Checking Specific Gravity - Kohler 15CCO Service Manual

Checking Specific Gravity

Use a battery hydrometer to check the specific gravity of
the electrolyte in each battery cell. While holding the
hydrometer vertical, read the number on the glass bulb
at the top of the electrolyte level. If the hydrometer used
does not have a correction table, use the one in
Figure 3-17. Determine specific gravity and electrolyte
temperature of battery cells. Locate temperature in
Figure 3-17 and adjust specific gravity by amount
shown. The battery is fully charged if the specific gravity
is 1.260 at an electrolyte temperature of 80°F (26.7°C).
The difference between specific gravities of each cell
should not exceed ±0.01. The battery should be
charged if the specific gravity is below 1.215 at an
electrolyte temperature of 80°F (26.7°C).
3-18 Scheduled Maintenance
° °
Correction
C F
71.1 160 + .032
+ .030
65.6 150 + .028
+ .026
60.0 140 + .024
+ .022
54.4 130 + .020
+ .018
48.9 120 + .016
+ .014
43.3 110 + .012
+ .010
37.8 100 + .008
+ .006
32.2 90 + .004
+ .002
26.7 80 0
- - .002
21.1 70 - - .004
- - . 006
15.6 60 - - .008
- - .010
10 50 - - .012
- - .014
4.4 40 - - .016
- - .018
- - 1.1 30 - - .020
- - .022
- - 6.7 20 - - .024
- - .026
- - 12.2 10 - - .028
The Temperature correction amounts to about
0.004 (4 "points") of specific gravity for each 10_F
(5.5_C) change in temperature.
Figure 3-17. Specific Gravity
Temperature Correction
EXAMPLE NO. 1 - -
Temperature below 80°F
(26.7°C)
Hydrometer Reading 1.250
Acid Temperature 20°F
(- -6.7°C)
Subtract 0.024 Sp. Gravity
Corrected Sp. Gravity is
1.226
EXAMPLE NO. 2 - -
Temperature above 80°F
(26.7°C)
Hydrometer Reading 1.235
Acid Temperature 100°F
(37.8°C)
Add 0.008 Sp. Gravity
Corrected Sp. Gravity is 1.243
TP-5606 6/02