected, and the charger will go into desulfation mode.

User questions

Robert M.

How long does it take to charge a battery with the DL-15D?

Charging time depends on the battery size and selected charge rate. For example, charging a powersports battery (6 Ah) at 6A takes 2 hours, an automotive battery (1000 CCA) at 6A takes 10 hours, and a marine battery (32Ah) at 6A takes 5 hours. These times are based on a 50% discharged battery and may vary with the battery's age and condition. Once charged, the unit automatically switches to maintain mode.

James M.

How long does it take to charge a 12-volt automobile battery?

The charging time for a 12V automotive battery depends on its size (CCA - Cold Cranking Amps) and the charging rate selected. For a 1000 CCA battery, approximate charging times are: 6A: 10 hours, 8A: 8 hours, 10A: 7 hours, 15A: 4 hours. For a 300 CCA battery, approximate charging times are: 6A: 4 hours, 8A: 3.5 hours, 10A: 3 hours, 15A: 1.5 hours. These times are based on a 50% discharged battery and can vary with the battery's age and condition.

Patricia Y.

How long does it take to charge a battery that is half discharged?

Charging times depend on the battery size and the charging rate selected. For a battery that is 50% discharged, a powersports 6Ah battery using a 6A charge rate will take approximately 2 hours. An automotive 32Ah battery using a 6A charge rate will take approximately 5 hours, or approximately 2 hours if using a 15A charge rate. An automotive 50Ah battery using a 6A charge rate will take approximately 8 hours, or approximately 4 hours if using a 15A charge rate. These times may vary depending on the age and condition of the battery.

John X.

What does the 'SUL' indication mean on the DL-15D battery charger's digital readout?

The 'SUL' indication means the charger has detected a sulfated battery and has initiated desulfation mode. If desulfation is unsuccessful after 10 hours, the charger will abort and display 'bAd / bAt / F02'.

Linda R.

What happens if the battery desulfation process is unsuccessful?

If desulfation fails after 10 hours, the charger will switch to abort mode and display 'bAd / bAt / F02'.

Mary P.

What is indicated on the charger if desulfation is unsuccessful?

If desulfation is not successful after 10 hours, the charger will go into abort mode, and the display will show “bAd / bAt / F02”.

Michael O.

How can the battery voltage be checked while the unit is charging?

To check the battery voltage, unplug the charger from the AC outlet and connect it to the battery as instructed in the manual. Then, plug the charger into the AC outlet. If needed, press the BATTERY TYPE button until the correct type is displayed. Finally, read the voltage on the digital display. Be aware that this reading is only a battery voltage reading and a false surface charge may be misleading.

Michael C.

What are the advantages of using an AGM battery?

AGM batteries offer enhanced discharge and recharge efficiency due to their Absorbed Glass Mat construction. They are used in high-performance engine starting, power sports, deep-cycle, solar, and storage applications.

Linda V.

What does it mean when the charger shows a green light and the display reads 'SUL'?

A green light and 'SUL' on the display indicates that the charger has detected a sulfated battery and has entered desulfation mode. If desulfation fails after 10 hours, the charger will abort.

Jennifer V.

What does it mean if the DL-15D is only charging, and how can the proper functioning of the charger be confirmed?

If the DL-15D is charging, it suggests the unit is functioning. Completion of charge is indicated by the CHARGED/MAINTAINING (green) LED. When lit, the charger has switched to the maintain mode of operation. However, if charging cannot be completed normally, charging will abort, and the display will show “bad / bat” and an error code, suggesting a problem. The absence of error codes and the successful completion of the charging cycle are needed to confirm the charger's proper functioning.

Patricia Y.

What to do if the charger is plugged in but the display remains blank and there are no indicator lights?

If the charger is plugged in but has no display and no lights, verify the AC outlet is functional by checking for a tripped fuse or circuit breaker. Also, inspect the power cord and extension cord for poor electrical connections or loose plugs.