FERM BCM1021 Electronic Battery Charger Instruction Manual
- June 5, 2024
- FERM
Table of Contents
FERM® BCM1021 Electronic Battery Charger Instruction Manual
BATTERY CHARGER 6V-12V
Carefully read the instructions before you use the Battery charger!
Know your apparatus
Before you use theBattery charger, carefully read the instructions, especially the safety rules. Observe the instructions for maintenance to ensure your apparatus always operates properly. Before attempting to operate the apparatus, familiarise yourself with the controls and make sure you know how to stop it quickly in an emergency. Save this user’s manual and the other documents supplied with this apparatus for future reference.
Contents
- Data
- Safety
- Installation
- Operating the Battery charger
- Maintenance
DATA
Technical specifications
Input: 230 V ~ 50 Hz
Output: 6 V / 12 V 5 A
Accumulator capacity: min 20Ah – max 75Ah
Package contents
The following is supplied with your Battery charger:
1 Set battery clamps
1 Manual
1 Warranty card
SAFETY
Explanation of symbols
In this user’s manual the following symbols are used:
Read instructions carefully
In accordance with essential applicable safety standards of European directives
Denotes risk of personal injury, loss of life or damage to the tool in case of nonobservance of the instructions in this manual.
Indicates electrical shock hazard.
Indoor use only
Wear safety goggles
Faulty and/or discarded electrical or electronic apparatus have to be collected at the appropriate recycling locations.
Special safety instructions
In the design of the battery charger the requirements for safe usage have been taken into account. Any change, adaptation, conversion or other use may interfere with the safety of the apparatus. In addition, the guarantee will no longer be valid because of this.
- Check the following things:
- Does the voltage of the battery charger correspond to the mains voltage. Battery chargers with the indication of 230 Volt can also be used when there is a mains voltage of 220 Volt.
- Are the mains lead and the mains plug in good condition.
- Avoid the use of long extension cables for the battery charger.
- Do not try to open the housing of the battery, because dangerous substances may be released.
- Do not use the battery charger where there is moisture.
- Do not expose the battery (and the charger) to vivid sunlight and high temperatures.
- During charging the battery acid may start to boil, which is not unusual. Beware of splashing, however, for battery acid is caustic. The battery charger therefore needs to be switched off in order to prevent accidents and to allow the battery to cool down.
- During charging so-called detonating gas can be liberated. That is why the filler caps are unscrewed before charging(does not apply to closed batterys, this means Battery chargers without filler caps). Charging has to take place in a thoroughly ventilated space.
- The battery charger does not stop automatically after charging. For this reason it needs to be switched off and disconnected from the battery. Do not leave the battery charger connected to the mains voltage after the battery has been charged completely.
- This range of devices is only suitable for accumulators containing lead and acid, as specified in table 1, and are capable of charging accumulators and starting vehicles. These devices may not be used for nonstandard batteries and accessories. To avoid the danger of fire and electric shock, they may also not be used as DC power supplies.
- The charger must only be connected to an appropriate power socket with an earth connection.
- You should have water and soapy water available when using the accumulator. The accumulator contains corrosive substances that are dangerous to the skin and especially the eyes. If you should accidentally come into contact with these substances, immediately rinse the affected region with water and seek medical help.
- The accumulator stores a great deal of energy. The plus and minus terminals should not be shorted with metal objects or this may cause a short circuit resulting in personal injury or fire.
- Non-rechargeable batteries may not be charged.
- First connect the battery terminal that is not connected to the vehicle chassis. The other connection is then made to the vehicle chassis, away from the battery and fuel lines. Only then should the battery charger be connected to the mains power supply.
The apparatus needs to be switched off completely in the case of:
- Malfunctioning or damage to the mains plug or mains cable.
- Smoke or stench from scorched insulation.
Always wear safety glasses and old clothes during working with the battery, because battery acid is a biting product!
INSTALLATION
Before putting the battery charger into operation the following steps need to be taken (Fig. 1):
-
If the battery is still connected, it needs to be disconnected,
- first the negative terminal (A);
- then the positive terminal (B)!
It is advisable to remove the battery from the vehicle before charging it.
-
Check the level of the battery acid. For this purpose remove the battery stoppers first, then check the acid level and, if necessary, fill up with distilled water (available from the chemists’). The level of the electric charge can be checked with a hydrometer.
-
Clean the connections and the terminals. This can be done with a steel wire brush or with sandpaper.
-
Connect the positive clamp of the charger (red) to the positive terminal (+) of the battery. Then connect the negative clamp of the charger (black) to the negative terminal (-) of the battery. Check if the clamps of the charger are firmly connected to the battery.
-
The following steps need to be taken with the help of the information of the charge control display.
-
The charger must not be placed on top of the accumulator or vice-versa. This is both illegal and unsafe
-
If the accumulator temperature rises above 40º C then the charging current should be reduced, and if the temperature rises above 45º C then you should stop charging and only resume charging when the temperature has dropped.
-
Now plug the power plug into the mains socket and set the switch to “6V/12V”. When charging, you should keep an eye on the current meter to check that the indicator is working properly. (Caution! The current meter only provides a general indication and not an exact measurement).
-
You should check that the battery electrolyte has reached a specific gravity of 1.28. If not, then you can continue charging, and if so, then charging is finished. You should then set the “Voltage” switch to “Off”. Then remove the mains power plug and the two clips from the plus and minus terminals of the accumulator. (When charging the battery while still in the vehicle, you should first remove the clip connected to the chassis.)
OPERATING THE BATTERY CHARGER
The integral flat fuse protects the equipment from polarity reversal and short circuits. If the fuse suffers a defect it must be replaced by a new fuse with the same amp value. If you wish to replace the flat fuse, first pull the mains plug out of the socket and remove the charger clamps from the battery. In the event of a thermal overload, an automatic circuit breaker will stop the charging process. After a cooling break it will cut in again automatically.
Explanation of switches, indication lights and display on front panel
6V / 12V
The battery charger can charge batteries of 6V and 12V. For this purpose push the switch at the right side of the front panel in chosen position.
Charging process
- Connect the clamps correctly to the battery and connect the plug to the mains.
- Select the voltage 6V / 12V switch
- The charging current is now visible on the display on the front. This current meter is not a precision instrument and only gives a rough indication of the charging current.
- Disconnect from the mains supply.
- Remove the clamps from the + and – poles of the battery.
Trouble shooting
1. No charging current
- Bad contact of power socket
- Contact qualified electrician
- Select Voltage 6V / 12V is set incorrectly
- Select correct voltage position
- Initial voltage is too low
- Change battery
- + and – poles of battery are oxidized and/or dirty
- Clean poles
- Battery has been damaged
- Replace the battery
2. Low charging current
- + and – poles of battery are oxidized and/or dirty
- Clean poles
- Battery is charged fully
- Measure specific gravity
3. Excessive transformer noise
- Select Voltage 6V / 12V is set incorrectly
- Select correct voltage position
- Unstable position
- Change position for proper placement
Check charged battery
On the basis of the specific gravity of the battery acid can be gathered if an battery is fully loaded or not. With the help of a specific gravitymeter the specific gravity can be appointed.
Empty battery: s.g. = 1.13 kg/ dm³
Full battery : s.g. = 1.28 kg/ dm³
CAUTION! The gas mixture is explosive. You must remove the power plug from the mains socket before connecting or disconnecting the battery.
MAINTENANCE
Always remove the plug from the mains socket when the battery charger is being serviced or cleaned. Never use any water or other liquids when cleaning the charger. Keep the cable and your battery charger clean. Some cleaners and solvents (petrol, thinner) can affect or dissolve plastic parts. These products contain a.o. benzene, trichloroethylene, chloride and ammonia.
CAUTION! To avoid electrical danger, the charger should be connected to a mains supply with good earthing and may not be subjected to rain or snow. Any damaged cables must be immediately replaced by a qualified specialist.
Defective batteries
- Damaged batteries which do not retain their charge. It is often the case that batteries which are in very bad condition can no longer be charged; they need to be replaced because they do not retain their charge.
- Short circuited batteries. If, after several hours the battery charger still does not indicate that the battery is being charged, this usually means that one of the elements is short circuited. The battery needs to be replaced.
Malfunction
If your battery charger no longer functions as it should, this may be due to the following reasons:
- The clamp has been connected wrongly. Check if the right clamp is connected to the right terminal.
Battery life
The life of your battery will be considerably longer if the following advice is taken:
- Check the liquid level of the battery every month and, if necessary, fill it up with distilled water.
- Clean the terminals of your battery regularly to prevent deposit. Put a little bit of vaseline on the terminals.
- If the vehicle is seldom used, the battery will discharge. Therefore it needs to be charged regularly to maximum capacity. In this way malfunctioning can be prevented.
If everything has been checked, and the battery charger still does not charge as it should, it needs to be taken to the Service address on the warranty card.
Environment
To prevent damage during transport, the appliance is delivered in a solid packaging which consists largely of reusable material. Therefore please make use of options for recycling the packaging.
Faulty and/or discarded electrical or electronic apparatus have to be collected at the appropriate recycling locations.
Only for EC countries
Do not dispose of power tools into domestic waste. According to the European Guideline 2012/19/EU for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and its implementation into national right, power tools that are no longer usable must be collected separately and disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.
Warranty
For the conditions of warranty, please refer to the separately provided warranty card.
Spare parts list
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
BCM1021 BATTERY CHARGER 6-12V
We declare under our sole responsibility that this product is in conformity with directive 2011/65/EU of the European parliament and of the council of 9 June on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment is in conformity and accordance with the following standards and regulations:
EN60335-1, EN60335-2-29, EN62233, EN55014-1, EN55014-2, EN61000-3-2, EN61000-3-3, EN61000-3-11
2014/35/EU, 2014/30/EU, 2011/65/EU, 2012/19/EU
Zwolle, 01-03-2021
H.G.F. Rosberg
CEO Ferm
Ferm • Lingenstraat 6 • 8028 PM • Zwolle The Netherlands
2103-09
WWW.FERM.COM ©2021 FERM
References
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