Battery Service; Checking Battery Voltage; Charging A Completely Discharged Battery - Simplicity Baron Operator's Manual

To
starter
switch
Starting
vehicle
battery
To ground

Battery service

Keep open flames and sparks away from the
battery; the gasses coming from it are highly
explosive. Ventilate the battery well during
charging.

Checking battery voltage

A voltmeter can be used to determine condition of battery.
When engine is off, the voltmeter shows battery voltage,
which should be 12 volts. When engine is running, the
voltmeter shows voltage of charging circuit which normally
is 13 to 14 volts.
A dead battery or one too weak to start the engine may not
mean the battery needs to be replaced. For example, it may
mean that the alternator is not charging the battery properly.
If there is any doubt about the cause of the problem, see your
authorized dealer. If you need to replace the battery,
follow the steps for battery maintenance in the "Regular
maintenance" section.
Do not attempt to charge a frozen battery.
Allow the battery to warm to 15,5°C (60°F)
before placing on charger.
F-28
This hook-up for negative ground vehicles
Jumper cable
Jumper cable
Make certain vehicles do not touch

Charging a completely discharged battery

1. Be aware of all the safety precautions you should observe
during the charging operation. If you are unfamiliar with the
use of a battery charger and hydrometer, have the battery
serviced by your dealer.
2. Add water sufficient to cover the plate (fill to the proper
level near the end of the charge). If the battery is extremely
cold, allow it to warm before adding water because the water
level will rise as it warms. Also, an extremely cold battery
will not accept a normal charge until it becomes warm.
3. Always unplug or turn the charger off before attaching or
removing the clamp connections.
4. Carefully attach the clamps to the battery in proper polarity
(usually red to [+] positive and black to [-] negative).
5. While charging, periodically measure the temperature of the
electrolyte. If the temperature exceeds 51,6°C (125°F) or if
violent gassing or spewing of electrolyte occurs, the
charging rate must be reduced or temporarily halted to
prevent battery damage.
6. Charge the battery until fully charged [i.e. until the specific
gravity of the electrolyte is 1,250 or higher and the
electrolyte temperature is at least 15,5°C (60°F)]. The best
method of making certain a battery is fully charged, but not
over charged, is to measure the specific gravity of a cell
once per hour. The battery is fully charged when the cells
are gassing freely at low charging rate and less than 0,003
change in specific gravity occurs over a three-hour period.
To
starter
switch
Discharged
vehicle
battery
Engine
block
GB