FORM NO. 56043055 / HR 2800, HR 2800C / BR 700, BR 700C
- 37
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BATTERY MAINTENANCE
Proper maintenance of electric vehicle batteries can greatly extend their life. Well-maintained batteries may last up to 3 years, but failure
after 1 year is common if maintenance has been poor.
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 open the battery compartment cover 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.
•
Keep the Batteries Clean
- Use a damp cloth to wipe dirt from the top of the batteries. Battery terminals must be clean and tight.
If the tops of the batteries are wet after charging, the batteries have probably been over-filled or over-charged. Note: If there is acid
on the batteries, wash the tops of the batteries with a solution of baking soda and water (2) tablespoons of baking soda to 1 quart
of water.
BATTERY TESTING
A battery problem is usually recognized by the machine operator, as a decrease in the machine’s running time. This condition is usually
caused by one (or more) “dead cell” in the battery system- that is, one (or more) cell that is putting out less voltage than the other cells.
Note:
Always charge batteries before testing.
There are 2 ways to find a dead cell:
•
Use a hydrometer to check the specific gravity (or “state of charge”) of the fluid in each cell. A dead cell is one that reads 50 points
(or more) lower than the other cells.
•
Use a volt meter to check the voltage of each battery with the scrub drive motor running. The battery with the dead cell will read
1 or 2 volts lower than the other batteries in the system.
If the batteries in the machine are more than 1 year old, it’s usually best to replace the whole set, rather than replacing just one battery.
revised 2/05
Summary of Contents for Hydro-Retriever 2800 BR700
Page 2: ......
