Owner`s manual

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS - HOUSE — 8
162
2008 LAPALMA XL
Battery Maintenance
Liquid Lead Acid (LLA) battery cells
should be checked at least once a month. The
level should be above the top of the plates, but
not overfull. The electrolyte level should be
approximately 3/8" below the well to allow
room for expansion while the battery is being
charged. Over-lling the battery will allow the
electrolyte solution to boil or gas out of the
battery cap.
Remember to use
only distilled water
to rell the battery.
A battery with a low
electrolyte level will
rapidly boil out the
water once the plates
have been exposed
to air.
Periodically
check the batteries
for corrosion and
cracks. Replace vent plugs that are cracked or
missing. Keep the top of the batteries clean. The
accumulation of electrolyte and dirt may permit
small amounts of current to ow between the
terminals, which can drain the battery.
Check the battery connections for tightness
and corrosion. If corrosion is found, disconnect
the cables (mark cable locations) and carefully
clean them with a mild solution of baking soda
and water, or an aerosol product specically
designed for battery maintenance. DO NOT
allow cleaning solution to seep into the battery
and damage the electrolyte balance. Use water to
rinse the top of the battery and surrounding area
when done. Carefully hook the cables back to
the battery. The battery cable to battery terminal
connections should be metal to metal. Coat
the terminals with petroleum jelly or an anti-
corrosion grease.
WARNING:
Liquid lead acid batteries produce
hydrogen gas while being charged. This
is highly explosive. DO NOT smoke
around batteries and keep all sources of
ignition or flames away from batteries.
The hydrogen gas may explode resulting
in fire, personal injury, property
damage or death.
Testing the Battery
A battery can be tested
and monitored several ways.
The monitor panel on the
hallway Systems Control
Center shows voltage of the
house batteries. Press the
Test switch to check battery
status.
Checking the Electrolyte Solution
The most efcient way of testing the batteries
is to check the electrolyte solution. The only
way to test a battery’s electrolyte solution is
with a hydrometer. Many styles are available,
from types with cylinder graduation (shown
here) to types with oating balls. Hydrometers
can be purchased from most auto parts stores.
The hydrometer tests the battery’s electrolyte
solution which is measured in specic gravity.
Distilled water has a specic assigned gravity
of 1,000. The hydrometer is calibrated to this
mark. Pure sulfuric acid has a specic gravity
reading of 1,840. The acid is 1.84 times heavier
than water. The electrolyte solution is about
64% water to 36% acid (fully charged battery).
Hydrometers with cylinder graduation are
graphed and the exact state of specic gravity
can be determined.
030816b
Hydrometer (cylinder
type) shown testing
LLA type battery.
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