Greensmaster 3150 Page 5 -- 31 Electrical System
Battery Inspection and Maintenance
1. Checkforcrackscausedbyoverlytightorloosehold
down rod. Replace battery if cracked or leaking.
2. Checkbatteryterminalpostsforcorrosion.Useater-
minalbrushorsteelwooltocleancorrosionfromthebat-
tery terminal posts.
IMPORTANT: Before cleaning the battery, tape or
block the ventholesto the fillercaps andmakesure
the caps are on tightly.
3. Check for signs of wetness or leakage on the top of
the battery which might indicate a loose or missing filler
cap, overcharging, loose terminal post or overfilling.
Cleanthebatterywithasolutionofbakingsodaandwa-
ter, then rinse it with clean water.
IMPORTANT: Makesure the areaaround thecellsis
clean before opening the battery caps.
4. Check theelectrolyte levelin eachcell. If necessary,
fill all cells with distilled water to the bottom of the cap
tubes. Charge at 15 to 25 amps for fifteen (15) minutes
to allow sufficient mixing of the electrolyte.
Battery Testing
1. Conduct a hydrometertest ofthe batteryelectrolyte.
IMPORTANT: Makesure the areaaround thecellsis
clean before opening the battery caps.
A. Measure the specific gravity of each cell with a
hydrometer. Draw electrolyte in and out of the
hydrometerbarrelprior to takinga readingto warm--
upthehydrometer.Atthesametimetakethetem-
perature of the cell.
B. Temperature correct each cell reading. For each
10
o
F(6
o
C) above80
o
F(27
o
C)add 0.004tothe spe-
cificgravityreading.Foreach10
o
F(6
o
C)below80
o
F
(27
o
C) subtract 0.004 from thespecific gravity read-
ing.
Example: Cell Temperature 100
o
F
Cell Gravity 1.245
ADD (20
o
above 80
o
F) 0.008
Correctionto80
o
F 1.253
C. If the difference between the highest and lowest
cell specific gravity is 0.050 or greater or the lowest
cellspecificgravityislessthan1.225,chargethebat-
tery. Chargeat therecommendedrateandtime(see
Battery Charging below) or until the specific gravity
of all cells is 1.225 or greater with the difference in
specific gravity between the highest and lowest cell
less than0.050. If thesecharging conditionscan not
be met, replace the battery.
2. Perform a high--discharge test with an adjustable
load tester.
Thisisoneofthemostreliablemeansoftestingabattery
asitsimulatesthecold--crankingtest.Acommercialbat-
tery load tester is required to perform this test.
CAUTION
Followthemanufacturer’sinstructionswhenus-
ing a battery tester.
A. Check the voltage across the battery terminals
prior to testing the battery. If the voltage is less than
12.0 VDC, recharge the battery.
B. If thebatteryhas beencharged,applya 150amp
load for fifteen (15) seconds to remove the surface
charge. Use a battery load tester following the
manufacturer’s instructions.
C. Makesure thebatteryterminalsarefree ofcorro-
sion.
D. Measure the temperature of the center cell.
E. Connecta batteryloadtestertothebatterytermi-
nals following the manufacturer’s instructions. Con-
nect a digital multimeter to the battery terminals.
F. Applyatestloadof270amps(onehalfthebattery
Cranking Performance Specification) to the battery
for fifteen (15) seconds.
G. Take a battery voltage reading at fifteen (15) se-
conds, then remove the load.
H. Using the table below, determine the minimum
voltage for the cell temperature reading.
Minimum
Voltage
Battery Electrolyte
Temperature
9.6 70
o
F (and up) 21
o
C (and up)
9.5 60
o
F 16
o
C
9.4 50
o
F 10
o
C
9.3 40
o
F 4
o
C
9.1 30
o
F -- 1
o
C
8.9 20
o
F -- 7
o
C
8.7 10
o
F -- 12
o
C
8.5 0
o
F -- 18
o
C
I. If the test voltage is below the minimum, replace
the battery. If thetest voltage is ator above themini-
mum, return the battery to service.
Electrical
System
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