1.) Be sure to use the car battery charger in a well-ventilated place. Potentially explosive flammable gas is formed during the process of charging and ventilation stops it from building up to dangerous levels.
2.) Ensure that there are no naked flames or persons smoking near to the car battery whilst you are charging it. Equipment that could cause sparking (electric motors for example) needs to be some distance from the charging area.
3.) If you are using metal tools, avoid short circuiting between the battery terminals. Also avoid short circuiting between the terminals to the vehicle bodywork or engine.
4.) It is important that when car battery chargers are used, they should be connected to the car battery prior to starting the battery charger. Potentially dangerous sparking with the possibility of flammable gas ignition will be avoided.
5.) Ensure that you have read the instruction booklet which came with the charger, and follow all instructions carefully. If the instructions have been lost, get a replacement copy from the manufacturer.
6.) If you are going to open the battery cells to check or top up the electrolyte levels, you should wear safety eye protection and acid-resistant gloves. The acid inside vehicle batteries is corrosive and can cause skin burns and eye injuries.
7.) Before starting to open up the battery cells, be sure to get some clean water and have it near to you. The water can be useful to rinse skin or eyes if you are unlucky enough to come in contact with battery acid.
8.) Car batteries which have discharged are susceptible to freezing in low temperatures. If there is a possibility that the battery is frozen, thaw it before attempting to charge or it may burst and leak.
9.) Ideally you should run the car battery charger at its lowest setting. This prevents overheating and damaging the battery and can increase its life.
10.) Site the charger as far as possible from the car battery. You should also keep pets and people out of the area where you are charging.
Be safe, see Peter Martin’s site for more vehicle battery charger information and essential vehicle battery charger safety tips. Also published at 10 Car Battery Charger Safety Tips.