Battery: Tools and Equipment

Anyone working with a battery needs the proper tools. Using the right tools will prevent damage to the battery, battery cables and battery hold down clamp.

Tools and equipment manufactured for servicing batteries have insulated parts to help prevent arcing should the tool be dropped or placed accidentally between a terminal and some other contact surface.







Clamp Spreader
The spreader is used to expand the cable clamp after it has been removed from the terminal and the clamp bolt has been loosened. The cable clamp can then be easily placed in its correct position completely on the terminal.







Terminal Cleaning Brush
The terminal cleaning brush is designed with units to clean both the tapered battery terminal and the mating surface of the cable clamp.







Carrier
Use a suitable battery carrier for lifting and transporting the battery. The illustration shows a clamp-type carrier used to grip the sidewalls of the container just below the lip of the cover. The carrier is used on the sidewalls, rather than the end walls, since the sidewalls have additional strength from the inner cell partitions. This is particularly important with the plastic-cased battery, which has flexible end walls.

WARNING:
- BATTERIES NORMALLY PRODUCE EXPLOSIVE GASES WHICH CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY. THEREFORE, DO NOT ALLOW FLAMES, SPARKS OR LIGHTED SUBSTANCES TO COME NEAR THE BATTERY. WHEN CHARGING OR WORKING NEAR A BATTERY, ALWAYS SHIELD YOUR FACE AND PROTECT YOUR EYES. ALWAYS PROVIDE VENTILATION.
- WHEN LIFTING A PLASTIC-CASED BATTERY, EXCESSIVE PRESSURE ON THE END WALLS COULD CAUSE ACID TO SPEW THROUGH THE VENT CAPS, RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY. LIFT WITH A BATTERY CARRIER OR WITH YOUR HANDS ON OPPOSITE CORNERS.