Generac Portable Products 5500EXL Extended Life Generator
Charging a Battery
DANGER: Storage batteries give off explosive hydrogen gas while recharging. An explosive mixture will remain around the battery for a long time after it has been charged. The slightest spark can ignite the hydrogen and cause an explosion. Such an explosion can shatter the battery and cause blindness or other injury.
DANGER: Do Not permit smoking, open flame, sparks or any other source of heat around a battery. Wear protective goggles, rubber apron and rubber gloves when working around a battery. Battery electrolyte fluid is an extremely caustic sulfuric acid solution that can cause severe burns. If spill occurs, flush area with clear water immediately.
Your generator has the capability of recharging a discharged 12 Volt automotive or utility style storage battery. Do Not use the unit to charge any 6 Volt batteries. Do Not use the unit to crank an engine having a discharged battery.
To recharge 12 Volt batteries, proceed as follows:
•Check fluid level in all battery cells. If necessary, add ONLY distilled water to cover separators in battery cells. Do Not use tap water.
•If the battery is equipped with vent caps, make sure they are installed and are tight.
•If necessary, clean battery terminals.
•Connect battery charge cable connector plug to panel receptacle identified by the words
•Connect battery charge cable clamp with red handle to the positive (+) battery terminal (Figure 9).
Figure 9 — Battery Charge Cable Connection
Red
Black
•Connect battery charge cable clamp with black handle to the negative
•Start engine. Let the engine run while battery recharges.
•When battery has charged, shut down engine.
NOTE: Use an automotive hydrometer to test battery state of charge and condition. Follow the hydrometer manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Generally, a battery is considered to be at 100% state of charge when specific gravity of its fluid (as measured by hydrometer) is 1.260 or higher.
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