Hydrometer Test - Club Car 1995 Golf Car Maintenance Service Supplement

vidual batteries, using the VOM (CLUB CAR Part No.1011480). Set the meter on 100 VDC. Place the red (+)
probe at the positive post of the battery No. 1 and the the black (-) probe at the negative post of battery No.
6 (Figure 18-6). Record reading. Then set VOM on 50 VDC and place the red (+) probe at the positive ter-
minal and the black (-) probe at the negative terminal of each battery. Record reading. The on-charge volt-
age for the set should read between 56.0 volts and 63.0 volts depending on the age of the battery being test-
ed. If individual batteries read between 9.8 and 10.5 volts, the car may not have been fully charged when the
problem occurred. Send the car back out to see if the problem reoccurs. If the problem persists, go to hydrom-
eter test. If any battery reads below 9.3 volts or differs by more than 0.7 volts from the other batteries, have
it replaced. If readings are below 9.8 volts but within 0.7 volts of each other, the batteries are old. Batteries
may have enough capacity left to last several more months. Go to hydrometer test (See Troubleshooting
Chart, Figure 18-8, and examples on following pages).

HYDROMETER TEST

A hydrometer measures the specific gravity. The
higher the specific gravity, the higher the state of
charge of the batteries. A fully charged battery
should read between 1.250 and 1.280 at 80°F. Never
add acid to batteries to obtain a higher specific grav-
ity.
Performing the Hydrometer Test
1. Be sure that the batteries have sufficient water
to cover the plates by approximately 1/2 inch
and are fully charged prior to beginning the test.
If water must be added, recharge the batteries
before performing the hydrometer test.
2. Remove the vent cap.
3. Using a battery thermometer (CLUB CAR part
No.1011767), record the electrolyte temperature
of the No. 2 cell.
4. Squeeze the rubber bulb of the hydrometer and
insert into the cell. Slowly release the bulb,
drawing electrolyte up into the glass tube of the
hydrometer.
5. When the float rises off the bottom, adjust the electrolyte level so that the float rides free of the bottom
but does not strike the top of the glass tube. Remove the hydrometer from the cell and release the pres-
sure from the bulb.
6. Hold the hydrometer vertically, insuring that the float is not contacting the sides of the barrel. Hold the
hydrometer at eye level and read the scale at the level of electrolyte (Figure 18-9).
7. Record the reading.
8. Return the electrolyte to the cell from which it was taken. Replace vent cap.
9. Repeat steps 2-8 on all cells.
Hydrometer Calibration
Most hydrometers are calibrated to read correctly at 80°F. The readings obtained as described above must
be corrected for temperature. For each 10°F above 80°F, add .004 to the reading. For each 10°F below 80°F,
subtract .004 from the reading.
HYDROMETER TEST
FIGURE 18-9
18-11