DeWalt DC612, Instruction Manual

English

3

•

Before using charger, read all instructions and cautionary
markings on charger, battery pack, and product using bat-
tery pack.

DANGER: 

120 volts are present at charging terminals. Do

not probe with conductive objects. Electric shock or electro-
cution may result.

WARNING: 

Do not allow any liquid to get inside charger.

Electric shock may result.

CAUTION: 

To reduce the risk of injury, charge only

D

E

WALT nickel cadmium rechargeable batteries. Other types

of batteries may burst causing personal injury and damage.

CAUTION:

Under certain conditions, with the charger

plugged in to the power supply, the exposed charging con-
tacts inside the charger can be shorted by foreign material.
Foreign materials of a conductive nature such as, but not lim-
ited to, steel wool, aluminum foil, or any buildup of metallic
particles should be kept away from charger cavities. Always
unplug the charger from the power supply when there is no
battery pack in the cavity. Unplug charger before attempting
to clean.
•

DO NOT attempt to charge the battery pack with any
chargers other than the ones in this manual.

The

charger and battery pack are specifically designed to
work together. 

•

These chargers are not intended for any uses other
than charging D

E

WALT rechargeable batteries. 

Any

other uses may result in risk of fire, electric shock or
electrocution.

•

Do not expose charger to rain or snow.

•

Pull by plug rather than cord when disconnecting
charger.

This will reduce risk of damage to electric plug

and cord.

•

Make sure that cord is located so that it will not be
stepped on, tripped over, or otherwise subjected to
damage or stress.

•

Do not use an extension cord unless it is absolutely
necessary.

Use of improper extension cord could result

in risk of fire, electric shock, or electrocution.

•

An extension cord must have adequate wire size
(AWG or American Wire Gauge) for safety. 

The small-

er the gauge number of the wire, the greater the capacity
of the cable, that is 16 gauge has more capacity than 18
gauge. When using more than one extension to make up
the total length, be sure each individual extension con-
tains at least the minimum wire size.

Recommended Minimum Wire Size 

for Extension Cords

Total Length of Cord

25 ft.

50 ft.

75 ft.

100 ft.

125 ft. 150 ft. 175 ft.

7.6 m 15.2 m

22.9 m 30.5 m 38.1 m 45.7 m 53.3 m

Wire Size AWG

18 18 16

16 14 14

12

•

Do not place any object on top of charger or place the
charger on a soft surface that might block the venti-
lation slots and result in excessive internal heat.

Place the charger in a position away from any heat
source. The charger is ventilated through slots in the top
and the bottom of the housing.

•

Do not operate charger with damaged cord or plug 

—

have them replaced immediately.

•

Do not operate charger if it has received a sharp
blow, been dropped, or otherwise damaged in any
way.

Take it to an authorized service center.

•

Do not disassemble charger; take it to an authorized
service center when service or repair is required.

Incorrect reassembly may result in a risk of electric shock,
electrocution or fire.

•

Disconnect the charger from the outlet before
attempting any cleaning. This will reduce the risk of
electric shock.

Removing the battery pack will not

reduce this risk.

•

NEVER

attempt to connect 2 chargers together.

•

The charger is designed to operate on standard
household electrical power (120 Volts). Do not
attempt to use it on any other voltage.

This does not

apply to the vehicular charger.

Battery Performance

Some chargers have a Tune-Up™ feature that optimizes
battery pack performance. Your charger may provide auto-
matic Tune-Up™ mode or manual (i.e., push button) Tune-
Up™ mode. For information on this feature, please see the
appropriate section below. Because batteries slowly lose
their charge when they are not on the charger, the best place
to keep your battery pack is on the charger at all times.

USING AUTOMATIC TUNE-UP™ MODE

The automatic Tune-Up™ Mode equalizes or balances the
individual cells in the battery pack allowing it to function at
peak capacity. Battery packs should be tuned up weekly or
after 10 charge/discharge cycles or whenever the pack no
longer delivers the same amount of work. To use the auto-
matic Tune-Up™, place the battery pack in the charger and
leave it for at least 8 hours. The charger will cycle through the
following modes.

1. The red light will blink continuously indicating that the 

1-hour charge cycle has started.

2. When the 1-hour charge cycle is complete, the light will

stay on continuously and will no longer blink. This indi-
cates that the pack is fully charged and can be used at
this time. 

3. Whenever the pack is left in the charger after the initial 1-

hour charge, the charger will begin the automatic Tune-
Up™ Mode. This mode continues up to 8 hours or until
the individual cells in the battery pack are equalized. The
battery pack is ready for use and can be removed at any
time during the Tune-Up™ Mode. 

4. Once the automatic Tune-Up™ Mode is complete the

charger will transition to a maintenance charge; the indi-
cator light shuts off when the automatic Tune-Up™ Mode
is complete. 

a. Wash quickly with soap and water.
b. Neutralize with a mild acid such as lemon juice or

vinegar.

c. If battery liquid gets into your eyes, flush them with

clean water for a minimum of 10 minutes and seek
immediate medical attention. (

Medical note:

The liq-

uid is 25-35% solution of potassium hydroxide.)

•

Charge the battery packs only in D

E

WALT chargers.

•

DO NOT

splash or immerse in water or other liquids.

•

Do not store or use the tool and battery pack in loca-
tions where the temperature may reach or exceed
105°F (such as outside sheds or metal buildings in
summer).

DANGER:

Never attempt to open the battery pack for any

reason. If battery pack case is cracked or damaged, do not
insert into charger. Electric shock or electrocution may
result. Damaged battery packs should be returned to serv-
ice center for recycling.

NOTE:

Battery storage and carrying caps are

provided for use whenever the battery is out of
the tool or charger. Remove cap before placing
battery in charger or tool.

WARNING: Do not store or carry battery

so that metal objects can contact exposed
battery terminals. 

For example, do not place battery in

aprons, pockets, tool boxes, product kit boxes, drawers, etc.
with loose nails, screws, keys, etc. without battery cap.
Without cap in place, battery could short circuit causing fire
or burns or damage to battery.

CAUTION: 

Battery pack must be securely attached to

tool. If battery pack is detached, personal injury may result.

The RBRC™ Seal

The RBRC™ (Rechargeable Battery Recycling
Corporation) Seal on the nickel-cadmium bat-
tery (or battery pack) indicates that the costs to
recycle the battery (or battery pack) at the end
of its useful life have already been paid by
D

E

WALT. In some areas, it is illegal to place

spent nickel-cadmium batteries in the trash or municipal solid
waste stream and the RBRC program provides an environ-
mentally conscious alternative.
RBRC™ in cooperation with D

E

WALT and other battery

users, has established programs in the United States to facil-
itate the collection of spent nickel-cadmium batteries. Help
protect our environment and conserve natural resources by
returning the spent nickel-cadmium battery to an authorized
D

E

WALT service center or to your local retailer for recycling.

You may also contact your local recycling center for informa-
tion on where to drop off the spent battery.

RBRC™ is a registered trademark of the 

Rechargeable Battery

Recycling Corporation.

Important Safety Instructions for
Battery Chargers

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS: 

This manual contains

important safety instructions for battery chargers.