1. The Maintenance-Free Batteries.
More
common in today’s systems, these batteries use lead-
calcium grid construction without antimony. They never
need water and there are no provisions for adding it,
nor do they require any maintenance. Some heavy duty
batteries are maintenance free and are available in
several performance sizes with either post or stud
terminal configurations.
2. The “Low Maintenance” or “Hybrid” Batteries.
These batteries usually have Lead-Calcium grids in the
negative plates and Lead-Antimony grids in the positive
plates. They will use somewhat less water than a “Filler
Cap”
battery,
but substantially more than a
“Maintenance-Free” battery. They require regular
servicing similar to that of “Filler Cap” batteries. Some
means of replacing water is necessary and these
batteries include a “plug strip” or individual covers over
the filler holes which are removed to add water.
3. The Filler Cap Batteries. Not so common any
more, these are lead-acid batteries with antimony in
the grid alloy. The disadvantage of these batteries are
that they require frequent servicing. Maintenance for
these batteries includes adding water, cleaning posts
and terminals with a wire brush and periodic cleaning
of the battery surfaces, hold-downs and boxes with a
baking soda and water solution.
1-7
Figure 1-16. Maintenance-Free Battery
DP-1016
Figure 1-17. Low Maintenance (Hybrid) Battery
DP-1017
1-18. Filler Cap Battery
DP-1018
new diagnostic manual 4/5/05 9:47 AM Page 1-7
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