Holiday Trip 2012, Owner'S Manual

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2012 Trip
Periodically check the batteries for corrosion
and cracks. Replace vent plugs that are cracked
or missing. Keep the top of the batteries
clean. The accumulation of electrolyte and
dirt may permit small amounts of current to
flow between the terminals, that can drain the
battery.
Check the battery connections for tightness
and corrosion. Battery terminals and cables
will occasionally need the corrosion removed.
The batteries and trays will also need to be
cleaned. This requires removing the cables and
possibly the batteries from the tray(s)
WARNING:
Liquid lead acid batteries produce a
highly explosive hydrogen gas while
charging. Do not smoke around
batteries and keep all sources of
ignition or flames away from batteries.
The hydrogen gas may explode
resulting in fire, personal injury,
property damage or death.
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 battery. 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.
Battery Tools:
A few simple hand tools are required to work
on the batteries and should be kept aside for
working on batteries only.
Wear old clothes. Clothing is easily
damaged when in contact with
batteries.
Wear thick rubber gloves that are
solvent and thinner proof.
Keep a ½" box-end wrench, wire brush
and pair of adjustable pliers separate
from other tools.
Safety Precautions:
Working on batteries requires a few safety
procedures:
Never short battery terminals or
cables with anything metallic to “test”
batteries for power.
Wear safety glasses. Even a small
amount of corrosion or acid can be
very painful and harmful to the eyes.
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When wire brushing terminals, work
the brush in one direction away from
you. Avoid contacting opposite polarity
terminals. Avoid breathing the powder.
A particle mask can be helpful.
Before performing major maintenance
procedures, draw a diagram of how the
batteries fit in the tray and the relative location
of the positive and negative terminals. Draw
a diagram of cable routing, polarity and how
the cables attach to the batteries. Mark all
cables positive and negative respectively. One
misplaced cable can have disastrous results.
Before removing any cables, stop all
charging or discharging current.
Unhook from shore power or stop the
generator.
Turn off the inverter.
If the motorhome has solar panels,
remove the fuse near the battery
connection or place a blanket
over the top of the panels. Unhooking
charge wires from the solar panel
during daylight hours can damage the
controller.
Remove all rings and wristwatch to
prevent short circuits. A severe burn
can instantly occur.
Open the battery compartment door.
Turn off the interior house power and
the main battery disconnects.
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Battery Tools
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