As my title states, this charger handles all four main types of large batteries: Lead Acid Auto Starter batteries, Deep Cycle Marine, AGM and Gel Cell. You select battery type and size and it takes care of the rest. When you first hook up the clips to the battery and plug in the charger, selecting battery type, it tests the battery and gives you the volts available as well as the percentage that battery is currently charged! Many times I've wanted to know that. You then select battery size and it starts charging. If you select 15 or 10 amps, when the battery is fully charged it goes into a maintenance mode automatically! You can leave the charger running forever - and it won't over charge the battery. Also - if your battery is damaged by sulfide build up, it detects that and runs a cycle to clean the battery and give it life again if it can. Wow. I wonder how many batteries I've replaced that could have been revived or kept alive by this charger?! This is going to save me a lot of money.
I purchased a new 850 cc amp deep cycle battery to use as an emergency power source for my amateur radio equipment (I'm a net control storm spotter for the National Weather Service Skywarn network). This brand new battery tested at 95% charged - so I fully charged it (while using the radio) and it worked fine. Charged up to 100% and went into maintenance mode automatically. Took the charger to the farm and connected it to a dead tractor battery. Showed 11% charged and began building the charge immediately. Was up to 15% in about 7 minutes when I had to leave. I'll have to update this review later to let you know if it was able to salvage that poor battery.
I know of no other chargers that test the battery, charge all types of batteries and can safely be left on to maintain them as well. Go check out the cost of Gel Cell battery chargers - and you'll find this is a deal.
BTW, if you forget to turn it from 'test' to 'charge', after 10 minutes or so this charger will automatically charge up the battery and keep it maintained for you! How easy is that? Schumacher SSC-1500A Ship 'n Shore SpeedCharge Charger with included 75-amp battery clamps
As others have noted, the percent-charged reading can be grossly misleading. My experience is that when it shows 100%, you can expect to continue charging for another couple of hours before reaching full charge. Other than that, this charger works well. The biggest consideration with this product, however, is life expectancy. While this charger comes with a five year warranty, you are unlikely to get anywhere near that before it dies. This has been my experience with several Schumacher battery chargers. Unfortunately, there is almost nothing in the way of comparable items by other makers to choose from.
I bought this charger to replace a 15yr. old manual charger that finally gave up the ghost. All I can say is that chargers have come a long way over the last decade and a half. This charger was about 1/3 the price of the one it replaced. It's easy to use and does a great job. I would prefer metal construction rather than the plastic, but given the price, that's a minor complaint. The fan is a bit loud, but I don't sleep in my garage so I don't see that as an issue either.
I've used this charger several times. Most recently to revive the battery in my wife's mini van. It was drained to less than 6v when my kids left the interior lights on. In the past, this would have been a death sentence for the battery, but the SSC-1500A was able to recharge it without any problems. It's been over 2 months and her car starts just fine. Considering it's winter in Alaska, that's no small feet for a battery that was drained as far as her's was.
The SSC-1500A was also able to breathe new life into a portable jump start battery that had recently started refusing to accept more than a 50% charge with it's included wall wart. I hooked the SSC-1500A's clamps to the portable batteries clamps, started the charge and left it overnight. The next morning the portable battery was back to full capacity.
I'll say it again, great charger for the price.
Purchased through Amazon the SSC 1500A charger arrived well packaged and in a timely fashion, as promised. My car battery was almost out of juice, having only enough to dimly illuminate the interior lights. Easy to hook up and get started at a "medium" size battery setting . The blinking yellow light came on, indicating that the battery was being desulfated. Left it on overnight and the next morning the "BAD" message was on the indicator panel. Car wouldn't start. Disconnected the charger for a few minutes, reconnected it and started over with same setting. Same yellow blinking light. came on. Left it for 24 hours and came back to find yellow blinking light still on. Checked the 'percent charged' indicator and it was at 19%. Car wouldn't start. Disconnected and reconnected again, this time increasing the charge rate to 15 amps by selecting the "large" battery setting. Came back 8 hours later and the "BAD" message was again on, and the percent charge was still 19 %. "
Highly annoyed and ready to send it back at this point, decided to keep trying as felt no way the battery could be bad. Reconnected, at the same "large setting and sat down to watch. Yellow blinking light stayed on for about 15 minutes and then went steady (unblinking). Percent charged started moving up and I was elated. Left and came back 6 hours later. The % charged indicator showed 60%, but the "BAD" indicator was on, along with the red light which indicated the same thing. Decided to try to start the car anyway. Started on the first crank with a strong burst from the starter motor. Left the engine running and got out of the car to find the % charged indicator moving steadily upward until it stopped at 72% about 5 minutes later. Turned of the car and left to let the battery become completely charged. Came back an hour later, " "BAD " message on again and battery 60% charged. Now totally peeved, disconnected the charger, vowing to return it. Opened the car door to put some stuff inside and noticed the interior lights were shining brightly. Car started up immediately and did so several times in a row. Two weeks later and it still starts up immediately. Problem solved---but obviously after a big hassle.
I think the issue must be in the microchip sensor or the circuitry of the charger. Probably does not effect every unit sold but definitely a good sign of poor quality control. I will still return the unit and if there is a hassle, I will let you know. - Battery Charger - Automatic Battery Charger - Schumacher - Battery Chargers'
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