Product Description

This speedcharge charger has computer control to enhance the charge rate and it also monitors the battery condition to insure that the battery is not overcharged. With this charger, your batteries will be fully charged quicker than with conventional chargers. This charger is designed for use with 6-volt and 12-volt, deep cycle, gel cell and absorbed glass mat batteries. It also features a black and gray polypropylene case with retractable handle and push button controls to select and display charge rates.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #775 in Automotive
• Color: Grey & black
• Brand: Schumacher
• Model: SC-8000A
• Dimensions: 10.00" h x 6.00" w x 12.00" l,

Features

• 30-amp rapid charge and 12-amp fast charge features self adjustment and adjusts charge rate to prevent battery damage
• Compatible with virtually every type of automotive or light marine battery
• 80-amp engine start provides quick power to crank the engine
• 2-amp slow charge for small batteries and large battery maintenance
• 100-amp clamps for top and side-mounted battery posts

Customer Reviews

SC-8000A
The meter accuracy on the SC-800A was within 0.05 volts, and the charging algorithms appear to work well, although they are not described in the instructions.

I observed that the voltage was generally limited to 15.5 for regular, 16.0 for deep cycle, and 14.7 for AGM batteries. The 30 amp capability is in the form of a long timed pulse of about 2 minutes followed by 12 amps for a similar time period, then repeating until the voltage has risen enough that it isn't required. The amperage isn't constant, it tapers down to limit the voltage in typical CC/CV fashion, although the algorithm appears to actually be more complex. For instance, on a particular AGM battery it went to 15.5 volts near the end of the charge (95%) with current at about 1.5 amps for about 30 minutes and then stopped (completed). I suspect that this was an automatic attempt to condition the battery. A DieHard 71227 charger (Schumacher makes the DieHard 71227 charger) did the same thing. After three discharge cycles, it stoped doing the "high-voltage treatment". Also, in AGM mode it went to 15.5 volts briefly during one of the 40 amp cycles. Although the instructions for DieHard Platinum and Odyssey batteries say to choose a charger with <14.8 volts, this charger was obviously designed with these batteries in mind.

Two small negative notes. If a battery has voltage close to zero, the safety features won't let it operate. Also, if the AC power cycles, it will come back on as a charger set for 2 amps in regular battery mode after 15 minutes. I wouldn't recommend leaving an AGM battery connected in maintenance mode. It's odd that the charger doesn't store the last used settings in the microprocessor's eeprom, or just use battery power to keep the processor running.

Overall, it's a nice charger. I hope some of the tech info above helps.

Nice charger
Good charger. Well built except for the two flimsy plastic cable retaining posts on the back. I will probably make some modifications after the warranty is over. I've been wrapping the power cord on the rear posts & wrapping the hook-up cables around the top handle (the instructions don't mention that option). The charge percentage reading is very helpful but not always accurate (can be fixed by unplugging & starting charge process over if you are not sure the reading is correct). I haven't used the alternator check yet. I found the start feature to have too short of duration... just a few seconds then the charger has to cool down for several minutes before you can use the start feature again. Overall I am please with my purchase.

Can't Use 2-Amp Setting for Car Batteries
The Schumacher SC-8000A Speedcharge Charger/Maintainer is not meant to be used as a 2-amp trickle charger for an automobile, but that was not clear until I received the item and read the instruction manual.

I ordered this to be a trickle charger/maintenance charger for my Mazda Miata's small battery and to jump start it when needed. It is a small battery by car standards, but per Schumacher Model SC-8000A, a "small" battery is defined as "those commonly used in garden tractors, snow mobiles and motorcycles."

By Schumacher standards, my battery is a "regular"/"larger" battery and per the instructions, it will charge my Mazda Miata car battery at 12-30 amps. It is not meant to charge my car's battery at the 2-amp rate. The instructions for the Schumacher SC-8000A Speedcharge Charger/Maintainerinstructions state:

"The 2A rate is not intended to be used as a trickle charger for larger batteries."

I am returning it and instead getting the Battery Tender Plus, which with its slow 1.25-amp charge will not harm my car's battery. From speaking with mechanics and Mazda, it doesn't sound like a good idea to charge my Miata's relatively small battery (when compared to the size of other car batteries) at a rate of 12 amps to 30 amps. I realize the Battery Tender Plus is not a jump starter, but it is a trickle charger, and I need a trickle charger that won't harm my battery.

Here are the instructions as printed on page 9 of the instruction manual for the Schumacher SC-8000A Speedcharge:

~~~~~

"CHARGE SET BUTTON

Use this button to set the maximum charge rate to one of the following:
*SMALL BATTERY: Provides a charge rate of up to 2A. Intended for charging small batteries such as those commonly used in garden tractors, snow mobiles and motorcycles. ***The 2A rate is not intended to be used as a trickle charger for larger batteries.***

*REGULAR BATTERY: Provides a charge rate of up to 12A-30A depending on the battery. Use for charging normal or large batteries. Not intended for industrial applications."

~~~~~

Other things I noticed about this product:

1. To operate the Schumacher SC-8000A Speedcharge Charger/Maintainer, you must know what kind of battery you have. The SC-8000A has 4 settings: 12V Regular, 12V Deep Cycle, 12V AGM/Gel, and 6V Regular. My Miata battery is a 12V AGM/Gel, but I had to do a lot of research to determine what type of battery I had. You can't just go by whether or not the battery has vent caps. With the Battery Tender Plus, no research is necessary. Just connect the positive and negative clamps to your battery and you are set.

2. When using the Schumacher SC-8000A, if it is a negative-grounded system, you connect the red (positive) output clamp to the positive post, but the negative clamp *cannot* and *must not* be connected to the negative post. You have to connect the negative clamp to, according to the SC-8000A's instructions, "a heavy, unpainted metal part of the chassis or engine block, away from the battery." And "DO NOT connect clamp to negative battery post, carburetor, fuel line or sheet metal part." Since my Miata's battery is located in the trunk, near no engine parts nor other metal parts, there is nothing to clip the negative clamp onto besides the trunk, which I can't do since it cannot be connected to a "sheet metal part." There is nothing else for the negative clamp to be connected to in my trunk. (The same holds true when using the SC-8000A for positive-grounded systems and connecting the positive clamp: you cannot and must not connect the positive clamp to the positive post.) This feels counterintuitive to me.

With the Battery Tender Plus, I can connect both positive and negative clamps to my battery's terminals. I don't have to worry about finding some other part of the car to clamp on the battery to. I don't have to figure out whether my system is a "negative-grounded system" or a "positive grounded system," which I must determine if I am going to use the Schumacher SC-8000A. Sure, the Battery Tender Plus won't jump start a dead battery, but at least it can maintain it.

For that matter, the Schumacher SC-8000A won't jump start a dead battery, either. Not without following the manual instructions I have included at the end of this review.

3. This Schumacher product is larger and heavier than I anticipated. The Battery Tender Plus is extremely small and lightweight. I don't like moving or carrying the Schumacher SC-8000A. It is too heavy for me.

4. The warning about washing your hands after touching the cables due to lead exposure is disconcerting. "Handling the cord on this product or cords associated with accessories sold with this product, may expose you to lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling."

5. IMPORTANT NOTE: ***For those who want to use this to jump a completely dead battery, per a Schumacher representative, it can be done using the following steps:

A. Connect charger to battery.
B. Hold down the charge rate button. While you hold this down, plug the charger in to electrical power source.
C. Let the button go once the charger is plugged in.
D. This sets it in "manual mode." Leave it on Manual Mode for about 2-3 minutes.
E. Unplug from electrical power source (while leaving it still connected to battery).
F. Replug back in to electrical power source. The surge inside will activate the charging mode in a completely dead battery.


Please see attached photos of the size difference between the Schumacher SC-8000A Speedcharge Charger/Maintainer and the Battery Tender Plus.