Batteries And Charging; Safety; Battery - Cushman Titan 36V Owner's Manual And Service Manual

OPERATION AND SERVICE INFORMATION
Read all of Manual to become thoroughly familiar with this vehicle. Pay particular attention to all Notes, Cautions and Warnings

BATTERIES AND CHARGING

Safety

Always observe the following warnings when working on or
near batteries:
To prevent battery explosion that could result in
severe personal injury or death, keep all smok-
ing materials, open flame or sparks away from
the batteries.
Hydrogen gas is formed when charging bat-
teries. Do not charge batteries without ade-
quate ventilation. A 4% concentration of
hydrogen gas is explosive.
Be sure that the key switch is off and all
electrical accessories are turned off before
starting work on vehicle.
Never disconnect a circuit under load at a
battery terminal.
Batteries are heavy. Use
proper lifting techniques
when moving them. Always
lift the battery with a com-
mercially available battery
lifting device. Do not tip bat-
teries when removing or
installing them; spilled elec-
trolyte can cause burns and damage.
The electrolyte in a storage battery is an
acid solution which can cause severe burns
to the skin and eyes. Treat all electrolyte
spills to the body and eyes with extended
flushing with clear water. Contact a physi-
cian immediately.
Always wear a safety shield or
approved safety goggles when
adding water or charging batter-
ies.
Any electrolyte spills should be neutralized
with a solution of 1/4 cup (60 ml) sodium
bicarbonate (baking soda) dissolved in 1 1/2
gallons (6 liters) of water and flushed with
water.
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Battery

A battery is defined as two dissimilar metals immersed in
an acid. If the acid is absent or if the metals are not dis-
similar, a battery has not been created. The batteries
most commonly used in these vehicles are lead acid.
A battery does not store electricity, but is able to produce
electricity as the result of a chemical reaction which
releases stored chemical energy in the form of electrical
energy. The chemical reaction takes place faster in warm
conditions and slower in cold conditions. Temperature is
important when conducting tests on a battery and test
results must be corrected to compensate for temperature
differences.
As a battery ages, it still performs adequately except that
its capacity is diminished. Capacity describes the time
that a battery can continue to provide its design amperes
from a full charge.
A battery has a maximum life, therefore good mainte-
nance is designed to maximize the available life and
reduce the factors that can reduce the life of the battery.
Owner's Manual and Service Guide
Overfilling batteries may result in electrolyte
being expelled from the battery during the
charge cycle. Expelled electrolyte may
cause damage to the vehicle and storage
facility.
Aerosol containers of battery terminal pro-
tectant must be used with extreme care.
Insulate metal container to prevent can from
contacting battery terminals which could
result in an explosion.
'shorting out' a battery, which could result in
an explosion and severe personal injury or
death.
Wrap wrenches with
vinyl tape to prevent
the possibility of a
dropped wrench from