Operation
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Operating in Equalization ModeFollow the battery manufacturer’s recommendations for equali zing your ba tter ies.
As a guide, a heavily used flooded battery m ay need to b e equali zed o nce a month,
and a battery in light service may only need to be equalized every two to four
months.
Measure the specific gravity (S.G .) of each cell using a hydrometer. For fully
charged lead-acid batteries, the reading should be approximately 1.265. Low
specific gravity after charging or a 0.25 difference from cell to cell indicates the
need for equalization.
WARNING: Explosive gases
Equalization generates explosive gases. Ensure adequate ventilation.
CAUTION: Batteries may be damaged
Sealed lead-acid batteries and gel batteries mu st NEVER be equalized or
premature battery failure will result. Equalize mode is di sabled if you have
selected “Gel” and “AGM” as the battery type.
Only flooded (wet) lead-acid batteries should be equalized. As a general rule, do
not equalize a battery unless there are provisions to add water to it and the
manufacturer recommends equalization.
CAUTION: Batteries may be damaged
If carried out too frequently or done improperly, equalization can damage your
batteries. Never equalize a battery m ore tha n nece ssary. Always check electrolyte
level before AND after equalization. Fill with distilled water per the battery
manufacturer’s recommendation.
CAUTION: Risk of damage to DC load equipment
Equalization voltage may be as high as 15.5 volt s DC. Dis connec t se nsiti ve load s
from the battery before equalizing.