10.21
Battery and Electrical Systems
10
Charging Procedure
If battery voltage is 12.6 VDC or less, the battery may
need recharging. When using an automatic charger, refer
to the charger manufacturer’s instructions for recharging.
Do not exceed 10 amps when charging the battery.
NOTE: Charge the battery using an automatic
c
harger that will not exceed 14.6 VDC. An automatic
charger will signal when charging is complete.
Allow the battery to stand disconnected for several
ho
urs after being properly charged. If the voltage
drops below 12.6 volts, charging was ineffective or the
battery needs to be replaced.
Battery Charging Reference Table
NOTE: Follow the charger instructions supplied by
t
he manufacture regarding the order or connections,
switch positions and when to connect the charger to
an outlet.
Battery Testing
Whenever a service complaint is related to either the
starting or charging systems, the battery should be
checked first.
Following are two tests which can easily be made on a
sea
led Maintenance Free battery to determine its
condition: OCV Test and a Load Test.
OCV - Open Circuit Voltage Test
Battery voltage should be checked with a digital
multimeter. Readings of 12.6 volts or less require further
battery testing and charging. See the following chart and
“Load Test”.
NOTE: Maintenance Free batteries should be kept at
a high st
ate of charge during storage. If the battery is
stored or used at a low state of charge, hard crystal
sulfation will form on the plates, reducing the
efficiency and service life of the battery.
NOTE: Use a volt/ohm meter to test battery voltage.
Load Test
A battery may indicate a full charge condition in the OCV
test, but still may not have the storage capacity necessary
to properly function in the electrical system. For this
reason, a battery capacity or load test should be
conducted whenever poor battery performance is
encountered.
To perform this test, use a load testing device that has an
ad
justable load. Apply a load of three times the ampere-
hour rating. At 14 seconds into the test, check battery
voltage. A good 12V battery will have at least 10.5 volts.
If the reading is low, charge the battery and retest.
An overheated battery could explode, causing severe
injury or death. Always watch charging times carefully.
Stop charging if the battery becomes very warm to the
touch. Allow it to cool before resuming charging.
State of
Charge
Voltage (DC) Action
Charge
Ti
me
100% 12.8 or more
None, check
ag
ain in 3
months
None
Required
75% -
10
0%
12.6 - 12.8
May need
slight char
ge
3 - 6 hrs
50% - 75% 12.3 - 12.6 Needs Charge 5 - 11 hrs
25% - 50% 12.0 - 12.3 Needs Charge
At least
13 h
rs
0% - 25% 12.0 or less Needs Charge
At least
20 h
rs
OPEN CIRCUIT VOLTAGE
State of Charge Maintenance Free
100% 12.8 V and up
75% Charged 12.6 V
50% Charged 12.3 V
25% Charged 12.0 V
0% Charged 11.8 V or less
To prevent shock or component damage, remove spark
plug high tension leads and connect securely to
engine ground before proceeding.
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