Battery, Charging

WARNING!
- Gases given off during charging are explosive. DO NOT smoke in rooms containing a charging battery, or have bare light bulbs or any other source of sparks or flame.
- Battery charger MUST be turned off when connecting or disconnecting cables on battery
- "Boosting" a sulfated battery at a high charging rate can cause an explosion!


Tools required
- Battery charger: Christie automotive model 400 QDD or equivalent


NOTES:
- Always follow the battery charger manufacturer's instructions.
- Before testing a battery after charging, load the battery with 15 amps for 1 minute to remove the surface charge.


Charging batteries with removable caps

- Remove cell caps while charging.
- If water is added, fast-charge battery for a few minutes after battery begins gassing (boiling).
- Slow-charging rate should be approximately 10% of battery amp-hour capacity (example: for a 45 amp-hour battery', slow-charging current should be about 4.5 amp).
- Fast-charging rate should be approx. 80-90% of battery amp-hour capacity.


CAUTION!
- Batteries may be damaged by fast-charging. It should be used only as a last alternative, when slow charging is not possible.
- DO NOT allow battery charging voltage to exceed 17 volts.
- If the battery begins gassing (boiling) violently while being charged, REDUCE the charging rate.
- Never disconnect the battery while the engine is running.


- Charge batteries with removable caps according to following table:

Specific gravity Fast charge up to:
1.150 or below 1 hour
1.150 to 1.175 3/4 hour
1.175 to 1.200 1/2 hour
1.200 to 1.225 1/4 hour
Above 1.225 Slow-charge ONLY to 1.250-1.280

Charging sealed batteries

Tools required

- Sun Model VAT-40, Bear Model 42-210, Christie Automotive Model 400 QDD, or equivalent


CAUTION!
Sealed batteries should be slow-charged only.


- Sealed batteries, often called "maintenance-free" batteries, will not accept a high rate of charge. It may be necessary to charge them for up to twice as long as batteries with removable caps.
- Battery voltage will NOT increase as rapidly as for batteries with removable caps.