3. PREPARING TO MAINTAIN
WARNING: RISK OF CONTACT WITH
BATTERY ACID. BATTERY ACID IS A
HIGHLY CORROSIVE SULFURIC ACID.
3.1 If it is necessary to remove the battery
from the vehicle to maintain it, always
remove the grounded terminal first. Make
sure all of the accessories in the vehicle
are off to prevent arcing.
3.2 Be sure the area around the battery is
well ventilated while the battery is being
maintained.
3.3 Clean the battery terminals before
maintaining the battery. During cleaning,
keep airborne corrosion from coming into
contact with your eyes, nose and mouth.
Use baking soda and water to neutralize
the battery acid and help eliminate
airborne corrosion. Do not touch your
eyes, nose or mouth.
3.4 Add distilled water to each cell until the
battery acid reaches the level specified
4. SOLAR BATTERY MAINTAINER LOCATION
WARNING: RISK OF EXPLOSION AND
CONTACT WITH BATTERY ACID.
4.1 Locate the solar battery maintainer as far
away from the battery as the DC cables
permit.
4.2 Never place the solar battery maintainer
directly above the battery being maintained;
gases from the battery will corrode and
damage the solar battery maintainer.
5. DC CONNECTION PRECAUTIONS
5.1 Never allow the clips to touch each other.
6. FOLLOW THESE STEPS WHEN BATTERY IS INSTALLED IN VEHICLE
WARNING: A SPARK NEAR THE
BATTERY MAY CAUSE A BATTERY
EXPLOSION. TO REDUCE THE RISK
OF A SPARK NEAR THE BATTERY:
6.1 Position the DC cables to reduce the
risk of damage by the hood, door and
moving or hot engine parts. NOTE: If it is
necessary to close the hood during the
maintaining process, ensure that the hood
does not touch the metal part of the battery
clips or cut the insulation of the cables.
6.2 Stay clear of fan blades, belts, pulleys
and other parts that can cause injury.
6.3 Check the polarity of the battery posts.
The POSITIVE (POS, P, +) battery post
usually has a larger diameter than the
NEGATIVE (NEG, N, -) post.
by the battery manufacturer. Do not
overfill. For a battery without removable
cell caps, such as valve regulated lead
acid batteries (VRLA), carefully follow the
manufacturer's recharging instructions.
3.5 Read, understand and follow all
instructions for the solar battery
maintainer, battery, vehicle and any
equipment used near the battery and
solar battery maintainer. Study all of
the battery manufacturer's specific
precautions while in use.
3.6 Determine the voltage of the battery by
referring to the vehicle owner's manual
and make sure that the output voltage of
the solar battery maintainer is the correct
voltage.
3.7 Make sure that the solar battery
maintainer cable clips make tight
connections.
4.3 Do not set the battery on top of the solar
battery maintainer.
4.4 Never allow battery acid to drip onto the
solar battery maintainer when reading the
electrolyte specific gravity or filling the
battery.
4.5 Do not operate the solar battery
maintainer in a closed-in area or restrict
the ventilation in any way.
5.2 Attach the clips to the battery and chassis,
as indicated in sections 6 and 7.
6.4 Determine which post of the battery is
grounded (connected) to the chassis.
If the negative post is grounded to the
chassis (as in most vehicles), see step
6.5. If the positive post is grounded to the
chassis, see step 6.6.
6.5 For a negative-grounded vehicle, connect
the POSITIVE (RED) clip from the solar
battery maintainer to the POSITIVE (POS,
P, +) ungrounded post of the battery.
Connect the NEGATIVE (BLACK) clip to
the vehicle chassis or engine block away
from the battery. Do not connect the clip
to the carburetor, fuel lines or sheet-metal
body parts. Connect to a heavy gauge
metal part of the frame or engine block.
5
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