Operation
Maintenance and Care
It is essential to keep your battery regularly charged throughout the
year, especially during the winter months. In the winter the effective-
ness of your car battery is reduced by the cold. Oil is thick. Engines
are difficult to start and the heater, windscreen wipers and lights
are all draining power. It is at this time that batteries have to be at
peak power. If your battery is not regularly maintained and kept fully
charged, it can cause problems and a possible breakdown.
4. When charging is complete
Switch off the mains supply, unplug the charger, and disconnect the
leads from the battery posts. Inspect the liquid levels in each cell and
top up. If necessary, using the correct fluid.
Replace the caps. Any surplus fluid around the cell tops should be
wiped off (this should be done with extreme care as it may be acidic/
corrosive). Where appropriate, if the battery has been removed for
charging, replace it and reconnect the cables.
5. Memory function
If power shut down on charging, Proload 4 can automatically restart
charging base on previous power down status for battery type (6V or
12V) and charging current.
Maintenance and Care
Listed are some helpful hints on how to keep your battery healthy in
conjunction with your battery charger.
Faulty Cells
Batteries are usually made with six cells. One of these cells can dete-
riorate or get damaged. If, after several hours charging your battery is
still flat, you should test the battery. Take hydrometer readings from
each cell in the battery. If one reading is lower than the others, this
could indicate a faulty cell. If necessary, get an Auto-Electrician to
check your battery. One faulty cell is enough to ruin your battery. It is
pointless to continue using it and you would be better getting a new
one.
Care
Sometimes the battery may appear flat, but this could simply be dirty
or loose connections on your battery terminals. It is important to
maintain the leads on a regular basis. Do this by removing the leads
from the battery, clean the inside of each connector and terminal
posts on the battery, smear the terminal posts and connectors with
Vaseline, refit in there correct positions and tighten firmly. It is essen-
tial to keep the electrolyte level above the plates. Note, however, that
you should not overfill it, as the electrolyte is strongly acidic. When
topping up do not use tap water. Always use distilled or de-ionized
water. It is important to keep the acid level up. If necessary have it
checked by your garage.
Checking the condition of your battery
Using a hydrometer, which can be purchased, from most motor ac-
cessory stores, you can check the specific gravity of the electrolyte in
each cell. The hydrometer is use to suck up a quantity of fluid from
the cell. The weighted float inside the hydrometer will register the
condition of that cell. Put the fluid back into the cell after testing, tak-
ing care not to splash the fluid about.
28
29
