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Read all of SAFETY and this section before attempting any procedure. Pay particular attention to Notices, Cautions, Warnings and Dangers.
MAINTENANCE
Owner’s Guide
111
Hydrometer
A hydrometer is used to test the state of charge of a battery cell.
This is performed by measuring the density of the electrolyte,
which is accomplished by measuring the specific gravity of the
electrolyte. The greater the concentration of sulfuric acid, the
more dense the electrolyte becomes. The higher the density,
the higher the state of charge.
Specific gravity is the measurement of a liquid that is compared to a baseline. The baseline is water which is
assigned a base number of 1.000. The concentration of sulfuric acid to water in a new golf car battery is
1.280 which means that the electrolyte weighs 1.280 times the weight of the same volume of water. A fully
charged battery will test at 1.275 - 1.280 while a discharged battery will read in the 1.140 range.
Float
Bulb
Cylinder
Thermometer
Add to Float
Reading
Subtract
from Float
Reading
Weight
To prevent battery explosion, never insert a metal
thermometer into a battery. Use a hydrometer
with a built in thermometer that is designed for
testing batteries.