Melex 465 - Checking Electrolyte Level in Lead-Acid Batteries; Lead-Acid Batteries Exploitation

Owners manual MELEX 4XX MELEX 2021/01
22
Checking of electrolyte level in lead-acid batteries
If the electrolyte level before charging is below upper level of battery plate, the distilled
water should be added to fully cover battery plates and after charging process refill water again
so the electrolyte level will reach 12mm above upper edge of the plates.
Lead-acid batteries’ exploitation
1. To refill electrolyte you should use just distilled water only.
2. Refilling of electrolyte should be done after full charge.
3. Refill electrolyte level in all battery cells, electrolyte level should be 12mm above battery
plates.
4. Make sure if batteries plates are completely immersed in electrolyte. Exploitation of battery
with too low electrolyte level makes its faster consumption or damage.
5. Frequent decreasing of electrolyte level could be caused by following reasons:
• defective battery charger;
• breaking of charging process;
• too high ambient or electrolyte temperature;
• damage of battery;
• coming forward end of battery exploitation period.
6. During refilling the electrolyte level, batteries should be checked, as well as their
connections:
• clean corrosion-raid on polar terminals and clamps with baking soda NaHCO
3
(avoid
getting through solution inside the battery), next smear with thin layer of non-acid
Vaseline;
• make sure yourself, if connections are not too much slackened because it can be reason
of serious damages of battery, even the explosion; damaged cables should be changed at
once.
7. After refilling the electrolyte level, the battery should be cleaned and dry up. If battery is
dirty, it should be cleaned, earlier check if ventilation corks are put properly. Water and
other substances cannot get through inside battery compartments.
8. According to schedule or minimum once per week, after charging check electrolyte
density, which value should be in interval 1,27 to 1,285 g/cm
3
. If value is lower, check:
• if battery charger charges properly
• if all batteries are connected properly
If battery charger works properly and batteries are connected right way, check if it is not
the end of exploitation period of batteries.
9. Causes of faster consumption of batteries could be as follows:
• not following the user’s manual of vehicle and batteries;
• defected brakes;
• improper air pressure in wheels;
• shortage of proper toe-in;
• defects in electric system
• defects in plug or/and in charging receptacle;
• malfunctioning drive differential
• extreme conditions of vehicle’s exploitation;