Note: See safety precautions when working with electrical equipment:
- Do not disconnect the battery while the engine and/or accessories are running. Turn the ignition key to position "OFF" (LOCK) and turn off all additional electrical equipment.
- When checking, disconnect the negative battery cable first and reconnect it last.
- Be careful not to short the terminals with tools.
1. Visual check of a condition of the accumulator battery.
Note: If there is corrosion from the electrolyte, wash the damaged areas with a solution of clean warm water and soda, then wipe dry with a cloth. Do not allow cleaning solution to enter the battery.
A) Check the charge level of the standard battery by the color of the indicator on its cover. If the indicator color is blue - the charge level is normal, the indicator color is white - the level is low and charging is required.
b) Check the racks and battery tray for corrosion damage caused by possible electrolyte leakage.
V) Check the battery case and cover for cracks or damage that could cause electrolyte leaks. Replace the battery if necessary.
Attention: if there are electrolyte leaks from the battery, use suitable rubber gloves when removing the battery (do not use household gloves).
G) Check the strength of the fastening of the battery terminals. If the terminal connections are loose, tighten the retainer nuts.
d) Check the terminals for damage and corrosion, clean the terminals if necessary and apply special grease to them.
Caution: Do not overtighten the terminal clamp nuts.
e) Tighten the clamp just enough to securely hold the battery in place. Overtightening can damage the battery case.
2. If necessary, check the level and density of the electrolyte in the battery (serviced).
A) Check that the electrolyte level in the battery is between the maximum level marks (UPPER LEVEL) and minimum level (LOWER LEVEL).
Note: It is recommended to regularly check the electrolyte level depending on the operating conditions, but at least once every four weeks.
b) Using a hydrometer and a thermometer, measure the density of the electrolyte in the battery.
Nominal value - 1.22-1.29 g / cm3 (at 20°C)
V) The density of the electrolyte depends on the temperature, so to convert the measured value to the density at 20°C, use the following formula:
D20 = Dt + 0,0007 (t - 20),
where D20 is the reduced density of the electrolyte at 20°C; Dt is the density actually measured; t is the actual temperature in 'C.
3. Checking the electrolyte level in the standard battery.
A) Remove the center battery cover using a flathead screwdriver.
Note: The battery cell caps are firmly attached to the center cap and will come off with it when removed.
b) Check that in each battery cell the electrolyte level reaches the lower edge of the indicator. If necessary, add distilled water to the jar, without exceeding the indicated level.
Attention: if the electrolyte level exceeds the above, then when the car is moving, electrolyte may leak from the battery.
V) Install the battery center cover securely.
4. Checking the battery output voltage.
A) Turn on the headlights for 15 seconds.
b) Turn off the headlights and wait 2 minutes for the battery voltage to stabilize.
V) Switch off the ignition and disconnect the wires from the battery terminals.
Note: The cover must be lifted to access the positive battery terminal.
G) Measure the voltage at the battery terminals (open circuit voltage).
Voltage over - 12.4V (at 20°C)
d) If the voltage does not match the nominal value, then charge the battery.
e) If necessary, load the battery with the recommended load for 15 seconds. Read the battery voltage at the terminals after 15 seconds, then remove the electrical load.
Recommended load:
- Battery type 44B20L - 150 A
- Battery type 75D23L - 275 A
and) Compare the obtained values with the values given in the battery load characteristic table.
Table. Load characteristics of the battery.
Minimum Voltage (IN) | Temperature (°C) |
9,6 | 21 and up |
9,5 | 16-20 |
9,4 | 10-15 |
9,3 | 4-9 |
9,1 | -1-3 |
8,9 | -7 - -2 |
8,7 | -12--8 |
8,5 | -18--13 |
5. Charging the battery.
A) When charging a battery installed in a vehicle, first disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal, and then disconnect the cable from the positive terminal to prevent damage to the vehicle's electrical components.
b) The charging current is usually 1/10 of the battery capacity.
V) In case of fast charging (due to lack of time, etc.), the charging current should never exceed the battery capacity indicated in amps.
Charging current:
For battery type 44B20L:
- Normal charging - 3.4 A
- Fast charge - 34A
For battery type 75D23L:
- Normal charging - 5.2 A
- Fast charge - 52A
G) Determination of the end of charging:
- - If the density of the electrolyte has reached a value of 1.25 - 1.29 and remains constant for an hour.
- - If the voltage of each battery cell has reached 2.5 - 2.8 V and remains constant for one hour.
Attention:
- Be careful to keep an eye on the electrolyte level, which may rise during charging.
- - Do not charge near sources of fire due to the risk of explosion.
- - During charging, do not carry out work nearby that could cause sparks.
- - After charging is completed, close the lids of the jars, rinse the outside of the battery with clean water to remove acid residue and wipe dry.