Hydro Cat 5015B
Service Manual
BATTERY
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BATTERY MAINTENANCE
WARNING!
Use extreme caution when working with batteries. Sulfuric acid in batteries can cause severe injury if allowed
to contact skin or eyes.
Explosive hydrogen gas is vented from inside the battery caps. This gas can be ignited by any electrical arc,
spark, or flame.
When working with batteries:
•
Remove all jewelry
•
Wear safety glasses
•
Do not smoke
•
Do not allow tools to touch more than one battery terminal at a time
•
Work in a well ventilated area
Proper maintenance of electric vehicle batteries can greatly extend their life.
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 battery(s)! Do not add acid to batteries!
•
Keep the Battery(s) Charged
- Batteries should be charged each time that a machine is used for more
than 1 hour. Machine operators should open all battery access doors 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 battery(s) should be charged. Even when a machine is stored, the battery(s)
should be charged once a month to prevent the battery(s) 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 and liquid from the top of the battery(s).
Battery terminals must be clean and tight. If the top of the battery(s) is wet after charging, the battery(s)
has probably been over-filled.
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