Using A Hydrometer; Prolonged Storage; Battery Set And Gas Starting Battery - Bad Boy Ambush iS Owner's Manual

Read all of SAFETY and this section before attempting any procedure. Pay particular attention to Notices, Cautions, Warnings and Dangers.

Using A Hydrometer

1. Draw electrolyte into the hydrometer several times to
permit the thermometer to adjust to the electrolyte tem-
perature and note the reading. Examine the color of the
electrolyte. A brown or gray coloration indicates a prob-
lem with the battery and is a sign that the battery is near-
ing the end of its life.
2. Draw the minimum quantity of electrolyte into the
hydrometer to permit the float to float freely without con-
tacting the top or bottom of the cylinder.
3. Hold the hydrometer in a vertical position at eye level and
note the reading where the electrolyte meets the scale on
the float.
4. Add or subtract four points (.004) to the reading for every
10° F (6° C) the electrolyte temperature is above or
below 80° F (27° C). Adjust the reading to conform with
the electrolyte temperature, e.g., if the reading indicates
a specific gravity of 1.250 and the electrolyte tempera-
ture is 90° F (32° C), add four points (.004) to the 1.250
which gives a corrected reading of 1.254. Similarly if the
temperature was 70° F (21° C), subtract four points
(.004) from the 1.250 to give a corrected reading of
1.246.
5. Test each cell and note the readings (corrected to 80° F
or 27° C). A variation of fifty points between any two cell
readings (example 1.250 - 1.200) indicates a problem
with the low reading cell(s).
As a battery ages the specific gravity of the electrolyte will
decrease at full charge. This is not a reason to replace the
battery providing all cells are within fifty points of each other.
Since the hydrometer test is in response to a vehicle exhibit-
ing a performance problem, the vehicle should be recharged
and the test repeated. If the results indicate a weak cell, the
battery or batteries should be removed and replaced with a
good battery of the same brand, type and approximate age.

PROLONGED STORAGE

Battery Set and Gas Starting Battery

During periods of storage, the batteries will need attention to keep them maintained and prevent discharge. In high tem-
peratures the chemical reaction is faster, while low temperatures cause the chemical reaction to slow down. A vehicle
that is stored at 90° F (32° C) will lose.002 of specific gravity each day. If a fully charged battery has a specific gravity of
1.275, and the battery is allowed to sit unused, it will become partially discharged. When it reaches 1.240, which it will do
in less than twenty days, it should be recharged. If a battery is left in a discharged state, sulfating takes place on and
within the plates. This condition is not reversible and will cause permanent damage to the battery. In order to prevent
damage, the battery should be recharged. A hydrometer can be used to determine the specific gravity and therefore the
state of charge of a battery.
ELECTROLYTE
TEMPERATURE
°F °C
160 71
150 65
140 60
130 54
120 49
110 43
100 37
90 32
80 26
70 21
60 15
50 10
40 4
30 -1
20 -6
10 -12
Hydrometer Temperature Correction
Owner's Manual
MAINTENANCE
+.032
+.030 EXAMPLE #1
+.028 ELECTROLYTE TEMPERATURE
+.026
Above 80 °F (27 °C)
+.024
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
+.022
Above 80 °F (27 °C)
+.020
+.018
ELECTROLYTE TEMPERATURE
+.016
Above 90 °F (32 °C)
+.014
HYDROMETER READING 1.250
+.012
1.250 + .004 = 1.254
+.010
CORRECTED SPECIFIC GRAVITY
+.008
READING
+.006
+.004
+.002
0
-.002
-.004
-.006
EXAMPLE #2
-.008
ELECTROLYTE TEMPERATURE
-.010
Above 80 °F (27 °C)
-.012
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
-.014
Above 80 °F (27 °C)
-.016
-.018
ELECTROLYTE TEMPERATURE
-.020
Above 70 °F (21 °C)
-.022
HYDROMETER READING 1.250
-.024
1.250 - .004 = 1.246
-.026
CORRECTED SPECIFIC GRAVITY
-.028
READING
B
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