Charging - Toro Groundsmaster 580-D Service Manual

Charging

To minimize possible damage to the battery and allow
the battery to be fully charged, the slow charging meth-
od is presented here. This charging method can be ac-
complished with a constant current battery charger
which is available in most shops.
CAUTION
Follow the manufacturer's instructions when
using a battery charger.
1. Determine the battery charge level from either its
open circuit voltage or specific gravity.
Battery Charge Open Circuit
Level Voltage
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
2. Determine the charging time and rate using the
manufacturer's battery charger instructions or the
following table.
Reserve Battery Charge Level
Capacity (Percent of Fully Charged)
(Minutes) (Minutes)
75%
80 or less 3.8 hrs
at
3 amps
81 to 125 5.3 hrs
at
4 amps
126 to 5.5 hrs
170 at
5 amps
171 to 5.8 hrs
250 at
6 amps
above 6 hrs
250 at
10 amps 10 amps
Groundsmaster 580--D
Specific
Gravity
12.68 1.265
12.45 1.225
12.24 1.190
12.06 1.155
11.89 1.120
50% 25%
7.5 hrs 11.3 hrs 15 hrs
at at
3 amps 3 amps 3 amps
10.5 hrs 15.8 hrs 21 hrs
at at
4 amps 4 amps 4 amps
11 hrs 16.5 hrs 22 hrs
at at
5 amps 5 amps 5 amps
11.5 hrs 17.3 hrs 23 hrs
at at
6 amps 6 amps 6 amps
12 hrs 18 hrs 24 hrs
at at
10 amps 10 amps
Do not charge a frozen battery because it
can explode and cause injury. Let the bat-
tery warm to 60
necting to a charger.
Charge the battery in a well- -ventilated
place to dissipate gases produced from
charging. These gases are explosive;
keep open flame and electrical spark
away from the battery. Do not smoke.
Nausea may result if the gases are in-
haled. Unplug the charger from the elec-
trical outlet before connecting or discon-
necting the charger leads from the battery
posts.
3. Following the manufacturer's instructions, con-
nect the charger cables to the battery. Make sure a good
connection is made.
4. Charge the battery following the manufacturer's
instructions.
5. Occasionally check the temperature of the battery
electrolyte. If the temperature exceeds 125
or the electrolyte is violently gassing or spewing, the
charging rate must be lowered or temporarily stopped.
6. Three hours prior to the end of the charging, mea-
sure the specific gravity of a battery cell once per hour.
The battery is fully charged when the cells are gassing
freely at a low charging rate and there is less than a
0%
0.003 change in specific gravity for three consecutive
readings.
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at
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Page 8 - - 17 Electrical System (S/N 30101 & Up) (Rev. E)
CAUTION
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F (15.5 C) before con-
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F (51.6
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