StarEv BN72-08-AC-Autodrive-M, Owner'S Manual And Service Manual, Page: 19 / 36

19
Battery
A battery is defined as two dissimilar metals immersed in an acid. If the acid is ab-
sent or if the metals are not dissimilar, a battery has not been created. The batteries
most commonly used in these vehicles are lead acid.
A battery does not store electricity, but is able to produce electricity as the result of
a chemical reaction which releases stored chemical energy in the form of electrical
energy. The chemical reaction takes place faster in warm conditions and slower in
cold conditions. Temperature is important when conducting tests on a battery and
test results must be corrected to compensate for temperature differences.
As a battery ages, it still performs adequately except that its capacity is diminished.
Capacity describes the time that a battery can continue to provide its design am-
peres from a full charge.
A battery has a maximum life, therefore good maintenance is designed to maximize
the available life and reduce the factors that can reduce the life of the battery.
Battery Charging
The battery charger is designed to fully charge the battery set. If the batteries are
severely deep cycled, some automatic battery chargers contain an electronic mod-
ule that may not activate and the battery charger will not function. Automatic char-
gers will determine the correct duration of charge to the battery set and will shut off
when the battery set is fully charged. Always refer to the instructions of the specific
charger used.
Charging batteries properly requires administering the right amount of current at
the right voltage. Most charging equipment automatically regulates these values.
Some chargers allow the user to set these values. For proper charging, refer to the
instructions that came with your charging equipment.
Before charging, the following should be observed:
• Be familiar with and follow the instructions issued by the charger manu-
facturer.
• Batteries should be charged after each period of use.
• Lead acid batteries need not be fully discharged before recharging.
• Charge only in well-ventilated area. Keep sparks or flames away from a
charging battery.
• Verify charger voltage settings are correct.