BATTERIES AND CHARGING
Read all of SAFETY and this section before attempting any procedure. Pay particular attention to Notices, Cautions, Warnings and Dangers.
45
Repair and Service Manual
634756
BATTERIES AND CHARGING
SAFETY
Always observe the following warnings when working
on or near batteries:.
To prevent battery explosion that could result
in severe personal injury or death, keep all
smoking materials, open flames or sparks
away from the batteries.
Hydrogen gas is formed when charging batter-
ies; do not charge batteries without adequate
ventilation. A 4% concentration of hydrogen
gas is explosive.
Ensure the key switch is off and all electrical
accessories are turned off before starting work
on vehicle.
Never disconnect a circuit under load at a bat-
tery terminal.
Batteries are heavy; use
proper lifting techniques
when moving them. Always
lift the battery with a com-
mercially available battery
lifting device.
Use care not to tip batteries when removing or
installing them; spilled electrolyte can cause
burns and damage.
The electrolyte in a storage battery is an acid
solution which can cause severe burns to the
skin and eyes. Treat all electrolyte spills to the
body and eyes with extended flushing with
clear water. Contact a physician immediately.
Always wear a safety shield or
approved safety goggles
when adding water or charg-
ing batteries.
Any electrolyte spills should be neutralized
with a solution of 1/4 cup (60 ml) sodium
bicarbonate (baking soda) dissolved in 1-1/2
gallons (6 liters) of water, and flushed with
water.
Overfilling batteries may result in electrolyte
being expelled from the battery during the
charge cycle. Expelled electrolyte may cause
damage to the vehicle and storage facility.
Aerosol containers of battery terminal protec-
tant must be used with caution. Insulate metal
container to prevent can from contacting bat-
tery terminals, which could result in an explo-
sion.
Wrap wrenches with
vinyl tape to prevent
the possibility of a
dropped wrench from
‘shorting out’ a bat-
tery, which could result in an explosion.
BATTERY
A battery is defined as two dissimilar metals immersed in
an acid. If the acid is absent or if the metals are not dis-
similar, 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 diminishes. Capacity describes the time that
a battery can continue to provide its design amperes
from a full charge.
A battery has a maximum life, therefore good mainte-
nance is designed to maximize the available life and
reduce the factors that can reduce the life of the battery.
