Cushman MINUTE MISER, Technician'S Repair And Service Manual

Page: 49 / 119

BATTERIES AND CHARGING
Page E-4
Owner’s Manual and Service Guide
Read all of manual to become thoroughly familiar with this vehicle. Pay particular attention to all Notes, Cautions and Warnings
The batteries should be placed into the battery racks and
the battery hold downs tightened to 45 - 55 in. lbs. (5 - 6
Nm) torque, to prevent movement but not tight enough to
cause distortion of the battery cases.
Inspect all wires and terminals. Clean any corrosion from
the battery terminals or the wire terminals with a solution
of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and brush clean if
required.
To prevent battery explo-
sion that could result in
severe personal injury or
death, extreme care must be used with aerosol con-
tainers of battery terminal protectant. Insulate the
metal container to prevent the metal can from con-
tacting battery terminals which could result in an
explosion.
Use care to connect the battery wires as shown (Ref. Fig.
5 on page 4) . Tighten the battery post hardware to 50 -
70 in. lbs. (6 - 8 Nm) torque
.
Protect the battery terminals
and battery wire terminals with a commercially available
protective coating.
Prolonged Storage
Battery charger and controller must be
disconnected since they will contribute
to the premature discharge of batteries. Other electronic devices
may need to be disconnected.
During periods of storage, the batteries will need atten-
tion to keep them maintained and prevent discharge.
In high temperatures the chemical reaction is faster,
while low temperatures cause the chemical reaction to
slow down. A vehicle that is stored at 90° F (32° C) will
lose .002 of specific gravity each day. If a fully charged
battery has a specific gravity of 1.275, and the battery is
allowed to sit unused, it will become partially discharged.
When it reaches 1.240, which it will do in less than
twenty days, it should be recharged. If a battery is left in
a discharged state, sulfating takes place on and within
the plates. This condition is not reversible and will cause
permanent damage to the battery. In order to prevent
damage, the battery should be recharged. A hydrometer
can be used to determine the specific gravity and there-
fore the state of charge of a battery.
In winter conditions, the battery must be fully charged to
prevent the possibility of freezing (Ref Fig. 6 on page E-
4). A fully charged battery will not freeze in temperatures
above -75° F (-60° C). Although the chemical reaction is
slowed in cold temperatures, the battery must be stored
fully charged, and disconnected from any circuit that
could discharge the battery. For portable chargers, dis-
connect the charging plug from the vehicle receptacle.
For on-board chargers, disconnect the charging harness
from the batteries. The batteries must be cleaned and all
deposits neutralized and removed from the battery case
to prevent self discharge. The batteries should be tested
or recharged at thirty day minimum intervals.
Fig. 5 Battery Connections
! !
BL- to
ESC BL+ to
Solenoid
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
+
RED to Fuse inside Console
BLK to
Charger
WHT to
Charger
Front of Vehicle
Refer to Wiring Diagram Section 'H'
Fig. 6 Freezing Point of Electrolyte
1.100
1.120 1.160 1.200 1.240 1.280
1.140 1.180 1.220 1.260 1.300
-9
-15
-21
-26
-32
-37
-43
-48
-54
-60
-65
-71
E
L
E
C
T
R
O
L
Y
T
E
T
E
M
P
E
R
A
T
U
R
E
SPECIFIC GRAVITY ELECTROLYTE FREEZING POINT
O
C
+15
+5
-5
-15
-25
-35
-45
-55
-65
-75
-85
-95
O
F