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ENGINE-ELECTRICAL 6Y-4
CLEANING
The external condition of the Battery should be checked
periodically for damage or for the presence of dirt and
corrosion. The top of the Battery should be kept clean.
An accumulation of acid film and dirt may permit current
to flow between the terminals, which will slowly dis-
charge the Battery. For best results when cleaning the
top of Batteries, wash first with a diluted ammonia or a
soda solution to neutralize any acid present; then flush
with clean water. Care must be taken to keep vent plugs
tight, so that the neutralizing solution does not enter the
cells.
CABLES
To insure good electrical contact, the cables should be
clean and tight on the Energizer posts. If the posts or
cable terminals are corroded, the cables should be dis-
connected and the terminals and clamps cleaned sepa-
rately with a soda solution and a wire brush. After
cleaning and installing clamps, apply a thin coating of
petroleum jelly on the cable clamps to retard corrosion.
CARRIER AND HOLD-DOWN
The Battery carrier and hold-down should be clean and
free from corrosion before installing the Battery. The
carrier should be in a sound mechanical condition so that
it will support the Battery securely and keep it level.
To prevent the Battery from shaking in its carrier,
the hold-down bolts should be tight (60-80 in. lbs.). How-
ever, the bolts should not be tightened to the point where
the Battery case or cover will be placed under a severe
strain.
BATTERY SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
When Batteries are being charged, an explosive gas
mixture forms in each cell. Part of this gas escapes
through the holes in the vent plugs and may form an
explosive atmosphere around the Battery itself if ventila-
tion is poor. This explosive gas may remain in or around
the Battery for several hours after it has been charged.
Sparks or flames can ignite this gas causing an internal
explosion which may shatter the Battery.
The following precautions should be observed to pre-
vent an explosion:
1. Do not smoke near Batteries being charged or which
have been very recently charged.
2. Do not break live circuits at the terminals- of Batr
teries because a spark usually occurs at the point
where a live circuit is broken. Care must always be
taken when connecting or disconnecting booster leads
or cable clamps on fast chargers. Poor connections
are a common cause of electrical arcs which cause
BATTERY CHARGING PROCEDURES
There are three methods of recharging Batteries.
They differ basically in the length of time the Battery is
charged and the rate at which charging current is sup-
plied. One i s the Slow Charge method, the second is the
Fast Charge method, and the third is the Emergency
Boost Charge method.
Before recharging a Battery by any method, the elec-
trolyte level must be checked and adjusted if necessary.
SLOW CHARGING
The Slow Charge method supplies the Battery with a
relatively low current flow for a relatively long period of
time. This is the only method that will bring the Battery
to a full state of charge.
The Slow Charge method consists of charging at
approximately a 4 ampere rate for 24 hours or more if
necessary to bring the Battery to full charge. A fully
charged condition is reached when the cells are gassing
freely and three corrected specific gravity readings
taken at hourly intervals show no increase.
FAST CHARGING
The Fast Charge method supplies current to the Bat-
tery at a 40 to 50 ampere rate for a 1 1/2 hour period of
time. If the electrolyte temperature reaches 125°F before
the 1 1/2 hour period is completed, the Battery must be
taken off charge temporarily, or the charging rate
reduced to avoid damage to the Battery.
Although a Battery cannot be brought to a fully charged
condition during Fast Charge, it can be substantially
recharged or "boosted". In order to bring the Battery to
a fully charged condition, the charging cycle must be
finished by the Slow Charge method.
EMERGENCY BOOST CHARGING
In cases where the Battery is not sufficiently charged
to crank the engine, an emergency boost charge may be
applied as a temporary expedient in order to crank the
engine. The Emergency Boost Charge method consists of
charging at a 40 to 50 ampere rate for a period of one-
half hour.
It should be particularly noted that the Emergency
Boost Charge will not necessarily restore the Battery to
a useful state of. charge for continued service. After an
emergency boost charge, failure to charge the Battery
further, either by a long uninterrupted driving period or
by the Fast Charge or Slow Charge method, may result
in failure to crank the engine the next time cranking is
attempted. A Battery should never be condemned on the
basis of failure to crank the engine after an emergency
boost charge. Although an emergency boost charge may
put enough energy into the Battery to crank the engine
once, further charging usually is necessary in order to
create a sufficient reserve to crank a second and third
time.
12 VOLT BATTERY SUGGESTED
CHARGING RATES
(100 Amp/hr or Less Capacity)
TYPE OF
CHARGE
Boost Charge for
Light Load Test
Slow Charge
Fast Charge
Quick Boost .
Dry Charge
Warm-up Boost
LENGTH
OF TIME
20 Minutes
24 Hours
1-1/2 Hours
30 Minutes
10 Minutes
CHARGING
RATE
50 Amps
4 Amps
40-50 Amps
40-50 Amps
15 Amps
CHEVROLET CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL
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