SeaDoo 2006 GTI, Shop Manual

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Section 12 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Subsection 02 (CHARGING SYSTEM)
All Models
Charging a Used Battery

WARNING
Never charge battery while installed in water-
craft.
For best results, battery should be charged when
the electrolyte and the plates are at room tempera-
ture. A battery that is cold may not accept current
for several hours after charging begun.
Do not charge a frozen battery. If the battery
charge is very low, the battery may freeze. If it is
suspected to be frozen, keep it in a heated area
for about 2 hours before charging.

WARNING
Always charge battery in a well ventilated
area.
The time required to charge a battery will vary de-
pending on some factors such as:
– Battery temperature: The charging time is in-
creased as the temperature goes down. The
current accepted by a cold battery will remain
low. As the battery warms up, it will accept a
higher rate of charge.
– State of charge: Because the electrolyte is
nearly pure water in a completely discharged
battery, it cannot accept current as well as
electrolyte. This is the reason the battery will
not accept current when the charging cycle first
begins. As the battery remains on the charger,
the current from the charger causes the elec-
trolytic acid content to rise which makes the
electrolyte a better conductor and then, the
battery will accept a higher charging rate.
– Type of charger: Battery chargers vary in the
amount of voltage and current that they can
supply. Therefore, the time required for the bat-
tery to begin accepting measurable current will
also vary.
Charging a Very Flat or Completely
Discharged Battery
The battery charger should have an adjustable
charging rate. Variable adjustment is preferred,
but a unit which can be adjusted in small incre-
ments is acceptable.
The battery charger must be equipped with an am-
meter capable of accurately measuring current of
less than 1 ampere.
Unless this procedure is properly followed, a good
battery may be needlessly replaced.
– Measure the voltage at the battery posts with
an accurate voltmeter. If it is below 10 volts,
the battery will accept current at very low rate,
in term of milliamperes, because electrolyte
is nearly pure water as explained above. It
could be some time before the charging rate
increases. Such low current flow may not be
detectable on some charger ammeters and the
battery will seem not to accept any charge.
– Exceptionally for this particular case, set the
charger to a high rate.
NOTE: Some chargers have a polarity protection
feature which prevents charging unless the charg-
er leads are connected to the correct battery ter-
minals. A completely discharged battery may not
have enough voltage to activate this circuitry, even
though the leads are connected properly. This will
make it appear that the battery will not accept
a charge. Follow the charger manufacturer's in-
struction on how to bypass or override this circuit-
ry so that the charger will turn on and charge a
low-voltage battery.
– Since the battery chargers vary in the amount
of voltage and current they provide, the time
required for the battery to accept measurable
charger current might be up to approximately
10 hours or more.
– If the charging current is not up to a measurable
amount at the end of about 10 hours, the bat-
tery should be replaced.
– If the charging current is measurable before the
end or at the end of about 10 hours, the battery
is good and charging should be completed in the
normal manner as specified in ACTIVATION OF
A NEW BATTERY.
– It is recommended that any battery recharged
by this procedure be load tested prior to return-
ing it to service.
Battery Installation

WARNING
Always connect battery cables exactly in
the specified order, RED positive cable first
BLACK negative cable last.
smr2004-Complete Line Up
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