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Battery Maintenance
C–2
Maintenance Guidelines
Electrolyte At a minimum, check the level of the electrolyte in each battery cell once
a month (for flooded batteries). It should be above the top of the plates,
but not completely full. Most batteries have a plastic cup that just touches
the electrolyte when the cell is full. Don’t overfill the batteries, or the
electrolyte will spill out when the batteries are being charged. Refill the
batteries with distilled water only—“spring” water and regular tap water
may have high mineral levels. These can poison the battery chemistry and
reduce battery life and should not be used.
Battery
connections
It is also good to periodically check the battery connections for tightness
and corrosion. If you find any corrosion, disconnect power from
Truecharge+, disconnect the cables, and carefully clean them with a mild
solution of baking soda and water. Ensure that all caps are on tight so
solution doesn’t enter the battery. Rinse the top of the battery with clean
water when you have finished.
To reduce the amount of corrosion on the battery terminals, coat them
with anti-corrosion grease or liquid neoprene (liquid electrical tape) after
re-assembly. This is available from automotive parts stores or battery
suppliers. Do not apply anything between the terminal and the cable lugs.
The connection should be metal to metal. Apply the protective material
only after the bolts have been tightened.
Dirty batteries can leak current and tend to run warmer. Cleaning batteries
when necessary is easy and safe when you follow the instructions below.
WARNING Risk of acid burns
Wear appropriate eye protection and rubber gloves when
carrying out battery maintenance activities.
WARNING Risk of fire, explosion, burns
Use caution when wearing jewellery or working with metal tools
around batteries. Do not allow any metal object to contact both
battery terminals at the same time. The metal may become
welded to the battery terminals causing extreme heating or fire.