Battery Charging
A battery is considered fully charged when it will meet all the following requirements.
Open Circuit Volts = Percent Charge
11.7 Volts or less = 0%
12.0 = 25%
12.2 = 50%
12.4 = 75%
12.6 or more = 100%
- It has an open circuit voltage charge of at least 12.4 Volts.
Battery Load Test Temperatures:
- It passes the 15 second load test, refer to the Starting and Charging/Battery/Load Test Temperature chart.
Built-In Test Indicator Sight Glass:
- The built in test indicator dot is GREEN.
- The battery cannot be refilled with water, it must be replaced.
WARNING: DO NOT CHARGE A BATTERY THAT HAS EXCESSIVELY LOW ELECTROLYTE LEVEL. BATTERY MAY SPARK INTERNALLY AND EXPLODE. EXPLOSIVE GASES FORM OVER THE BATTERY. DO NOT SMOKE, USE FLAME, OR CREATE SPARKS NEAR BATTERY. DO NOT ASSIST BOOST OR CHARGE A FROZEN BATTERY. BATTERY CASING MAY FRACTURE. BATTERY ACID IS POISON, AND MAY CAUSE SEVERE BURNS. BATTERIES CONTAIN SULFURIC ACID. AVOID CONTACT WITH SKIN, EYES, OR CLOTHING. IN THE EVENT OF CONTACT, FLUSH WITH WATER AND CALL PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.
Disconnect Battery Negative Cable:
CAUTION: Disconnect the battery NEGATIVE cable first before charging battery to avoid damage to electrical systems. Do not exceed 16.0 Volts while charging battery. Refer to the instructions supplied with charging equipment
Battery electrolyte will bubble inside of battery case while being charged properly If the electrolyte boils violently, or is discharged from the vent holes while charging, immediately reduce charging rate or turn off charger. Evaluate battery condition. Battery damage may occur if charging is excessive.
Some battery chargers are equipped with polarity sensing devices to protect the charger or battery from being damaged if improperly connected. If the battery state of charge is too low for the polarity sensor to detect, the sensor must be bypassed for charger to operate. Refer to operating instructions provided with battery charger being used.
CAUTION: Charge battery until test indicator appears green. Do not overcharge.
It may be necessary to jiggle the battery or vehicle to bring the green dot in the test indicator into view.
After the battery has been charged to 12.4 Volts or greater, perform a load test to determine cranking capacity Refer to Starting and Charging/Battery/Battery Load Test. If the battery passes the load test, return the battery to use. If battery will not endure a load test, it must be replaced. Properly clean and inspect battery hold downs, tray, terminals, cables, posts, and top before completing service.
Charging Completely Discharged Battery
Charge Rate
Voltage = Hours
16.0 volts max = upto 16 hrs
14.0 to 15.9 volts = upto 24 hrs
13.9 volts or less = upto 36 hrs
The following procedure should be used to recharge a completely discharged battery Unless procedure is properly followed, a good battery may be needlessly replaced.
Voltmeter Accurate to 1/10 Volt Connected - Typical:
1. Measure the voltage at battery posts with a voltmeter accurate to 1/10 Volt. If below 10 Volts, charge current will be low, and it could take some time before it accepts a current in excess of a few milliamperes. Such low current may not be detectable on amp meters built into many chargers.
2. Connect charger leads. Some chargers feature polarity protection circuitry that prevents operation unless charger is connected to battery posts correctly. A completely discharged battery may not have enough voltage to activate this circuitry. This may happen even though the leads are connected properly
3. Battery chargers vary in the amount of voltage and current they provide. For the time required for the battery to accept measurable charger current at various voltages. If charge current is still not measurable after charging times, the battery should be replaced. If charge current is measurable during charging time, the battery may be good, and charging should be completed in the normal manner.