DR
®
TRIMMER/MOWER
™
Safety & Operating Instructions
25
Battery Care (For Electric-Starting Models Only)
Proper care can extend the life of a battery. Follow these recommendations to ensure your
battery’s best performance and long life:
■
Do not continue to crank the engine with a low battery.
■
Try to keep the battery at full charge to maximize its life. If the machine is not used, you
should charge the battery every thirty to sixty days. See the next section for information
on how to charge a battery.
■
Store an unused battery in a dry area that does not freeze.
Connecting a Battery Charger
Automobile batteries last for years because they are recharged every time you drive your
car—usually on a daily basis. An Electric-Starting DR
TRIMMER/MOWER
will recharge its
battery while you operate it continuously for about 45 minutes or more. However, if you run
your trimmer infrequently (less than 45 minutes with each use) or let it sit during the off-
season without recharging, the battery life is shortened. If the battery loses its charge, use the
DR
®
Battery Charger (available from Country Home Products
) or other trickle charger, to
recharge it. The charger should have an output of 12 Volts at 1–2 amps.
■
At 1 amp the battery may need to be charged for as long as 48 hours.
■
At 2 amps, the battery may need to be charged for as long as 24 hours.
Do not charge an already charged battery. In theory, you cannot overcharge our battery with
a trickle charger; however, when a battery is fully charged and the charger is still on, it
generates heat that could be harmful to the battery. We do not recommend keeping the
charger connected to the battery for more than 48 hours.
Note:
Using the recoil starter and then running the engine will not recharge a dead or
significantly discharged battery.
To connect a battery charger to your DR
TRIMMER/MOWER
follow the steps listed below.
1. Detach the two battery wires going to the wiring harness on your DR
TRIMMER/
MOWER
.
2. Attach the black (–) battery charger wire to the black (–) wire. Attach the red (+)
battery charger wire to the red (+) wire.
3. Plug the battery charger into an outlet.
4. When the battery is charged, disconnect the charger from the battery before
unplugging it from the outlet.