Charging
To minimize possible damage to the battery and allow the battery to be fully charged, the slow charging meth- od is presented here. This charging method can be ac- complished with a constant current battery charger which is available in most shops.
CAUTION
Follow the manufacturer's instructions when using a battery charging.
1.Determine the battery charge level from either its open circuit voltage or specific gravity.
Battery Charge | Open Circuit | Specific |
Level | Voltage | Gravity |
|
|
|
100% | 12.68 | 1.265 |
|
|
|
75% | 12.45 | 1.225 |
|
|
|
50% | 12.24 | 1.190 |
|
|
|
25% | 12.06 | 1.155 |
|
|
|
0% | 11.89 | 1.120 |
|
|
|
2.Determine the charging time and rate using the manufacturer's battery charger instructions or the following table.
Reserve |
| Battery Charge Level |
| |||
Capacity | (Percent of Fully Charged) | |||||
(Minutes) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
75% |
| 50% | 25% |
| 0% | |
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
80 or less | 3.8 hrs |
| 7.5 hrs | 11.3 hrs |
| 15 hrs |
| @ |
| @ | @ |
| @ |
| 3 amps |
| 3 amps | 3 amps |
| 3 amps |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
81 to 125 | 5.3 hrs |
| 10.5 hrs | 15.8 hrs |
| 21 hrs |
| @ |
| @ | @ |
| @ |
| 4 amps |
| 4 amps | 4 amps |
| 4 amps |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
126 to | 5.5 hrs |
| 11 hrs | 16.5 hrs |
| 22 hrs |
170 | @ |
| @ | @ |
| @ |
| 5 amps |
| 5 amps | 5 amps |
| 5 amps |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
171 to | 5.8 hrs |
| 11.5 hrs | 17.3 hrs |
| 23 hrs |
250 | @ |
| @ | @ |
| @ |
| 6 amps |
| 6 amps | 6 amps |
| 6 amps |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
above | 6 hrs |
| 12 hrs | 18 hrs |
| 24 hrs |
250 | @ |
| @ | @ |
| @ |
| 10 amps |
| 10 amps | 10 amps |
| 10 amps |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CAUTION
Do not charge a frozen battery because it can explode and cause injury. Let the bat- tery warm to 60F (15.5 C) before con- necting to a charger.
Charge the battery in a well±ventilated place to dissipate gases produced from charging. These gases are explosive; keep open flame and electrical spark away from the battery. Do not smoke. Nausea may result if the gases are in- haled. Unplug the charger from the elec- trical outlet before connecting or discon- necting the charger leads from the battery posts.
3.Following the manufacturer's instructions, con- nect the charger cables to the battery. Make sure a good connection is made.
4.Charge the battery following the manufacturer's instructions.
5.Occasionally check the temperature of the battery electrolyte. If the temperature exceeds 125F (51.6C) or the electrolyte is violently gassing or spewing, the charging rate must be lowered or temporarily stopped.
6.Three hours prior to the end of the charging, mea- sure the specific gravity of a battery cell once per hour. The battery is fully charged when the cells are gassing freely at a low charging rate and there is less than a 0.003 change in specific gravity for three consecutive readings.
Electrical System
Reelmaster 2300±D/2600±D | Page 5 ± 29 | Electrical System |
