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Flooded Cell Battery
Maintenance
Watering
(Flooded batteries only)
Flooded batteries to have water replaced. Watering must be done at the
right time and in the right amount or else the battery's performance and
longevity will suffer.
Water should always be added after fully charging the battery. Prior to
charging, there should be enough water to cover the plates. If the battery has
been discharged (partially or fully), the water level should also be above the
plates. Keeping the water at the correct level after a full charge will prevent
having to worry about the water level at a different state of charge.
Depending on the climate, charging methods, application, etc. We
recommend batteries be checked once a month until you get a feel for how
much water your batteries use.
Important things to remember:
-
Do not let the plates get exposed to air. This will damage (corrode) the
plates.
-
Do not fill the water level in the filling well to the cap. This most likely
will cause the battery to overflow acid, consequently losing capacity and
causing a corrosive mess.
-
Do not use water with a high mineral content.
Use distilled or deionized
water only.
Warning:
Battery electrolyte
is sulfuric acid solution, avoid all contact with skin ad clothing.
Step by step watering
procedure:
- Put on your safety
glasses!
- Open the vent caps and look inside the fill wells.
- Check electrolyte level; the minimum level is at the top of the plates.
- If necessary add just enough water to cover the plates at this time.
- Put batteries on a complete charge before adding any additional water (see
Charging ).
- Once charging is completed, open the vent caps and look inside the fill wells.
- Add water until the electrolyte level is 1/8" below the bottom of the fill well.
- A piece of rubber can be
used safely as a dipstick to help determine this level.
- Clean, replace and tighten
all vent caps.
WARNING: Never add acid to a battery.
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