Charging Battery(ies)

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!

NOTE:
- Follow battery charger manufacturer's Instructions.
- Before testing a battery that has been charged, load battery with 15 amps for 1 minute to remove surface charge.
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Requirement:
- Temperature of battery must not be less than 10 °C (50 °F).

Tools Required:
- Battery charger: Christie Automotive Model 400 QDD or equivalent.

Battery 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 capacity (example: with a 45 Amp-hour battery, charging current should be about 4.5 A).
- Fast-charging rate should be approximately 80-90 % of battery 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 battery begins gassing (boiling) violently when charging, REDUCE charging rate.
- DO NOT disconnect the battery while the engine is running.

Charge battery based on Specific Gravity readings: (For instructions on how to check specific gravity, Testing and Inspection)

Specific Gravity: Fast Charge Up To:

1.150 or less 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

Sealed Batteries:
- Sealed batteries should only be slow-charged.
- 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.
- Voltage will NOT increase as rapidly as when charging batteries with removable caps.