Fault Diagnosis; Hydrometer - Cushman LSV 800 INTL Owner's Manual

Read all of SAFETY and this section before attempting any procedure. Pay particular attention to Notices, Cautions, Warnings and Dangers.

Fault Diagnosis

Fault diagnosis is done for two reasons:
• A battery that performs poorly and is outside of the manufacturers specification must be identified to replace it within
the terms of the manufacturer's warranty. Different manufacturers have different requirements. Consult the battery
manufacturer or the manufacturer's representative for specified requirements.
• Find the reason a vehicle does not perform adequately. Performance problems can cause a vehicle to run slowly or
can not operate for the time needed.
A new battery must mature before it develops its maximum capacity. Maturing can take 100 or more charge and dis-
charge cycles. After the maturing phase, the older a battery gets, the lower the capacity. The only method to find the
capacity of a battery is a load test with a discharge machine. Refer to the discharge machine manufacturer instructions.
A hydrometer is used to identify a poorly performing battery in a set with a low specific gravity. When the particular cell or
cells that are the problem are identified, the battery can be removed and replaced. The battery can not be restored. The
individual battery should be replaced with a good battery of the same brand, type and approximate age.

Hydrometer

A hydrometer is used to test the state of charge of a battery cell. This is
performed by measuring the density of the electrolyte, which is accom-
plished by measuring the specific gravity of the electrolyte. The greater
the concentration of sulfuric acid, the more dense the electrolyte
becomes. The higher the density, the higher the state of charge.
To prevent battery explosion, never insert a metal thermom-
eter into a battery. Use a hydrometer with a built in ther-
mometer that is designed for testing batteries.
Specific gravity is the measurement of a liquid that is compared to a base-
line. The baseline is water which is assigned a base number of 1.000. The
concentration of sulfuric acid to water in a new golf car battery is 1.280
which means that the electrolyte weighs 1.280 times the weight of the
same volume of water. A fully charged battery will test at 1.275 - 1.280 while a discharged battery will read in the 1.140
range.
Do not perform a hydrometer test on a battery that has just been watered. The battery must go through at least one
charge and discharge cycle to allow the water to adequately mix with the electrolyte.
The temperature of the electrolyte is important since the hydrometer reading must be adjusted to 80° F (27° C). High
quality hydrometers are equipped with an internal thermometer that measures the temperature of the electrolyte and
includes a conversion scale to correct the float reading. It is important to know that the electrolyte temperature is signifi-
cantly different from the ambient temperature if the vehicle has been operated.
Thermometer
Add to Float
Reading
Subtract
from Float
Reading
Owner's Guide
MAINTENANCE
Bulb
Cylinder
Float
Weight
B
51