F04, F05, F02, F03 Battery Charger Codes: What Does F03 Mean?
Different brands of battery chargers may not use the same codes or definitions. Error codes are up to the discretion of the company making the battery chargers or other devices sometimes they are the same and sometimes they are not.
There are several different meanings to the F03 error code. One is that you are trying to charge a large battery on a low setting. Another is that the battery charging tool voltage is too low to accept a charge and one more, charging took too long.
To learn more about these error codes, just continue reading our article. It has the information you want to know about so you do not end up throwing a battery charger away when you do not understand the codes.
Battery Charger Codes
What Is The Light Code On a Battery Charger?
The light code is designed to let you know if there is a generic problem or if all systems are go. If you see a red light that means that there is a problem somewhere in the charger, battery, or cables.
This is usually telling you that there is a break in communication between the battery and the battery charger. A green light is what you want to see. That light is telling you that the battery is fully charged and everything is working as it should.
An orange light tells you that the charger is working fine and there is something wrong with the battery. It is not charging and that means that the battery may be damaged and replaced.
If the green light is flashing, it means that the battery is almost charged and an orange flashing light means the battery is not charging and needs to be replaced.
The red light could also mean that the battery is connected to the charger and is accepting the charge. You should read the owner’s manual that came with the charger to get the right message for the lights for that specific brand.
Some battery chargers come with a 4th yellow light. That is just telling you that the battery is low and needs to be recharged. If your charger has a blue light on it, that means that the battery needs to be replaced.
What Does Fault Mean on a Battery Charger?
This light is located on your dashboard and it is usually near the battery icon. The normal colors you will see are red or orange. These two colors give the same basic message to you when they are lit up.
When you see either color illuminated, it means that there is something wrong with the vehicle’s battery charging system. That means you need to take your vehicle to the proper mechanic who can fix it for you.
You can try to do it yourself but unless you have the knowledge, experience, and the tools, it is best to leave this problem to the professionals. Electrical systems in vehicles are not something for novices to work on.
What Does F03 Mean on The Battery Charger?
There are several definitions of this error code on a battery charger. Those definitions will depend on the brand of battery charger you own.
1. Generic battery charger- Battery Voltage Tool Low to Accept Charge - Have the battery checked by certified auto service repair.
2. Schumacher (manual)- The battery was unable to reach the "full charge" voltage- May be caused by trying to charge a large battery or bank of batteries on too low of a current setting. Try again with a higher current setting or have the battery checked or replaced.
3. Black & Decker charger (manual)- INTERNAL OPEN CELL - Have the battery checked by a certified auto service center. SULFATED CONDITION - The battery needs to be reconditioned. See manual.
4. UPS Systems Tripp Lite (manual)- OVER CHARGE- Turn the unit off, unplug UPS, and contact Tripp Lite Technical Support for assistance
5. Vector (manual)- SULFATED BATTERY- When batteries are left in a discharged state for a long period of time, they become "sulfated". Sulfated batteries cannot accept a high rate of charge since the internal plates are coated with lead sulphate. To see if a battery in this condition can be "saved", follow the instructions in battery restore.
As you can see, the meaning of the F03 error code means something different for the different brands. The best way to find the meaning of your specific brand is to read the troubleshooting section of your owner’s manual.
Sometimes, the error codes are given their own section but they are usually included in the manual.
Battery Charger Code F03
Do not assume that this code is universal in application or meaning. As we have shown in the previous section, this code means different things to different manufacturers.
There may be some similarity among battery chargers of the same brand but not with different brands. The best thing to do is read your owner’s manual and not go to the different RV discussion forums for help.
Usually, we will direct you to those forums but in this case, the help you receive may not be helpful at all. The different owners may not know, or have a different model or brand than you and you can accidentally get bad advice.
Go to the manual or the technical customer service department of the brand of battery charger you own first. That way you will get your answers and be able to make the adaptions required to have the battery charger work again.
What is The Code F04 on a Battery Charger?
1. Generic battery charger- Overtime Condition - The battery will not accept a charge after 18 hours of continuous charging. The battery may have internal damage. Have the battery checked by a certified auto center. OR Battery Charge Rate is Set Too Low - Set charger to higher charge rate. See manual.
2. Schumacher (manual)- The connections to the battery are reversed- The battery is connected backward. Unplug the charger and reverse the connections to the battery.
3. Black & Decker (manual)- OVERTIME CONDITION - The battery will not accept a charge after 18 hours of continuous charging. The battery may have
internal damage. Have the battery checked by a certified auto center.
BATTERY CHARGE RATE IS SET TOO LOW - Set charger to higher charge rate. See manual.
4. UPS systems Tripp Lite (manual)- BATTERY LOW VOLTAGE- Charge UPS for 24 hours. If the problem persists, replace the battery and contact Tripp Lite Technical Support if the problem persists
Vector did not label a fault code with an F04 number. If you see an F04 on this charger it could mean just about anything. It could be a bad connection, charging too slowly, too fast, and so on.
Read the Vector manual to get a better idea of what the F04 error code could mean or call their customer service for help.
What Does F02 Mean on a Battery Charger?
1. Generic battery charger- Battery Voltage Tool Low to Accept Charge - Have the battery checked by certified auto service repair.
Internal Open Cell - Have the battery checked by a certified auto service center.
2. Schumacher (manual)- The charger cannot desulfate the battery- The battery could not be desulfated; have it checked or replaced.
3. Black & Decker (manual)- BAD BATTERY CONNECTION - Check battery connection. BATTERY VOLTAGE TOO LOW TO ACCEPT CHARGE - Have the battery checked by a certified auto service center.
4. UPS systems Tripp Lite (manual)- OVER LOAD- Remove excess load, check load meter on LCD for load status.
5. Vector (manual) - CHARGER FAILS TO CHARGE AND DISPLAYS AN F02 CODE- This can mean several things, including no connection to a battery, but it can also occur if the battery is both discharged and under a loading situation.
This can happen if an accessory (dome light, radio, etc.) is on and remains
on while attempting to charge. It can also happen if a diode in the alternator is leaky and has totally discharged the battery to a voltage of less than 4 volts. The best remedy for this situation is to remove one of the
two cables from the battery and allow the battery to self-recover to a voltage of above 4 volts DC.
The battery may take several hours or more to recover to this voltage which then allows the charger to operate. Once the battery has recovered enough to allow charging, it is best to charge at the lowest possible charge rate. Even at that, it may take a few charging cycles to make the battery fully recover from such a deeply discharged state
F02 Battery Charger Code
The story is the same here. What the F02 error code means will vary among different battery charger manufacturers. The best thing to do is to read your manual or talk to customer service or technical support for help.
That is if you do not have a manual handy or your computer turned on. Or you can go to your local electronics repair shop and talk to them about this code. The error code is very straight forward and easy to understand.
The key is not to assume the code means the same no matter which brand of battery charger you own. Keep your manual in a safe place, one that you will remember, and look at it when you see the fault code on the display screen.
That will save you a lot of time and hassle when batteries are not charging or the charger is not charging.
Battery Charger Code F01
1. Generic battery charger- Internal Shorted Cell Battery - Cannot be charged. Have the battery checked by a certified auto service center.
Excessive Load on Battery While Charging - Check load.
Bad Battery Connection - Check battery connection.
For the generic fault codes, there may be some overlap between the codes.
2. Schumacher (manual)- The battery voltage is still under 10V (for a 12V battery) or 5V (for a 6V battery) after 2 hours of charging- The battery could be bad. Have it checked or replaced.
3. Black & Decker (manual)- INTERNAL SHORTED CELL BATTERY - Cannot be charged. Have the battery checked by a certified auto service center.
EXCESSIVE LOAD ON BATTERY WHILE CHARGING - Check the load
4. UPS systems Tripp Lite (manual)- OUTPUT SHORT- Disconnect load(s) from UPS outlets. Power off UPS and contact Tripp Lite Technical Support for assistance.
5. Vector (manual)- INTERNAL SHORT CELL BATTERY (F01)
If the battery being charged has been short-circuited, the fault LED will light.
If the FAULT LED light comes on, we recommend that you take your battery to a certified automotive service center for evaluation
Battery Charger Code F05
1. Generic battery charger- Overheated Condition - Disconnect charger and allow to cool for 30 minutes. Check for ample ventilation.
2. Schumacher- The charger was unable to keep the battery fully charged in maintain mode- The battery won't hold a charge. May be caused by a drain on the battery or the battery could be bad. Make sure there are no loads on the battery. If there are remove them. If there are none, have the battery checked or replaced.
3. Black & Decker (manual)- OVERHEATED CONDITION - Disconnect charger and allow to cool for 30 min., check for ample ventilation
4. UPS Systems Tripp Lite (manual)- BATTERY MODE HIGH OUTPUT- Turn off power to the UPS and contact Tripp Lite Technical Support for assistance.
5. Vector did not have an F05 fault code in its manual. Contact the company if you see this code.
Some Additional Words
When you get a light code or a fault code, depending on the color or the number, you may be okay or you may have a problem. The green light means everything is fine but different colors indicate a problem somewhere in the charging system.
Then if you get an F error code, depending on the number following it, your charging problem may be severe or easy to handle. Just keep the manual nearby to help you decipher the codes correctly.
