ehaiwie . & | [| { 8 | LD f TECH TIPS Batteries Before handling batteries, safety is always to be considered. Use rubber gloves and goggles when working on and testing batteries. Keep sodium bicarbonate handy to neutralise acid should a spill occur. When charging batteries Hydrogen gas is produced… as in hydrogen bomb… needless to say, charging batteries must be done in a well ventilated area with no open sparks or flames (don’t forget things like space heaters and water heaters may have open flames). Look for obvious problems such as low electrolyte levels, a dirty or wet battery top, corroded or swollen cables/terminals or a leaking @ 5 or damaged battery case. A battery with swollen sides (or bulging) is a ¢ Jf ke telltale that the battery will need replacement. Repair or replace such items WZ as required. Terminal brushes are a good thing and make cleaning the oe terminals fast and effective. When replenishing the battery with water, distilled water is a must. Use the chart below as a guide, when at all possible use the manufacturers’ product specifications, and recharge the battery to 100% State-of-Charge. If checking a non-sealed battery using the specific gravity and there is a difference of .030 (sometimes expressed as 30 “points”) or more of a difference between the cells, then you should equalize the battery using the battery manufacturer’s procedures. On sealed batteries use a digital voltmeter to check the state of charge based on the voltage. Do not load test batteries below a 75% state of charge. Also any battery that does not go over 12.4V when charged must be replaced. 12V 24V Specific |State of System |System |Gravity |Charge y 4 f | 12.58] 25.16] 1.249] 90) Val REV: 20100503 Courtesy Dixie Technical Department TSB_030.doc Dixie Tech Tips are intended for use by professional technicians, and are not for the general public. They are written to inform technicians of conditions that may exist or as a guide to aid in diagnosing and servicing a vehicle. All references to original equipment manufactures, vehicle manufactures and any other Trade Mark names are for the sole purpose of identifying the vehicle and or part that the Tech Tip applies to. This document is property of Dixie Electric Ltd. and is not to be copied or distributed with out written permission.