VIKING 56796 Microprocessor Controlled Battery Charger Owner’s Manual

56796 Microprocessor Controlled Battery Charger
Owner’s Manual

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Email our technical support at: productsupport@harborfreight.com

Save This Manual Keep this manual for the safety warnings and precautions, assembly, operating, inspection, maintenance, and cleaning procedures. Write the product’s serial number on the back of the manual (or month and year of purchase if the product has no number). Keep this manual and the receipt in a safe and dry place for future reference.

When unpacking, make sure that the product is intact and undamaged. If any parts are missing or broken, please call 1-888-866-5797 as soon as possible.

Copyright© 2022 by Harbor Freight Tools®. All rights reserved.
No portion of this manual or any artwork contained herein may be reproduced in any shape or form without the express written consent of Harbor Freight Tools.
Diagrams within this manual may not be drawn proportionally. Due to continuing improvements, the actual product may differ slightly from the product described herein.
Tools required for assembly and service may not be included.

Read this material before using this product.
Failure to do so can result in serious injury.
SAVE THIS MANUAL.

WARNING SYMBOLS AND DEFINITIONS

| This is the safety alert symbol.  It is used to alert you to potential personal injury hazards.  Obey all safety messages that follow this symbol to avoid possible injury or death.
---|---
| Indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury.
| Indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
| Indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury.
| Addresses practices not related to personal injury.
VAC| Volts Alternating Current
---|---
A| Amperes
CCA| Cold Cranking Amps
RC| Reserve Capacity
Ah| Ampere-hours
| WARNING marking concerning Risk of Eye Injury.
Wear ANSI-approved splash-resistant safety goggles.
| Read the manual before set-up and/or use.
| WARNING marking concerning Risk of Fire.
Follow the connection procedure.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

1. SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS –
   This manual contains important safety and operating instructions for this battery charger.

2. Do not expose the charger to rain or snow.

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.

4. To reduce the risk of damage to the electric plug and cord, pull by the plug rather than the cord when disconnecting the charger.

5. An extension cord should not be used unless absolutely necessary. The use of an improper extension cord could result in a risk of fire and electric shock.
   If an extension cord must be used, make sure:
   a. That pins on the plug of the extension cord are the same number, size, and shape as those of the plug on the charger;
   b. That extension cord is properly wired and in good electrical condition; and
   c. That wire size is large enough for the AC ampere rating of the charger as specified in Table A. Table A: Recommended minimum AWG size for extension cords for battery chargers

   **AC input rating, amperes*| AWG size of the cord
   Length of cord, feet
   Equal to or
   greater than| But less
   than| 25| 50| 100| 150**
   0| 2| 18| 18| 18| 16
   2| 3| 18| 18| 16| 14
   3| 4| 18| 18| 16| 14
   4| 5| 18| 18| 14| 12
   5| 6| 18| 16| 14| 12
   6| 8| 18| 16| 12| 10
   8| 10| 18| 14| 12| 10
   10| 12| 16| 14| 10| 8
   12| 14| 16| 12| 10| 8
   14| 16| 16| 12| 10| 8
   16| 18| 14| 12| 8| 8
   18| 20| 14| 12| 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

Do not operate the charger with a damaged cord or plug – replace the cord or plug immediately.

6. Do not operate the charger if it has received a sharp blow, been dropped, or otherwise damaged in any way; take it to a qualified serviceman.

7. Do not disassemble the 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.

8. To reduce the risk of electric shock, unplug the charger from the outlet before attempting any maintenance or cleaning. Turning off controls will not reduce this risk.

9. WARNING – RISK OF EXPLOSIVE GASES.
   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.
   b. To reduce the risk of battery explosion, follow these instructions and those published by the battery manufacturer and the manufacturer of any equipment you intend to use in vicinity of the battery. Review cautionary marking on these products and on engines.

10. PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS
    a. Consider having someone close enough by to come to your aid when you work near a lead-acid battery.
    b. Have plenty of fresh water and soap nearby in case battery acid contacts skin, clothing, or eyes.
    c. Wear complete eye protection and clothing protection. Avoid touching your eyes while working near the battery.
    d. If battery acid contacts skin or clothing, wash immediately with soap and water. If acid enters the eye, immediately flood the eye with running cold water for at least 10 minutes and get medical attention immediately.
    e. NEVER smoke or allow a spark or flame in the vicinity of the battery or engine.
    f. Be extra cautious to reduce the risk of dropping a metal tool onto the battery. It might spark or short-circuit battery or another electrical part that may cause an explosion.
    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 shortcircuit current high enough to weld a ring or the like to metal, causing a severe burn.
    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.
    i. NEVER charge a frozen battery.

11. PREPARING TO CHARGE
    a. If necessary to remove the battery from the vehicle to charge, always remove the grounded terminal from the battery first. Make sure all accessories in the vehicle are off, so as not to cause an arc.
    b. Be sure the area around the battery is well ventilated while the battery is being charged.
    c. Clean battery terminals. Be careful to keep corrosion from coming in contact with the eyes.
    d. Add distilled water in each cell until battery acid reaches the level specified by the battery manufacturer. Do not overfill. For a battery without removable cell caps, such as valve-regulated lead-acid batteries, carefully follow the manufacturer’s recharging instructions.
    e. Study all battery manufacturer’s specific precautions while charging and recommended rates of charge.
    f. Determine the voltage of the battery by referring to the vehicle owner’s manual and make sure it matches the output rating of the battery charger.
    If the charger has an adjustable charge rate, charge the battery initially at the lowest rate.

12. CHARGER LOCATION
    a. Locate charger as far away from battery as DC cables permit.
    b. Never place charger directly above battery being charged; gases from battery will corrode and damage charger.
    c. Never allow battery acid to drip on charger when reading electrolyte specific gravity or filling battery.
    d. Do not operate the charger in a closed-in area or restrict ventilation in any way.
    e. Do not set a battery on top of the charger.

13. DC CONNECTION PRECAUTIONS
    a. Connect and disconnect DC output clips only after setting any charger switches to the “off” position and removing the AC cord from the electric outlet.
    Never allow clips to touch each other.
    b. Attach clips to battery and chassis as indicated in 15(e), 15(f), and 16(b) through 16(d).

14. FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY MAY CAUSE A BATTERY EXPLOSION.
    TO REDUCE THE RISK OF A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY:
    a. Position AC and DC cables to reduce the risk of damage by the hood, door, or moving engine part.
    b. Stay clear of fan blades, belts, pulleys, and other parts that can cause injury to persons.
    c. Check the polarity of battery posts. POSITIVE (POS, P, +) battery post usually has a larger diameter than NEGATIVE (NEG, N,–) post.
    d. Determine which post of the battery is grounded (connected) to the chassis. If the negative post is grounded to the chassis (as in most vehicles), see (e). If the positive post is grounded to the chassis, see (f).
    e. For negative-grounded vehicle, connect POSITIVE (RED) clip from battery charger to POSITIVE (POS, P, +) ungrounded post of the battery. Connect NEGATIVE (BLACK) clip to vehicle chassis or engine block away from the battery. Do not connect the clip to the carburetor, fuel lines, or sheet-metal body parts. Connect to a heavy gauge metal part of the frame or engine block.
    f. For a positive-grounded vehicle, connect the NEGATIVE (BLACK) clip from the battery charger to the NEGATIVE (NEG, N, –) ungrounded post of the battery. Connect POSITIVE (RED) clip to vehicle chassis or engine block away from the battery.
    Do not connect the clip to the carburetor, fuel lines, or sheet-metal body parts. Connect to a heavy gauge metal part of the frame or engine block.
    g. When disconnecting the charger, disconnect the AC cord, remove the clip from the vehicle chassis, and then remove the clip from the battery terminal.
    h. See operating instructions for length of charge information.

15. FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY IS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY MAY CAUSE A BATTERY EXPLOSION.
    TO REDUCE THE RISK OF A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY:
    a. Check the polarity of battery posts. POSITIVE (POS, P, +) battery post usually has a larger diameter than NEGATIVE (NEG, N, –) post.
    b. Attach at least a 24-inch-long 6-gauge (AWG) insulated battery cable to the NEGATIVE (NEG, N, –) battery post.
    c. Connect the POSITIVE (RED) charger clip to the POSITIVE (POS, P, +) post of the battery.
    d. Position yourself and a free end of cable as far away from the battery as possible –then connect a NEGATIVE (BLACK) charger clip to the free end of the cable.
    e. Do not face battery when making final connection.
    f. When disconnecting the charger, always do so in reverse sequence of connecting procedure and break first connection while as far away from battery as practical.
    g. A marine (boat) battery must be removed and charged onshore. To charge it on board requires equipment specially designed for marine use.

16. Wear ANSI-approved splash-resistant safety goggles and heavy-duty rubber work gloves whenever connecting, disconnecting, or working near battery acid can cause permanent blindness.

17. Maintain labels and nameplates on the charger. These carry important safety information. If unreadable or missing, contact Harbor Freight Tools for a replacement.

18. This product is not a toy.  Keep it out of reach of children.

19. Unplug the Battery Charger from its electrical outlet before connecting its cables to a battery, or performing any inspection, maintenance, or cleaning procedures.

20. Use this Charger with flooded lead-acid batteries only. Do not overcharge a maintenance-free battery.

21. Do not attempt to charge non-rechargeable or defective batteries.

22. Do not charge more than one battery at one time.

23. Has your charger been serviced by a qualified repair person using only identical replacement parts?
    This will ensure that the safety of the charger is maintained.

24. Do not use the 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.

25. Before moving the charger, disconnect the power supply and battery, then allow the charger to cool.

26. People with pacemakers should consult their physician(s) before use. Electromagnetic fields in close proximity to heart pacemakers could cause pacemaker interference or pacemaker failure.
    In addition, people with pacemakers should:
    • Avoid operating alone.
    • 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.

27. 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 that cannot be built into this product but must be supplied by the operator.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.

Grounding and AC Power Cord Connection Instructions

The charger should be grounded to reduce the risk of electric shock. 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 the AC cord or plug provided –if it will not fit the outlet, have a proper outlet installed by a qualified electrician. Improper connection can result in a risk of an electric shock.

Specifications

Red = Positive
Black = Negative
Power Cord| 6′

*Amperage is only present while connected to a battery.

Setup

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.

Controls

LCD Display: Displays charging status, charging current, voltage, battery type, recondition mode, winter mode, and error codes.
Amperage Button: Use to set the amperage output from 2! A, 8! A, 15!A and automatic charging rate.
Battery Type Button: Use to select the battery type from standard or AGM. For GEL batteries use the standard-setting.
Charge Button: Use to begin charging manually.
Recondition Button: Use to activate the battery reconditioning function for weak, sulfated, or deeply discharged batteries.
Winter Mode Button: Use to activate the winter charging mode in cold weather.

Protection Features:

• Overheating protection!–!If the Charger overheats, it will automatically shut off. The charger will automatically resume when it has cooled down.
• Reverse polarity!–!if the cables are connected incorrectly, the Charger will not function, and the LCD screen displays a reverse polarity error code.
• Overcharging protection!–!if the battery cannot be fully charged within 24 hours, Charger will stop charging automatically.

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:
DO NOT PLUG IN CHARGER UNTIL DIRECTED TO DO SO.

Use this Charger only on AGM, GEL, and standard lead-acid batteries.
Other batteries may be damaged or may overheat, leak, or catch fire.

Preparing to Charge

TO PREVENT SERIOUS INJURY:
Wear ANSI-approved splash-resistant safety goggles and heavy-duty rubber work gloves whenever connecting, disconnecting, or working near the battery.
Battery acid can cause permanent blindness.

1. If necessary to remove the battery from the vehicle to charge, always remove the grounded terminal from the battery first. Make sure all accessories in the vehicle are off, so as not to cause an arc.

2. Make sure the area around the battery is well ventilated while the battery is being charged.

3. Clean battery terminals. Be careful to keep corrosion from coming in contact with the eyes.

4. With standard lead-acid batteries, add distilled water in each cell until battery acid reaches the level specified by the battery manufacturer.
   Do not overfill. For sealed batteries without removable cell caps, such as AGM, GEL, or valve-regulated lead-acid batteries, carefully follow the manufacturer’s recharging instructions.

5. Study all battery manufacturer’s specific precautions while charging and recommended rates of charge.

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 the battery initially at the lowest rate.

7. A marine (boat) battery must be removed and charged on shore. To charge it on board requires equipment specially designed for marine use.

Charger Location

1. Locate Charger as far away from the battery as DC cables permit.
2. Never place charger directly above battery being charged; gases from battery will corrode and damage charger.
3. Never allow battery acid to drip on the charger when reading electrolyte specific gravity or filling the battery.
4. Do not operate the charger in a closed-in area or restrict ventilation in any way.
5. Do not set a battery on top of the Charger.

Charging Battery Installed in Vehicle

A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY MAY CAUSE A BATTERY EXPLOSION.
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF A SPARK NEAR THE 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 the battery.
Battery acid can cause permanent blindness.

1. Position AC and DC cables to reduce the risk of damage to the hood, door, or moving engine part.

2. Stay clear of fan blades, belts, pulleys, and other parts that can cause injury to persons.

3. Check the polarity of battery posts. POSITIVE (POS, P, +) battery post usually has a larger diameter than NEGATIVE (NEG, N,–) post.

4. Determine which post of the battery is grounded (connected) to the chassis. If the negative post is grounded to the chassis (as in most vehicles), see 5.
   If the positive post is grounded to the chassis, see 6.

5. For negative-grounded vehicles, connect the POSITIVE (RED) clamp from Battery Charger to the POSITIVE (POS, P, +) ungrounded post of the battery.
   Connect NEGATIVE (BLACK) clamp to vehicle chassis or engine block away from the battery.
   Do not connect the clamp to the carburetor, fuel lines, or sheet-metal body parts. Connect to a heavy gauge metal part of the frame or engine block.

6. For a positive-grounded vehicle, connect NEGATIVE
   (BLACK) clamp from Battery Charger to NEGATIVE
   (NEG, N, –) ungrounded post of the battery. Connect
   POSITIVE (RED) clamp to vehicle chassis or engine block away from the battery. Do not connect the clamp to the carburetor, fuel lines, or sheet metal body parts. Connect to a heavy gauge metal part of the frame or engine block.

7. When disconnecting the charger, disconnect AC cord, remove the clamp from vehicle chassis, and then remove the clamp from the battery terminal.

8. After use clean, then store the Charger indoors out of children’s reach.

Charging Battery Outside Vehicle

A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY MAY CAUSE A BATTERY EXPLOSION.
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF A SPARK NEAR THE 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 the battery.
Battery acid can cause permanent blindness.

1. Check the polarity of battery posts. POSITIVE (POS, P, +) battery post usually has a larger diameter than NEGATIVE (NEG, N, –) post.
2. Attach at least a 24-inch-long 6-gauge (AWG) insulated battery cable to the NEGATIVE (NEG, N, –) battery post.
3. Connect the POSITIVE (RED) charger clamp to the POSITIVE (POS, P, +) post of the battery.
4. Position yourself and the free end of the cable as far away from the battery as possible!–!then connect the NEGATIVE (BLACK) charger clamp to the free end of the cable.
5. Do not face battery when making the final connection.
6. When disconnecting the charger, always do so in reverse sequence of connecting procedure and break the first connection while as far away from the battery as practical.
7. After use clean, then store the Charger indoors out of children’s reach.

Operation

A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY MAY CAUSE A BATTERY EXPLOSION.
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF A SPARK NEAR THE 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 the battery.
Battery acid can cause permanent blindness.

1. Follow the directions on page 8 to connect Charger to the battery, then plug the Power Cord into a properly grounded outlet. If the cable clamps are not connected or the connection is loose, the LCD screen will display as shown in Figure A: 

2. When a good connection has been made, the LCD screen will display the battery capacity and voltage. See the example in Figure B:

3. Press the “AMP” button to choose the desired charging rate!–!if unsure select the automatic charging rate. Press the “BATTERY TYPE” button to select battery type!–!for GEL batteries select  “STD”!–!then press the “CHARGE” button to start charging. The LCD screen will display the settings. See the example in Figure C:
   Note: If the user does not select the charging amp and battery type settings within 30 seconds, Charger will start charging the battery using the default setting!–!automatic charging rate for standard battery.

4. Once the battery is fully charged the charger automatically switches to a float charge/maintenance mode.

5. For weak/sulfated batteries or batteries that have been unused for long periods of time, the battery reconditioning function may be used to recover the battery from deep discharge and help the
   battery last longer. Press the “RECONDITION” button to activate this function. The LCD screen will display as shown in Figure D:

6. When the reconditioning process is finished, the LCD screen will display as shown in Figure E: and the Charger will return to normal charge mode.

7. The winter charging mode may be used for specialized battery charging in winter weather conditions. To enter this mode, press the “WINTER” button at any stage in the charging process.
   A snowflake icon will appear on the LCD screen display indicating Charger is in the winter charging mode. See the example in Figure F: Pressing the “WINTER” button again will exit the winter charging mode.

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 condition of the Charger. Check for:
   • loose hardware
   • cracked or broken parts
   • damaged electrical wiring or cable insulation
   • any other condition that may affect its safe operation.

2. AFTER USE, wipe the external surfaces of the tool with a clean cloth.

3. CAUTION! The charger is damaged, it must be replaced only by a qualified service technician.
   DO NOT OPEN THE CHARGER HOUSING, NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.

Troubleshooting Error Codes

connections on the battery.
| The Charger is overheating.| Make sure the air vents on Charger are clear. The charger will automatically resume charging when it has cooled down.
| The charger may be connected to a 24V battery.| Verify battery being charged is 12V.
| 1. An appliance is drawing power from the battery being charged.
2. Selected charging rate is too low for battery rating.| 1. Disconnect the appliance and charge the battery again.
2. Select a higher charging rate and continue charging the battery.
| A defective battery, will not hold a full charge.| Has the battery been checked by a qualified technician? Replace the battery if necessary.
Follow all safety precautions whenever diagnosing or servicing the tool. Disconnect power supply before service.

Record Product’s Serial Number Here:

Note: If the product has no serial number, record the month and year of purchase instead.
Note: Internal parts are not user-serviceable and are not available.

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.

Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.

This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.

If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

26677 Agoura Road • Calabasas, CA 91302 • 1-888-866-5797

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