Installation and Operation
18
900-00264-01-001 Rev A
Improper Use
CAUTION: Equipment Damage
Read all items below. Maintenance should be performed as noted on page 22.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in battery damage which is not covered
under the NorthStar NSB BLUE+
®
warranty.
CAUTION: Equipment Damage
Do not exceed the specified absorption voltage when charging any NorthStar NSB
BLUE+
®
battery. Excessive voltage could result in battery damage which is not
covered under the NorthStar NSB BLUE+
®
warranty.
For any NorthStar NSB BLUE+
®
battery, if the charger settings are too high or too low, this will
cause premature aging of the battery, including loss of electrolyte due to gassing. The result
will be permanent loss of some battery capacity and decreased battery life. This is also true for
battery charging that is not compensated for high temperatures.
“Thermal runaway” can result from high ambient temperatures, charging at higher voltages over
extended time, incorrect temperature compensation, or shorted cells. When the buildup of
internal heat exceeds the rate of cooling, the battery’s chemical reaction accelerates. The
reaction releases even more heat, which in turn continues to speed up the reaction. Thermal
runaway causes severe heat, gassing, lost electrolyte, and cell damage. It usually requires
battery replacement. The process can be halted by turning off the charger. However, if cell
damage has occurred, shorted cells may continue to generate heat and gas for some time.
If a NorthStar NSB BLUE+
®
battery is not charged completely (or if the settings are too low), it
will not reach 100% SoC. Its total capacity will not be available during the next discharge cycle.
This capacity will become progressively less and less over subsequent cycles. Long-term
undercharging will result in decreased battery life. This is also true for battery charging that is
not compensated for low temperatures.
