MECHANICAL INSTALLATION — NEW BATTERY
New Battery Installation
Before handling a battery, refer to page 11 for battery safety instructions.
Replacement batteries should equal or exceed the specified battery ratings. Replacing the original battery with one that has a lower capacity may result in poor performance and shorter life. If the replacement battery has considerably less capacity than the specified battery rating, it may not crank the engine at cold temperatures. Difficulty may also be experienced in cranking high compression engines when they are hot. The hot start condition can impose a cranking load on the battery equal to loads experienced at cold temperatures.
A premium battery with higher capacity than the specified battery rating will provide a safety factor that will result in longer battery service.
If the electrical load of the vehicle has been increased by the addition of accessories, and engine cranking occurs frequently, a larger alternator may be required. A larger alternator will provide increased output at low speed operation and will improve battery performance.
A replacement battery MUST have the same voltage and polarity specified. Be sure the replacement battery is dimensionally correct and compatible for the battery rack. To ensure a perfect fit for the replacement battery, it should be the same BCI Group Size as the original battery.
Preparation of Charged and Wet Batteries
All batteries should be fully charged and in proper working order before installation.
If a charged and wet replacement battery is being installed, be sure the specific gravity is at least 1.250 or higher and the battery voltage is at least 2.1 volts per cell. If the specific gravity is below 1.250, or the voltage is below 2.1 volts per cell, the battery should be charged.
If it should become necessary to dilute concentrated sulfuric acid to a lower specific gravity ALWAYS pour the acid into the distilled water — do this slowly — NEVER pour water into acid.
Use only distilled water in the
NOTE battery. Tap water can reduce the operating life of the battery.
Preparation of Dry Charged &
Charged and Moist Batteries
Dry charged and charged and moist batteries must be activated as described below before they can be used:
Dry Charged Batteries — Activation
1.Fill each cell of the battery to the top of the separators with the correct
2.When a manufacturer recommends filling gravities of 1.265 or higher, boost charge
If the ambient temperature is 32°F (0°C) or less, it is imperative that the above instruction be followed.
3.After boost charge, check level of electrolyte in all cells. If required, add additional electrolyte to bring all levels to the bottom of the vent wells. DO NOT OVERFILL. If the battery requires
Following the above instructions will insure proper activation of the battery and result in satisfactory performance.
Dry charged batteries may be placed in service immediately after activation. However, to ensure superior performance, the following additional steps are recommended:
Check the specific gravity of all cells. Under good storage conditions, the specific gravity upon activating a
PAGE 52 — INDUSTRIAL GENERATOR SETS — APPLICATION & INSTALLATION MANUAL — REV. #4 (09/07/07)