User manual

Groundsmaster 4000--D/4010--D Page 5 -- 49 Electrical System
Battery Testing
1. Conducta hydrometertestofthe battery electrolyte.
IMPORTANT: Make sure thearea aroundthe cellsis
clean before opening the battery caps.
A. Measure the specific gravity of each cell with a
hydrometer. Draw electrolyte in and out of the
hydrometerbarrelprior to taking a reading to warm--
up the hydrometer. At the same time take the tem-
perature of the cell.
B. Temperature correct each cell reading. For each
10
o
F(5.5
o
C) above 80
o
F (26.7
o
C) add 0.004 to the
specific gravity reading. For each 10
o
F(5.5
o
C) be-
low 80
o
F (26.7
o
C) subtract 0.004 from the specific
gravity reading.
Example: Cell Temperature 100
o
F
Cell Gravity 1.245
100
o
F minus 80
o
F equals 20
o
F
(37.7
o
C minus 26.7
o
C equals 11.0
o
C)
20
o
F multiply by 0.004/10
o
F equals 0.008
(11
o
C multiply by 0.004/5.5
o
C equals 0.008)
ADD (conversion above) 0.008
Correction to 80
o
F (26.7
o
C) 1.253
C. If the difference between the highest and lowest
cell specific gravity is 0.050 or greater or the lowest
cellspecificgravityislessthan1.225,chargethebat-
tery.Charge at the recommended rate and time giv-
en in Charging or until all cells specific gravity is
1.225orgreaterwiththedifferenceinspecificgravity
betweenthe highestandlowest celllessthan0.050.
If these charging conditions can not be met, replace
the battery.
2. Perform a high--discharge test with an adjustable
load tester.
Thisisoneofthemostreliablemeansoftestingabattery
asitsimulatesthecold--crankingtest.Acommercialbat-
tery load tester is required to perform this test.
CAUTION
Followthemanufacturer’sinstructionswhenus-
ing a battery load tester.
A. Check the voltage across the battery terminals
prior to testing the battery. If the voltage is less than
12.4 VDC, charge the battery before performing a
load test.
B. Ifthebatteryhas beencharged,apply a150amp
load for fifteen (15) seconds to remove the surface
charge. Use a battery load tester following the
manufacturer’s instructions.
C. Makesurebatteryterminalsarefreeofcorrosion.
D. Measure the temperature of the center cell.
E. Connectabatteryloadtestertothe batterytermi-
nals following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Connectadigital multimetertothebatteryterminals.
F. Applyatestloadof345amps(onehalfthecrank-
ing performance rating of the battery) for fifteen (15)
seconds.
G. Take a battery voltage reading at fifteen (15) se-
conds, then remove the load.
H. Using the table below, determine the minimum
voltage for the cell temperature reading:
Minimum
Voltage
Battery Electrolyte
Temperature
9.6 70
o
F (and up) 21
o
C (and up)
9.5 60
o
F 16
o
C
9.4 50
o
F 10
o
C
9.3 40
o
F 4
o
C
9.1 30
o
F -- 1
o
C
8.9 20
o
F -- 7
o
C
8.7 10
o
F -- 12
o
C
8.5 0
o
F --18
o
C
I. If the test voltage is below the minimum, replace
the battery.Ifthetest voltage is at or abovethemini-
mum, return the battery to service.
Electrical
System