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Taking Care of Your Batteries
Safety First
Battery Connections
- Series Connections
- Parallel Connections
- Series/Parallel Connections
Charging Your Batteries
Proper Maintenance
- Temperature Compensation
- Torque Specifications
- Cleaning
- Addition of Water (distilled or deionized only)
Tips
- Cleaning
- Storing Your Batteries
Safety First
Do's and Don'ts
- Wear proper eye, face and hand protection.
- No open flames or smoking around batteries
- Use insulated tools when making battery connections
- Electrolyte is a solution of acid and water, so avoid skin contact. If acid contacts skin or eyes, flush with water immediately for 15 minutes and contact a medical professional.
- Ensure connectors are torqued to the proper specifications.
5/16" Studs or Bolts: 100-120 in. lbs. / 11.3-13.6 N-m
3/8” Studs or Bolts: 120-180 in. lbs. (10-15 ft. pounds) / 13.6-20.3 N-m - Do not lay anything on top of the batteries (wires, cables, tools, etc.)
- Always charge and handle batteries in a well-ventilated area
- Only add distilled or deionized water to your batteries and fill to the appropriate level.
- Never add pre-mixed acid to your batteries.
Battery Connections
Series 6 Volt & Parallel 12 Volt
6 Volt Series Connection
Positive side of charger
Negative side of charger
12 Volt Parallel Connection Connection
Series/Parallel 6 Volt & 12 Volt
12 Volt Series/Parallel Connection using 6 Volt Batteries
24 Volt Series/Parallel Connection using 12 Volt Batteries
8 Battery Connection Using 6 Volt Batteries For 48 Volt System Series Connection
6 Battery Connection Using 8 Volt Batteries for a 48 Volt System Series Connection
6 Battery Connection Using 6 volt Batteries for a 36 Volt System Series Connection
Charging Your Batteries
Charging Parameters
| Charging State | Current in Amps | Volts per Cell | 6 Volts | 12 Volts | 24 Volts | 48 Volts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulk | 10% to 13% of 20hr Ah Rating | 2.47 | 7.40 | 14.80 | 29.60 | 59.30 |
| Absorption | Taper to 3% of 20 hr Ah Rating and hold for 2-3 hours | 2.47 | 7.40 | 14.80 | 29.60 | 59.30 |
| Float | n/a | 2.25 | 6.75 | 13.5 | 27.00 | 54.00 |
| Equalization | Total time = 2 hours | 2.70 | 8.10 | 16.20 | 31.20 | 62.40 |
Note: Leave vent caps securely fastened while doing any charging.
Proper Maintenance
Torque Specifications & Temperature Compensations
- Terminal Torque specification: 5/16" Stud = 95-105 inch-pounds (not foot-pounds)
- Equalization should be done every 4-6 weeks or if specific gravities have a .010 to .015 difference between cells.
- We recommend using the following: For every 1º F below 77º F add 0.0028 volts per cell or for every 1º C below 25º C add 0.005 volts per cell to the charger voltage setting.
- A 12 volt battery @ 70º F. The recommended charging voltage at 77º F is 14.8 volts. The adjusted charging voltage is 14.8 + (6 cells * 7 degrees below * 0.0028) = 14.92 volts.
- A 12 volt battery @ 21º C. The recommended charging voltage at 25º C is 14.8 volts. The adjusted charging voltage is 14.8 + (6 cells * 4 degrees below * 0.005) = 14.92 volts.
- For every 1º F above 77º F subtract 0.0028 volts per cell or for every 1º C above 25º C subtract 0.005 volts per cell to the charger voltage setting.
- A 12 volt battery @ 85º F. The recommended charger voltage at 77º F is 14.8 volts. The adjusted charging voltage is 14.8 – (6 cells * 8 degrees above * 0.0028) = 14.67 volts.
- A 12 volt battery @ 29.5º C. The recommended charger voltage at 25º C is 14.8 volts. The adjusted charging voltage is 14.8 – (6 cells * 4.5 degrees above * 0.005) = 14.67 volts.
OCV (Open Circuit Voltage) vs. SOC (State of Charge)
| Static State of Charge | Acid Specific Gravities | 12 Volts | 6 Volts | 8 Volts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | 1.300 | 12.84 | 6.42 | 8.64 |
| 90% | 1.282 | 12.73 | 6.36 | 8.48 |
| 80% | 1.268 | 12.65 | 6.32 | 8.40 |
| 70% | 1.255 | 12.57 | 6.28 | 8.36 |
| 60% | 1.242 | 12.49 | 6.24 | 8.32 |
| 50% | 1.228 | 12.41 | 6.20 | 8.24 |
| 40% | 1.215 | 12.33 | 6.16 | 8.20 |
| 30% | 1.202 | 12.25 | 6.12 | 8.16 |
| 20% | 1.188 | 12.17 | 6.08 | 8.08 |
| 10% | 1.175 | 12.09 | 6.04 | 8.04 |
| 0% | 1.162 | 12.01 | 6.00 | 8.00 |
Addition of Water (distilled or deionized)
- Always charge the batteries before you add water.
- Only add water to discharged or partially discharged batteries before charging if the water levels are below the plates.
- Once fully charged, continue with the watering procedure.
- When adding distilled or deionized water, fill to the appropriate level and never overfill.
- After adding water, secure vent caps back on batteries.
Tips
Cleaning Your Batteries and Connectors
- Inspect battery for cleanliness at regular intervals and keep terminals and connectors free of corrosion.
- Prior to cleaning check that all vent caps are secured properly on the battery.
- Clean the top of the battery, terminals and connections with a cloth or brush and a sodium bicarbonate solution (1 cup of baking soda to 1 gallon of water (150g/1L)).
- Do not allow the cleaning solution to get inside the battery.
- Rinse with water and dry with a clean cloth.
- Keep the area around batteries clean and dry.
- After connections are clean and dry, reconnect the cables and/or hardware.
- Apply a spray protector or equivalent to the terminals for added protection from the elements.
Storing Your Batteries
- Fully charge batteries before placing in storage.
- Store in a cool, dry location, protected from the elements.
- Batteries self-discharge during storage. Monitor the specific gravity or voltage every 4-6 weeks.
- In high temperatures (greater than 90° F or 32° C) monitor the specific gravity or voltage every 2-4 weeks as batteries will self-discharge faster.
- Stored batteries should be given a boost charge when they are at or less than 70% state of charge (SOC).
- After storage, recharge before use.
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