The Schumacher SC1281 is a fully automatic battery charger and engine starter designed for use with SUVs, trucks, and large batteries. With 100 Amp engine start and 30 Amp boost mode, this unit delivers results when you need it most. Microprocessor controlled to automatically adjust the amperage rate and diagnose problems, the unit features multi-stage charging for added precision, safety and battery life. Includes auto voltage detection, stop/start button, and reverse hook-up protection with an LED light indicator that prevents the charger from operating if the clamps are reversed. Schu Eco Energy meets the highest industry standards. DOE compliant and compatible with standard, AGM, gel, and deep-cycle batteries.
VERSATILE COMPATIBILITY: Charges compatible battery types, including standard, AGM, gel, and deep-cycle batteries
MULTIPLE MODES: Features 30 Amp quick boost and 100 Amp jumpstart, powerful enough to start SUVs, trucks, and large batteries
FULLY AUTOMATIC: Microprocessor-controlled system automatically adjusts amperage; includes LED indicator lights
EASE OF USE: Battery and alternator tester provides charge level and helps diagnose electrical problems automatically; multi-stage charging and auto-voltage detection. Battery Type: Standard, AGM, Gel, Deep-Cycle
SAFE AND RELIABLE: Reverse hook-up protection ensures charger will not operate if clamps are reversed
Price: $89.99
(as of Jan 27, 2025 18:48:21 UTC – Details)
Customer Reviews
Reviewer: Fordman93
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Excellent battery charger maintainer , jump starter
Review: This is one of the best battery charger maintainers I have ever owned very good does a very good job , comes with very clear instructions and very easy to use even has a jump starter for dead batteryâs I couldnât ask for anything better than this wish I would have bought this years ago
Reviewer: Kevin
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Nice unit
Review: Just received my new charger a few days ago and it works pretty much as advertised. Based on some reviews I expected it to be rather loud but, while you can certainly hear the fan, itâs no worse than a PC case fan and not a bother at all in my shop. The unit itself is solid with good leads and decent clamps. The display is great with bright and easy to read LEDs although I havenât tried it in direct sunlight yet. The lead storage hooks on the back should be a larger with a place to lock the clamps on but itâs better than my previous charger that had no storage at all. Although I havenât used them yet the jump start and alternator test modes should be useful.The one complaint I have is really with the instructions. The charger is advertised as being compatible with deep-cycle marine/RV batteries and it is but neither the manual nor Schumacher website give any information on what settings to use for them. The settings are limited to Standard, AGM, and Gel with no specific deep-cycle choice. My previous charger, a very old analog Schumacher, had a two position switch, one for a standard battery (labeled SLI for starter, lighting, instrument) and the other position for deep-cycle but this one doesnât. The manual has a convenient description of standard (wet cell), AGM, and Gel battery types but only mentions that AGM and Gel batteries are often deep-cycle while failing to mention that many deep-cycle batteries (including my own) are standard wet cells.So, what selection is best for wet-cell deep-cycle batteries? Schumacherâs answer is to use the AGM setting for all deep-cycle batteries including wet, AGM and Gel. Seems that it would be a simple addition to their manual and they might also want to consider changing the control to read AGM/Deep-Cycle.BTW, be careful of answers provided on Amazon. I received three answers (so far) to the question about deep-cycle batteries I posted, each different. One correctly identified AGM as the appropriate setting but another said Std and the third claimed it was all automatic. The charging process is fully automatic but the charger does not automatically identify the battery type. I checked this with three different types of batteries I had on hand. Each time the charger correctly identified the battery voltage but defaulted to AGM and 30amp charging regardless of the actual type of battery (Std, AGM, or Gel) or initial charge so be sure to correctly set the battery type and your desired charge rate. The default to 30amp/AGM is mentioned in the manual so there is nothing wrong with my charger. The charger does automatically transition to charged/maintaining mode once the battery is charged.The other possible issue I have is that when I started to charge an AGM battery at 6/2 amps the display showed it as being 79% charged. After about 15 minutes of charging that progressed to 80% and then 81% when it suddenly jumped to 100% and the charger went into charge/maintaining mode. According to Schumacher the big jump was typical but she couldnât explain why so Iâm not sure if the battery is 100% charged or if itâs actually only 81%. Iâll see when I actually get around to using it.
Reviewer: Tim Schmerbeck
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: works GREAT, will charge a completely dead battery
Review: I bought this battery charger because my previous, very old, charger finally stopped working. I purchased a different battery charger first but then realized that it would NOT charge a completely dead battery. This was one of the very few battery chargers on the market that will charge a completely dead battery. A battery charger that won’t do this is worthless to me as I usually only get out my battery charger when I have a dead battery. Other than that this battery charger is very easy to use, reads out the charging current and battery voltage and even estimates how much the battery is charged. It will automatically shut off when the battery is fully charged as well. When it detects that the battery is “sulfated,” a condition where a battery will not charge properly, it goes into a mode to repair the battery. This is very handy for older batteries. It will charge as low as 2 amps to maintain a battery in storage and as high as 30 amps for a very fast charge. It also provides a 100 amp battery boost which is the equivalent of a “jump start” to start a near dead car battery immediately if you are close enough to a power plug to plug it in. The battery charger is also very rugged and, of course, quite heavy too. If you drop it, no worries. It has some advanced features to diagnose a bad car alternator but I have not used this yet.
Reviewer: Omar C.
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Gets the job done, could have slightly better instructions.
Review: My car battery was completely dead. Completely. I followed the instructions attaching the red to connector to the + red battery terminal and the black connector to some metal under the hood. I got a 0.0V read and neither charge mode nor jump start mode would ever kick in. I must’ve tried to figure it out for 20-30 minutes before I decided to follow my gut (instead of the instructions) and connect a battery like I always have (on the battery posts themselves). What do you know? Now I have a voltage read (it was at 9.6V) and the jump start mode worked! Lights came on in the car immediately and had to wait a few minutes to crank the engine. Instructions did help with choosing the battery type (choose standard for your car battery). The charge mode brought my standing voltage up to 11V (that’s without the car turned on). Seems like a good buy. We’ll see how long it lasts. Just be normal and connect straight to car battery terminals.
Reviewer: Cortni
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Easy to Use
Review: My dad has one of these and let me borrow it one day. However, he lives about 2 hours from me and I ended up needing one again. I figured it was easier and just as cheap to get it on here. He’s very picky about the quality of the tools he gets, so he expects that if he tells me something is the right one, it is the only option. In this case, I will say it works really well. He did stress not to even plug it in until I connected the cables. I don’t think that is necessary, because you have to push the power button on to use it, but I did that regardless. I was able to use it on my car and a motorcycle the first time. Then my daughter left her car outside and didn’t move it and the battery died. I know that is bad… Anyhow, it did take a long extension cord to run it over there, but I just left it there and it worked well. My ex said you have to be careful when you use them because they don’t give too much power for a motorcycle, but my dad said it actually can tell on this one how much power is needed. I was leery about it, but he was right. So, all-in-all, being so small and easy to move, along with the other things… I guess it is really good.
Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 1.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Personally would avoid…. surprised Amazon and Seller were allowed to sell this product. No suitable plug provided for the UK, not even sure if this is legal given the electric current difference. Bonafide sellers have always advised not to use USA electrical products in Europe. Shocking. Amazon helpline offered no solution or answer… also had awful time returning the product.
Reviewer: Maria
Rating: 1.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I would like Amazon to pick this up asap at their expense, VERY MISLEADING!
Reviewer: JERMAINE DUFFUS
Rating: 1.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Had a Schumacher charger for years which developed a fault.Brought this one but very disappointed as it woul not charged my battery and had to send it back.
Reviewer: Stewart
Rating: 1.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This item does not work on a 240v supply and only comes with a US plug
Reviewer: Jolene Johnson
Rating: 1.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Don’t make the mistake of buying this thinking that it’s a portable battery charger. It is NOT portable. You must have an extension cord or electrical outlet nearby to use. The cord is very short, so you need an extension cord.
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