Holiday imperial 2001, Owner'S Manual, Page: 205 / 301

applied to the battery(s) while monitoring voltage to see if they will perform to
their specific rated capacities
NOTE: See the chart for temperature compensation. Liquid
levels should be even between the cells of the battery being
tested as it will affect the accuracy of the test.
WARNING: Sulfuric acid in the batteries can cause severe
injury or death. Sulfuric acid can cause permanent damage
to eyes, burn skin and eat holes in clothing. Always wear
splash-proof safety goggles when working around the bat-
tery. If the battery electrolyte is splashed in the eyes or on
skin, immediately flush the affected area for 15 minutes with
large quantities of clean water. In case of eye contact, seek
immediate medical aid. Never add acid to a battery once the
battery has been placed in service. Doing so may result in
hazardous splattering of electrolyte.
1. Physical Condition:
Active material flakes off the plates and falls to the bottom of the cell.
This is normal, but sediment accumulation under the plates can short out a cell.
The plate separators fail to insulate positive and negative plates in a cell and
the cell becomes shorted, ruining the battery.
2. Insufficient Electrolyte:
This allows exposed portions of the plates to sulfate rapidly. This reduces
the battery’s ability to accept a charge and the battery capacity is reduced.
Accelerated erosion of the lower portions of the plates occur from higher than
normal acid content due to water loss. Only the water evaporates, not the acid.
The battery also has a higher internal resistance when low on water. Add only
distilled water. Fill each cell to the bottom of the vent well when the battery is
warm. Filling a very cold battery with water to the bottom of the vent well will
cause overspill when the battery warms up and the plates expand. A Battery
Formula For Failure: the battery has a higher internal resistance when low on
water, therefore:
high resistance = more heat = shorter battery life!
3. Sulfation:
When a battery remains discharged for too long the accumulated lead sul-
fate in the plate material solidifies and cannot reenter the electrolyte. When a
battery is left in a discharged state the lead sulphate will crystallize. Charging
the battery does not move the crystallized lead sulphate off the battery plate.
The battery is damaged.
4. Overheating:
The chemical reaction inside of the battery is increased when the battery
temperature rises above 125º F. This increases the corrosion of the plates and
reduces the battery life. When overheated, the battery plates tend to buckle and
destroy the structural integrity of the battery.
Electrical Systems - House
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I M P E R I A L 8 • 2 0 5
Seven Reasons
Why
Batteris Fail