Here is some tips to maintain your Automotive Battery:
- How do you know when your battery requires recharging?
You are not able to start your car's engine. The lamps' light is diminished, the horn weakens and the volt is under 12 voltages or its original rated.
- How do you recharge a battery?First of all, prepare the charger.
Quick-charge recharging.
1. Make sure the charger is at OFF position
2. Attach the clips (red + and black -)
3. Connect the charger to the electricity point
4. Set the timer
5. Set the recharging flow (maximal equivalent to the battery's normal capacity).
These steps apply only to an emergency condition.
Normal recharging.
1. Make sure the charger is at OFF position
2. Attach the clips (red + and black -)
3. Connect the battery in parallel fashion
4. The recharge flow is selected for a battery with small capacity
5. Recharge flow volume is 1/10 of normal capacity
6. Recharge time: 3 times constant voltage.
After recharging is completed.
1. Turn off the charger
2. Release the clips on the battery
3. Release the wire from the electricity point.
- How to indicate a full charged battery?
It electrolyte's gravity reaches 1.260-1.280 and its polarity tension is constant at 15-16.5 for one hour.
- How to take care your battery?
- Keep the electrolyte in the battery between the lower level and upper level lines. Check it at least once a month.
- Short of electrolyte will cause sulfation to the elements and reduce the battery's performance in generating electricity flow.
- Use distilled/demineralized water only for battery filling. Avoid using tap/well/mineral water as they may contain metal ions or organic substances that
lower the battery's performance and its life.
- Clean the battery's surface and keep from any electrolyte spill.
- Clean the terminal surface using a little grease/lubrication to prevent from oxidation or fungus.
- Do not connect the positive and negative terminal using a piece of wire as this will damage/terminate the connection between the terminals and
elements.
- Make sure the wire connection to the terminals is tight enough. Loose connection causes sparks, it may cause the battery explodes.
- Cover the positive terminal's surface using isolator (plastic/rubber) to avoid short circuit to the vehicles body.
- Cover the battery's surface with plastic/rubber sheet to protect it from dust/dirt blocking the vent holes.
- Check the vent holes periodically. Blocked vent holes may cause the battery expand and eventually will cause explosion or leakage.
- What causes white flakes near the battery terminals and what are the consequences?
The electrolyte in the battery vaporizes and flows out from the cells. This vapor contains sulfide acid and will condense in the air and form sulfide crystal or flakes around the terminals and wire. These white flakes may hamper the electricity flow due to its isolator nature.
- What indicates of damaged battery?
A battery is damaged when it cannot be recharged. Recharging is not able to generate 12 volts or its original rate voltage.
- What makes a battery explode?
During charging or recharging, the electrolyte generates H2 and 02 gasses, which are explosive or easily explode when exposed to sparks, resulted from loose wire connection to the terminals. It is vital to ensure that the wire connection to the terminals is tight. During charging, the vent plugs must be removed to allow the gas flow.
- What makes your battery short supply?
Short-supply battery occurs because the battery's electricity consumption is not equal to its alternator's flowed refilling. This happens when the alternator has weakened of its electricity consumption. If the alternator is not replaced immediately, the retained electricity current in the battery will decrease and eventually fails to start the engine.
- When do you need to add electrolyte?
When the electrolyte's surface reaches or below the lower level line.Why should you maintain the electrolyte above the lower level line?The plates will harden or experience sulfation and reduce its performance.
