17.
PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS
CAUTION
a. Consider having someone close enough or within the range of your voice to come to your
aid when you work near a lead acid battery.
b. Have plenty of soap, water and baking soda nearby in case battery acid comes in contact
with skin, clothes or eyes.
c. Wear complete eye protection, hand and clothing protection. Avoid touching eyes while
working near a battery.
d. If battery acid contacts skin or clothing, wash immediately with soap and water. If acid
enters eye, immediately flood eye with running cold water for at least 15 minutes and get
medical attention immediately.
e. NEVER smoke, strike a match or cause a spark or flame in vicinity of battery or engine.
f. Be extra cautious to reduce risk of dropping a metal tool onto the battery. It might spark
or short-circuit a battery or other electrical hardware which may cause an explosion or fire.
g. Remove all personal metal items such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, watches and jewelry
when working near a battery. A battery can produce a short circuit current high enough
to weld a ring or any other metal, causing serious burns.
h. Use charger for charging a LEAD ACID battery only. It is not intended to supply power
to a low voltage electrical system other than in a start-motor application. Do not use
battery charger for charging dry-cell batteries that are commonly used with home
appliances. These batteries may burst and cause injury to persons and damage to property.
i. NEVER charge a frozen, damaged or leaking battery.
j. Keep other persons, children and pets away from batteries and your charger during
operation to avoid serious injury, death, fire or explosion.
k. Do not place the charger in the engine compartment or near moving parts. Place away
from the battery using the length of the DC cables.
l. Consult vehicle owner’s manual.
Personal Precautions
5
18.
PREPARING TO CHARGE A BATTERY
CAUTION
a. When it is necessary to remove a battery from a vehicle to charge, make sure the
engine is off and all accessories in-vehicle are off, as to not cause an arc. Always
remove the grounded negative terminal from the battery first.
b. Study all battery manufacturers’ specific precautions; warnings and instructions while
charging and recommended rates of charge. Never charge a battery with missing safety
vent caps.
c. Be sure the area around the charger and batteries is well ventilated while the battery is being
charged.
If the electrolyte is splashed into an eye, immediately force the eye open and flood it
with clean cool water for at least 15 minutes. Get prompt medical attention.
If electrolyte is taken internally, drink large quantities of water or milk. DO NOT induce
vomiting. Get prompt medical attention.
Neutralize with baking soda any electrolyte that spills on a vehicle or in the work area.
After neutralizing, rinse contaminated area clean with water.
d. Clean battery terminals. Be careful to keep corrosion from coming in contact with eyes.
e. For flooded batteries with removable caps, ONLY ADD DISTILLED WATER in each cell
until electrolyte reaches levels specified by the battery manufacturer. Do not over fill.
For a maintenance free battery without removable caps, such as valve regulated lead
acid batteries, carefully follow manufacturer’s recharging instructions.
f. Study all battery manufacturer’s specific precautions while charging and recommended
rates of charge.
g. Determine voltage of battery by referring to car owner’s and battery manufacture
manual and labels and make sure that charger output voltage is a correct voltage
range for the battery you are charging. Refer to Battery Types specified in this manual
Preparing to Charge
6