CHARGING SULFATED BATTERIES
28.
If your battery has sat in the discharged state for an extended period of time, it can become SULFATED. This usually is seen as a white deposit
near the top of the battery. The sulfate is formed when a battery with low water levels remains discharged for an extended time. Sulfated batteries
exhibit the characteristic of accepting no charge regardless of the rate of charge.
The charging method is two staged. The first stage of attempting to break down the sulfation to allow the battery to accept a charge must be closely
watched to avoid excessive charge rates as the battery begins to charge and overheat. The second stage is a slow charging to restore the battery
to full charge.
READ AND FOLLOW ALL PRECAUTIONS AND WARNINGS IN YOUR INSTRUCTION MANUAL BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO CHARGE
SULFATED BATTERIES. FAILURE TO OBSERVE THESE WARNINGS MAY RESULT IN PROPERTY DAMAGE OR SERIOUS PERSONAL
INJURY OR DEATH.
To recharge a sulfated battery:
1.
Attach the battery clamps as described in the instruction manual.
2.
Always use the charger's lowest rate when turning the charger on. Set the charger to the charger's highest rate for the voltage of the battery
being charged.
CAUTION: NEVER CHARGE A BATTERY AT VOLTAGE RATES ABOVE THAT OF THE BATTERY.
3.
The battery will show little or no amperage at the start of the charging process. This will continue until the sulfation begins to break down.
CAUTION: AS THE SULFATION BREAKS DOWN, THE AMPERAGE MAY RAPIDLY RISE. CONSTANT
ATTENTION MUST BE OBSERVED TO PREVENT SERIOUS OVERHEATING OF THE BATTERY.
4.
Lower the charge rate to the lowest rate for the voltage of battery being charged.
5.
Charge the battery at this low rate until the electrolyte reaches the fully charged state as described in the tables in your instruction manual.
This may take as long as two or three days.
NOTE: SOME BATTERIES MAY BE SO BADLY SULFATED THEY CAN NOT BE RESTORED TO A NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION,
REGARDLESS OF THE RATE OF CHARGE OR THE LENGTH OF TIME THE CHARGE IS APPLIED. IF THE BATTERY CANNOT BE
RESTORED TO A FULLY CHARGED CONDITION BY A SLOW CHARGING, IT SHOULD BE REPLACED.
TIMER
6
5
4
2
1
3
WIRING DIAGRAM
FAN
BLACK
WHITE
10
6
2
4
WHITE
1
VOLTS
CHARGE
SWITCH
TRANSFORMER
YELLOW
VIOLET
GRAY
ORANGE
BROWN
BLACK
NEGATIVE
8
4
AMMETER
RECTIFIER
POSITIVE
CLAMP
CLAMP
(BLACK)
(RED)
DC
CIRCUIT
BREAKER