PT-100 Manual

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Page iii

Safety Information

Battery Safety/Maintenance

CAUTION: The following precautions should be observed when working on batteries:

• Do not dispose of batteries in a ﬁ re. The batteries may explode.

• Do not open or damage batteries. Released electrolyte is harmful to the skin and eyes.

It may be toxic. Wear eye protection such as safety glasses, and avoid touching your

eyes and face when working with batteries. Keep any ﬂ uid/corrosion on the battery from

coming in contact with eyes and skin. Have plenty of fresh water and soap nearby and

thoroughly wash in case battery acid contacts skin, clothing, or eyes. In the event of

exposure to the eyes, ﬂood them for at least 15 minutes with running water and seek

immediate medical attention. Baking soda neutralizes lead acid battery electrolyte and

vinegar neutralizes spilled NiCad and NiFe battery electrolyte; depending on your battery

type, keep a supply on hand near the batteries.

• A battery can present a risk of electrical shock and high short-circuit. Remove watches,

rings, or other metal objects when installing or performing maintenance on the batteries

and charge controller. A battery can produce a short-circuit current high enough to weld

metal jewelry, causing severe burns.

• Use insulated tools and be very careful when working around batteries, they can produce

extremely high currents if short-circuited (e.g., dropping or laying a metal tool across the

battery terminal), which could cause a ﬁre or explosion.

• Wear rubber gloves and boots when working around batteries.

• Disconnect charging source prior to connecting or disconnecting battery terminals.

• Determine if battery is inadvertently grounded. If inadvertently grounded, remove source

from ground. Contact with any part of a grounded battery can result in electrical shock. The

likelihood of such shock can be reduced if such grounds are removed during installation

and maintenance.

• Read and follow the battery manufacturer’s safety precautions before installing the charge

controller and batteries. Always verify proper polarity and voltage before connecting

the batteries to the charge controller. Once the batteries are connected to the charge

controller, ensure all charging or maintenance requirements (i.e., charge voltage and

charge rate) provided by the battery manufacturer are followed to extend the life of the

batteries and to prevent damage to the batteries while charging.

• Never work alone. Always have someone within the range of your voice or close enough

to come to your aid when working around batteries.

• Use proper lifting techniques when working with batteries.

• Never use old or untested batteries. Ensure the battery age, type and date code on all

batteries are identical.

• Batteries can produce explosive gasses, so install batteries in a well-ventilated area.

For batteries installed in a compartment or enclosure, always vent batteries from the

highest point to the outside. Design the battery enclosure to prevent an accumulation and

concentration of hydrogen gas in pockets at the top of the compartment.

• Never smoke or allow a spark near batteries.

• To prevent a spark at the battery and reduce the chance of explosion, always connect the

cables to the batteries ﬁ rst. Then connect the cables to the charge controller.

• Never charge a frozen battery.

• The battery bank should be installed in a clean, dry, ventilated environment where they

are protected from high and low temperatures. The location must be fully accessible and

protected from exposure to heat producing devices, and away from any fuel tanks.