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To prevent undercharging or overcharging and battery damage on
the charging rack, the following procedures are recommended:
The following recommendations are for batteries with
electrolyte and plates at room temperatures of 55˚ to 85˚F (13˚
to 30˚C). Extremely cold batteries accept very little charging
current and will not conform to the suggested procedures.
5-4. GROUP CHARGING ON CURRENT-LIMITING OR SERIES
CHARGERS
1. Visually inspect all batteries for cracked covers or cases;
replace obviously damaged batteries.
a. Filler-cap batteries: Check with hydrometer. If reading is
1.230 or more, test as outlined in Delco Service Bulletin 1B-115.
If reading is below 1.230, proceed with charging procedure. If
fluid level is low, add water to bring level sufficiently high for
hydrometer readings, (but not to the split ring), then proceed
with charging. After charging, add water just to split ring.
b. Freedom batteries: Check built-in hydrometer; if clear or
yellow, replace the battery. If hydrometer has a green dot, do
not charge, but test as outlined in Delco Service Bulletin 1B-
116. If hydrometer is dark, proceed with charging procedure.
2. Connect batteries to charger as shown in Figure 1. Do not
exceed the charger's voltage capabilities by connecting too
many batteries. Make sure all connections are clean and tight.
Set charging rate within 5-10 ampere range and maintain this
charging rate throughout the charging procedure.
3. After two or three hours of charging, check batteries as follows:
a. Filler-cap batteries: Take hydrometer readings at hourly
intervals. Correct readings to 80˚F (27˚C). Remove any battery
from charge when there is no increase in specific gravity after
three successive hourly readings. Any battery that becomes
hot (125˚F, 52˚C) or violently gasses, should be removed from
the charger for testing. Readjust control to maintain the same
charging rate after the batteries are removed.
b. Freedom batteries: Check for green dot indication. Shake
or tilt batteries at hourly intervals to see if green dot will stay
visible. Also check terminal voltage of each battery with test
voltmeter connected, as shown in Figure 1. While on charge,
if voltage across the battery is 16.0 volts or more, or if the
green dot appears, remove battery from charger. Any battery
that becomes hot (125˚F, 52˚C), as determined by touching
and feeling the case, or any battery that violently gasses,
should be removed from the charger for testing. Readjust
control to maintain the same charging rate on remaining
batteries as charged batteries are removed.
4. After charging, all batteries should be tested as described in
the testing procedure in Delco Service Bulletins 1B-115 and 1B-116
to make sure batteries are usable.
NOTE
5-5. GROUP CHARGING ON VOLTAGE-LIMITING OR PARALLEL
CHARGERS
1. Visually inspect all batteries for cracked covers or cases;
replace obviously damaged batteries.
a. Filler-cap batteries: Check with hydrometer; if reading is
1.230 or more, test as outlined in Delco Service Bulletin 1B-115.
If reading is below 1.230, proceed with charging procedure. If
fluid level is low, add water to bring level sufficiently high for
hydrometer readings, but not to split ring, then proceed with
charging. After charging, add water to split ring.
b. Freedom batteries: Check built-in hydrometer; if clear or
yellow, replace battery. If hydrometer has a green dot, do
not charge, but test as outlined in Service Bulletin 1B-116. If
hydrometer is dark, proceed with charging procedure.
2. Connect batteries and test voltmeter to charger as shown in
Figure 2. Make sure that all connections are clean and tight. Set
charging voltage setting to a setting that does not exceed 16.0
volts. The charger may not be able to reach this voltage initially,
but as batteries become charged and accept less current, the
voltage will rise. The ammeter of the charger is indicating the total
current flow to the connected batteries. This current divides into
the various batteries. It is not a measure of each battery's current
acceptance. Do not exceed the charger's capabilities by connecting
too many batteries. Follow the charger manufacturer's directions.
3. After two or three hours, check batteries at hourly intervals as
follows:
a. Filler-cap batteries: Take hydrometer readings at hourly
intervals. Correct readings to 80˚F (27˚C). Remove any
battery from the charge when there is no increase in specific
gravity after three successive hourly readings. Any battery
that becomes hot (125˚F, 52˚C) or violently gasses should
be removed from the charger and tested. In the event that
a hot battery is removed, most of the charging current was
going to that battery and it will be necessary to continue
charging the remaining batteries since they received very
little charging current.
b. Freedom batteries: Check for green dot indication. Remove
from charger when green dot stays visible. Any battery that
becomes hot (125˚F, 52˚c), as determined by touching and
feeling the case, or violently gasses, should be removed
from the charger and tested. In the event that a hot battery
is removed, most of the charging current was going to that
battery and it will be necessary to continue charging the
remaining batteries, since they received very little charging
current. Readjust control to keep voltage below 16.0 volts, if
necessary, as batteries are removed.
4. After charging, all batteries should be tested as described in
the testing procedure in Delco Service Bulletins 1B-115 and 1B-116
to make sure batteries are usable.
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