Maintenance Guide

Do not allow the battery to tip or operate at a severe angle in any direction. This
would allow the battery electrolyte to push through the battery vent assembly.
Charge the battery in a well-ventilated area.
Upon receipt, examine the battery for signs of wetness or impact (which may indicate
damage in shipment or that the battery was tipped beyond a 45° angle during
transit).
If there is evidence of damage – notify Zoeller Pump Co. to make a damage report.
Charge the battery before placing in service. Simply connect the battery charger and
allow it to run until it automatically shuts off.
Battery life is usually measured in cycles – but in practical terms, your battery should work
well for three years from the beginning date of service.
However, battery maintenance and charging procedures will either prolong or shorten battery life, depending upon how well recommended
practices are followed.
Inspection & Handling
1.
Operating Guidelines
2.
3.
4.
5.
Other Factors That Affect Battery Life
and Performance:
• Batteries are rated in ampere-hours (Ah) and are designed to
perform a specic workload within an established period of
time. Increasing either and/or both of these will over-discharge
the battery and result in shortened life.
• Limit discharging the battery beyond 1.75 volts per cell – or
1.125 specic gravity per cell.
• Batteries should always be recharged immediately following a
complete discharge period. Never allow the battery to remain
in a fully discharged condition, otherwise permanent damage
will result.
• Under normal circumstance the temperature of the battery
electrolyte must not exceed 110° F (43° C). If the battery
is continuously operated at or above this point the service
life of the battery will be severely diminished. Under normal
conditions, battery electrolyte condition should range from 60°
to 100° F (15° to 38° C).
• If a battery is ever hot to the touch, allow it to cool to ambient
temperature before charging or discharging.
• Keep battery connectors and cabling in good condition. When
disconnecting the battery connector from the equipment, pull
on the connector – not the cable. Damage to the connectors
and/or cables will result in poor battery performance.
Preventative Maintenance
• Battery covers and terminals should be kept clean, dry and free
of corrosion. Battery vent caps must be secured to the batteries
during use and charging period. Remove vent caps only to
inspect electrolyte levels or specic gravities.
• When batteries or terminals require cleaning, use only
biodegradable cleaner-neutralizer solutions that can be safely
applied and disposed of through a common sanitary sewer.
Other chemical-based solutions are often dangerous, ineffective
and cannot be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner.
• If electrolyte is spilled onto batteries or the battery compartment
area, neutralize it with a cloth moistened with a solution of baking
soda and water mixed in the proportion of one pound of baking
soda to one gallon of water. When the electrolyte is neutralized,
wipe the affected area with a water-moistened cloth to remove all
traces of soda.
• Inspect cable-to-terminal connections to ensure connections are
tight and free of corrosion. Battery cables must be intact with no
exposed wires.
• Preventative maintenance practices should include periodic
inspection of battery specic gravity and open circuit voltage. An
imbalance of specic gravity and open circuit voltage is usually
a sign of improper charging, service infrequency, or a bad cell
condition.
Zoeller Pump Company • 3649 Cane Run Rd. • Louisville, KY 40211-1961• Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone] • Toll Free 1-800-928-7867 • www.zoeller.com