Snorkel A38E Parts And Service Manual page 108

Section
4.3
All Snorkel battery operated Work Platforms,
including the A38E can operate at ambient
temperatures to a value of -20ºC (-4ºF). However for
this there are two provisions which must be met.
The ISO#46 grade of hydraulic oil normally used in
Snorkel Work Platforms must be replaced with a
grade suitable for these low temperature conditions.
When ambient temperatures fall below 18ºC
(65ºF) batteries cannot deliver 210 Ampere hours and
so should be placed on charge as soon after use as
possible. Under such conditions a 4 hour equalize
charge once a week in the early afternoon will
improve state of charge and battery life.
Charging
1. Check battery fluid level. If electrolyte level is
lower than 10 mm (3/8 in) above plates add
distilled water only.
2. Connect battery charger lead to properly
earthed outlet of correct voltage and frequency.
3. The Charger will turn on automatically after
going through a self test sequence. LED's will
indicate the status of charging.
4. The Charger indicates that the charge is
complete when the batteries are fully charged.
BATTERY CELL EQUALIZATION
Specific Gravity is a measurement of the strength of
the electrolyte in a battery and is measured using a
hydrometer. For a fully charged battery the
temperature corrected reading should be about 1.28.
The specific gravity of the electrolyte in the battery
cells should be equalized monthly, or weekly when
used in low temperature conditions. To do this,
charge batteries as described above. After this initial
charge, check the electrolyte level in all cells and add
distilled water as necessary, and turn the charger on
until a full charge is again indicated. During this time,
the charging current will be low (four Amps) as cells
are equalizing.
After equalization, the specific gravity of each cell
should be checked with a hydrometer. The
temperature corrected specific gravity in this state
should be 1.28. If any corrected readings are below
1.23, the batteries contain bad cells and therefore the
battery should be replaced.
Do not check the specific gravity in a cell to which
water has just been added. If there is not enough
electrolyte in a fully charged cell to obtain a sample
for the hydrometer, add water and continue charging
for one to two hours before checking again.
4-4
Maintenance Process
4.3 Temperature correction for
Electrolyte readings
Electrolyte Temperature
Fahrenheit
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
5
0
-5
-10
-15
-20
-25
-30
Table 4-2: Specific Gravity Conversion
SPECIFIC GRAVITY CONVERSION CHART
Celsius
48.9
43.3
37.8
32.2
26.7
21.1
15.6
10.0
4.4
-1.1
-6.7
-12.2
-15.0
-17.8
-20.6
-23.3
-26.1
-28.9
-31.7
-34.4
Chart
A38E Work Platform
Temperature Corrected
Specific Gravity, Fully
Charged
USA Euro
1291 1.29
1287 1.29
1283 1.28
1275 1.28
1275 1.28
1275 1.28
1267 1.27
1263 1.26
1259 1.26
1255 1.26
1251 1.25
1247 1.25
1245 1.25
1243 1.24
1241 1.24
1239 1.24
1237 1.24
1235 1.24
1233 1.23
1231 1.23