Section 7.Component Procedures

Specific Gravity Check

1.Wear personal protective equipment. See “Battery Safety” on page2-5

2.Insert the nozzle of the hydrometer into the battery cell and draw enough electrolyte into the tube to permit the float to ride free.

3.Leave the hydrometer nozzle in the battery and read the specific gravity of the cell.

4.If there is not enough electrolyte in the battery to get a hydr ometer reading then: a.Add just enough water to cover the battery plates b.Charge the battery, then take readings

5.Record the specific gravity reading on the battery mainte nance chart.

Battery Voltage Check

Perform a voltage check on each cell after performing the specific gravity check.

1.Attach a voltmeter to the positive and negative terminals of each cell. Voltage readings change with the state-of-charge. See “Battery Specific Gravity”.

Model 6210 Maintenance Manual

Battery Storage

Before you store a battery, make sure the electrolyte is at the corr ect level in all cells, the filler plugs are tight, and the battery is fully charged.

Store the battery in a clean, cool, dry location away from radiators and other sources of heat. Refer to the storage instructions in your battery manufacturer’s manual.

Measure the electrolyte level and the specific gravity every 30 days during storage. Whenever the specific gravity is less than 1.230, charge the battery.

Troubleshooting

Many electrical problems are caused by a bad or dirty battery. Make sure the battery is clean. Check the electrolyte level and battery level. Look for simple causes of problems. A trained, qualified, and authorized technician should perform testing and troubleshooting on batteries.

2.Record the voltage reading for each cell on the battery maintenance chart. There must be a difference of less than 0.2V between cells.