Page 56 - QH Battery Application Guide

56
Battery Care
& Maintenance (cont...)
3. It is good practice to place the old and new battery side
by side to compare polarities, hold-downs and performance levels. Some batteries have hold-downs at both the sides and ends. Only the ones used for securing the battery on the vehicle need to be checked.
4. Check that the battery is clean and dry.
5. Check that the vent plugs or manifolds are rmly in position.
6. Check that the battery has a voltage of above 12.50V.
If not, charge the battery or use another that has a voltage
above 12.50V.
7. Ensure the 2 terminal caps are still tted at this stage.
Preparation Of The Vehicle
1. Clear away any items on the battery tray, which might damage the battery. (Placing a heavy battery on a piece of sharp grit can puncture the bottom of the battery).
2. Check that the connectors, the hold-down clamps and the tray are clean and corrosion free. (If there is any corrosion, hot water will instantly remove this). If there is severe corrosion, which might affect the stability of the battery or has affected other parts of the engine compartment, have the vehicle checked by an authorised distributor.
3. Check that the alternator drive belt tension is correct. Refer to the vehicle handbook or service manual.
4. It is recommended that the electrical system and particularly the charging system of the vehicle be checked to make sure it is operating correctly. Refer to the vehicle handbook or service manual.
Installing The Battery
1. Fit and tighten the hold-down clamps. These should be tight enough to secure the battery and not allow it to move. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN.
2. Connect the live-connector rst to the correct battery terminal (normally the positive) after removing the terminal cap. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN.
3. Connect the earth-connector to the other terminal after removing the terminal cap. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN.
4. Place the 2 terminal caps on the old battery that has
been removed from the vehicle to avoid the possibility
of short-circuits.
5. Replace onto the new battery any components that have
been taken from the old battery such as exhaust tubes, vent elbows, terminal covers, removable hold-down strips etc.
6. The use of petroleum jelly is not necessary on modern polypropylene batteries, but there is no disadvantage in using it. Smear lightly on the terminals. It is still recommended for hard rubber batteries.
7. For non-automotive applications, install the battery in line with the equipment suppliers recommendation.
G) CHARGING OFF-VEHICLE
NOTES: PLEASE READ BEFORE CHARGING BATTERIES
• Do NOT charge a battery if its temperature is below 3°C as the electrolyte may have frozen.
• Charging the battery on the vehicle is not recommended. • Refer to the relevant section about removing the
battery from the vehicle.
• Sealed vehicle batteries should be charged only on constant
potential chargers or smart chargers. Do not charge on constant current chargers or boost chargers. Sealed vehicle batteries do not allow any access to the electrolyte and
so cannot be topped up. There are no removable vent-plugs or manifolds. The battery is able to vent gases through breathing holes, and so it is not strictly sealed.
• A new, unused battery with a voltage below 11.00V should be scrapped and not charged.
General Procedure
1. Check the electrolyte levels in all the cells. If these are below the tops of the separators, top up with distilled or de-ionised water to the tops of the separators. Do not ll to a higher level before charging, but adjust the levels after charging.
2. If you are using a constant-current charger or boost charger, remove the vent-plugs or manifolds before charging. There is no need to remove the vent-plugs or manifolds if you are using a constant-potential or a smart charger.
3. Check that the charger is switched off.
4. When tting the charger to the battery, connect the positive
lead to the positive terminal and the negative lead to the
negative terminal.
5. Switch on the charger. See below for the correct
charging conditions depending on your type of charger. 6. Stop charging if the battery begins to gas freely (some
gassing is normal during the last stages of charging) or
if the battery temperature rises above 50°C.
7. Switch off the charger .
8. It is good practice to wait for about 20 minutes for the
gases to clear before removing the leads from the battery,
as some chargers remain live and can cause a spark. 9. Check the electrolyte levels in all the cells and top up
if necessary.
10. Re t vent-plugs or manifolds if these have been removed. 11. Wash the battery with hot water and dry it.
12. Note: Many customers severely underestimate the amount
of time necessary to charge a at battery. This results in customers returning batteries, saying that they have charged the battery but that it is not holding charge.
WARRANTY / STOCK ROTATION