03DelcoRemy Diagnostic Manual130004222020

Page 24 To prevent undercharging or overcharging and battery damage on the charging rack, the following procedures are recommended: NOTE The following recommendations are for batteries with electrolyte and plates at room temperatures of 55˚ to 85˚F (13˚ to 30˚C). Extremely cold batteries accept very little charging current and will not conform to the suggested procedures. 5-4. GROUP CHARGING ON CURRENT-LIMITING OR SERIES CHARGERS 1. Visually inspect all batteries for cracked covers or cases; replace obviously damaged batteries. a. Filler-cap batteries: Check with hydrometer. If reading is 1.230 or more, test as outlined in Delco Service Bulletin 1B-115. If reading is below 1.230, proceed with charging procedure. If fluid level is low, add water to bring level sufficiently high for hydrometer readings, (but not to the split ring), then proceed with charging. After charging, add water just to split ring. b. Freedom batteries: Check built-in hydrometer; if clear or yellow, replace the battery. If hydrometer has a green dot, do not charge, but test as outlined in Delco Service Bulletin 1B- 116. If hydrometer is dark, proceed with charging procedure. 2. Connect batteries to charger as shown in Figure 1. Do not exceed the charger’s voltage capabilities by connecting too many batteries. Make sure all connections are clean and tight. Set charging rate within 5-10 ampere range and maintain this charging rate throughout the charging procedure. 3. After two or three hours of charging, check batteries as follows: a. Filler-cap batteries: Take hydrometer readings at hourly intervals. Correct readings to 80˚F (27˚C). Remove any battery from charge when there is no increase in specific gravity after three successive hourly readings. Any battery that becomes hot (125˚F, 52˚C) or violently gasses, should be removed from the charger for testing. Readjust control to maintain the same charging rate after the batteries are removed. b. Freedom batteries: Check for green dot indication. Shake or tilt batteries at hourly intervals to see if green dot will stay visible. Also check terminal voltage of each battery with test voltmeter connected, as shown in Figure 1. While on charge, if voltage across the battery is 16.0 volts or more, or if the green dot appears, remove battery from charger. Any battery that becomes hot (125˚F, 52˚C), as determined by touching and feeling the case, or any battery that violently gasses, should be removed from the charger for testing. Readjust control to maintain the same charging rate on remaining batteries as charged batteries are removed. 4. After charging, all batteries should be tested as described in the testing procedure in Delco Service Bulletins 1B-115 and 1B-116 to make sure batteries are usable. 5-5. GROUP CHARGING ON VOLTAGE-LIMITING OR PARALLEL CHARGERS 1. Visually inspect all batteries for cracked covers or cases; replace obviously damagedbatteries. a. Filler-cap batteries: Check with hydrometer; if reading is 1.230 or more, test as outlined in Delco Service Bulletin 1B-115. If reading is below 1.230, proceed with charging procedure. If fluid level is low, add water to bring level sufficiently high for hydrometer readings, but not to split ring, then proceed with charging. After charging, add water to split ring. b. Freedom batteries: Check built-in hydrometer; if clear or yellow, replace battery. If hydrometer has a green dot, do not charge, but test as outlined in Service Bulletin 1B-116. If hydrometer is dark, proceed with charging procedure. 2. Connect batteries and test voltmeter to charger as shown in Figure 2. Make sure that all connections are clean and tight. Set charging voltage setting to a setting that does not exceed 16.0 volts. The charger may not be able to reach this voltage initially, but as batteries become charged and accept less current, the voltage will rise. The ammeter of the charger is indicating the total current flow to the connected batteries. This current divides into the various batteries. It is not a measure of each battery’s current acceptance. Do not exceed the charger’s capabilities by connecting too many batteries. Follow the charger manufacturer’s directions. 3. After two or three hours, check batteries at hourly intervals as follows: a. Filler-cap batteries: Take hydrometer readings at hourly intervals. Correct readings to 80˚F (27˚C). Remove any battery from the charge when there is no increase in specific gravity after three successive hourly readings. Any battery that becomes hot (125˚F, 52˚C) or violently gasses should be removed from the charger and tested. In the event that a hot battery is removed, most of the charging current was going to that battery and it will be necessary to continue charging the remaining batteries since they received very little charging current. b. Freedom batteries: Check for green dot indication. Remove from charger when green dot stays visible. Any battery that becomes hot (125˚F, 52˚c), as determined by touching and feeling the case, or violently gasses, should be removed from the charger and tested. In the event that a hot battery is removed, most of the charging current was going to that battery and it will be necessary to continue charging the remaining batteries, since they received very little charging current. Readjust control to keep voltage below 16.0 volts, if necessary, as batteries are removed. 4. After charging, all batteries should be tested as described in the testing procedure in Delco Service Bulletins 1B-115 and 1B-116 to make sure batteries are usable.