FORM NO. 56043042 / Whirlamatic
™
2700 / BHS 7014 - 27
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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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 (Weekly) - 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 (Weekly) - Batteries should be charged each time that a machine is used for more than 30 minutes.
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 (Monthly) - 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.
Charge the batteries each time the machine is used for 30minutes or longer, or whenever the Battery Condition Indicator Lights light up
red. The following lights indicate the percentage of discharge in the battery pack:
• Before SN 1507059 (battery condition indications with Control Box PN 56420145)
Green – Full Charge to 74% Discharge
Yellow – 75% to 83%Discharge
Red – 84% to 92% Discharge
Flashing Red – 93% to Full Discharge
• After SN 1507059 (battery condition indications with Control Box PN 56420189)
Green – Full Charge to 22% Discharge
Green / Yellow – 22% to 54% Discharge
Yellow – 54% to 82% Discharge
Yellow / Red – 82% to 99.6% Discharge
Red – 99.6% to 100% Discharge
Flashing Red – Cut Off
To Charge the Batteries...
1
Open the Battery / Controller Compartment Cover to provide proper ventilation.
2
Push the connector from the charger into the Machine Battery Charger Port on the side of the machine.
3
Follow the instructions on the battery charger.
4
Check the fluid level in all battery cells after charging the batteries. Add distilled water, if necessary, to bring the fluid level up to
the bottom of the filler tubes.
CAUTION!
Acid can spill onto the floor if the batteries are overfilled.
To avoid damage to floor surfaces, wipe water and acid from the top of the batteries after charging.
revised 2/02
