BATTERIES
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WARNING!
Use extreme caution when working with batteries. Sulfuric acid in batteries can cause severe injury if allowed
to contact skin or eyes.
Explosive hydrogen gas is vented from inside the battery caps. This gas can be ignited by any electrical arc,
spark, or flame.
When working with batteries:
•
Remove all jewelry
•
Wear safety glasses
•
Do not smoke
•
Do not allow tools to touch more than one battery terminal at a time
•
Work in a well ventilated area
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BATTERY MAINTENANCE
Proper maintenance of electric vehicle batteries can greatly extend their life.
There are 3 simple rules for good battery maintenance:
•
Maintain Proper Electrolyte Level
- Use distilled water in batteries whenever possible. If batteries are
discharged, add just enough water to cover the plates in each cell. If batteries are fully charged, fill each
cell to the bottom of the filler tube.
Do not over-fill the batteries! Do not add acid to batteries!
•
Keep the Batteries Charged
- Batteries should be charged each time that a machine is used for more
than 1 hour. Machine operators should tip the solution tank forward and the recovery tank to the side of
the machine for charging, to avoid a concentrated build-up of hydrogen gas. Operators should follow the
instructions provided with their specific battery charger, to determine how long the batteries should be
charged. Even when a machine is stored, the batteries should be charged once a month to prevent the
batteries from “sulfating”. Almost all battery caps are vented, so there’s no need to loosen or remove
them for charging.
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BA 500
Service Manual
