Charging Completely Discharged Battery - Chrysler Stratus RHD 1999 Electronic Service Manual

JA
SERVICE PROCEDURES (Continued)
BATTERY OPEN CIRCUIT VOLTAGE
Open Circuit Volts
11.7 volts or less
12.0 volts
12.2 volts
12.4 volts
12.6 volts or more
• It passes the 15 second load test, refer to Bat-
tery Load Test Temperatures Table.
WARNING: DO NOT ASSIST BOOST OR CHARGE A
FROZEN BATTERY.
EXPLOSIVE GASES FORM OVER THE BATTERY,
DO NOT SMOKE,
SPARKS NEAR BATTERY.
CAUTION: Disconnect the battery NEGATIVE cable
first, before charging battery to avoid damage to
electrical systems. Do not exceed 16.0 volts while
charging battery. Refer to the instructions supplied
with charging equipment.
Battery electrolyte will bubble inside of battery
case while being charged properly. If the electrolyte
boils violently, or is discharged from the vent holes
while charging, immediately reduce charging rate or
turn off charger. Evaluate battery condition. Battery
damage may occur if charging is excessive.
Some battery chargers are equipped with polarity
sensing devices to protect the charger or battery from
being damaged if improperly connected. If the bat-
tery state of charge is too low for the polarity sensor
to detect, the sensor must be bypassed for charger to
operate. Refer to operating instructions provided
with battery charger being used.
CAUTION: Do not overcharge Battery. Refer to Bat-
tery Charging Rate table.
After the battery has been charged to 12.4 volts or
greater, perform a load test to determine cranking
capacity. Refer to Battery Load Test in this Group. If
the battery will endure a load test, return the bat-
tery to use. If battery will not endure a load test, it
must be replaced. Properly clean and inspect battery
hold downs, tray, terminals, cables, posts, and top
before completing service.
Charge Percentage
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
USE FLAME, OR
CHARGING COMPLETELY DISCHARGED
BATTERY
The following procedure should be used to recharge
a completely discharged battery. Unless procedure is
properly followed, a good battery may be needlessly
replaced. Refer to Battery Charging Rate table for
correct charge times.
Voltage
16.0 volts maximum
14.0 to 15.9 volts
13.9 volts or less
CREATE
(1) Measure the voltage at remote cable terminals
with a voltmeter accurate to 1/10 volt (Fig. 8). If
below 10 volts, charge current will be low, and it
could take some time before it accepts a current in
excess of a few milliamperes. Such low current may
not be detectable on amp meters built into many
chargers.
Fig. 8 Voltmeter Accurate to 1/10 Volt (Connected)
(2) Connect charger leads to the remote cables.
Some chargers feature polarity protection circuitry
that prevents operation unless charger is connected
to battery posts correctly. A completely discharged
battery may not have enough voltage to activate this
circuitry. This may happen even though the leads are
connected properly.
(3) Battery chargers vary in the amount of voltage
and current they provide. For the time required for
the battery to accept measurable charger current at
various voltages, refer to Battery Charging Rate
table. If charge current is still not measurable after
charging times, the battery should be replaced. If
charge current is measurable during charging time,
BATTERY CHARGING RATE
BATTERY 8A - 7
Hours
up to 4 hours
up to 8 hours
up to 16 hours