Crown Battery 19-125-11

This is the complete recharge of a battery after it has been fully or partially discharged during normal operation. In general, a cycle charge is based on an 8‐hour charging cycles, but can be extended, depending on need

A freshening charge is used to bring a battery to a fully charged condition before it is placed in service or when it has been standing idle for a short period. It takes about three hours at the finish charge rate (3‐6 amperes per 100‐ampere hours of the battery’s 6‐hour capacity rating)

When a battery is placed on charge, the opposite action of battery discharging takes place; the sulfate in the active material of the plates is driven back into the electrolyte

This reduces the sulfate in the plates and increases the specific gravity of the electrolyte and the electrochemical process continues until the on-charge cell voltages reach 2.50 to 2.70 volts per cell, depending on the type of charging equipment used

Finish rate or "normal" rate is that current which can be used safely any time charging is required and which can be continued after the completion of the charge without causing excessive gassing or high temperature resulting from overcharge. The finish rate is shown on the nameplate of Crown Batteries

Generally, the finish rate is 3.5 amperes per 100 hours of the battery's 6-hour rated capacity. A partially or completely discharged battery can safely handle currents much higher than the finish rate, but as it approaches full charge, whatever charging rate is used must be reduced to the finish rate

- To prevent corrosion and the resultant problems, batteries must be cleaned and dries routinely

Sometimes minor spills or overflows of electrolyte occur due to overfilling. Instead of giving the battery a general cleaning at this time, the moisture can be removed with rags or paper towels. (This should be immediately disposed of.)

The frequency of a general cleaning depends upon two factors:

1. How quickly dust, dirt, oil, and other foreign matter accumulates on the top of the battery, and 2. How quick the electrolyte spillage accumulates

When the top of a battery is "dirty" or looks damp, it is ready for a general cleaning. It could be as often as every two weeks or as infrequent as every six months, depending on the battery's environment and the care it receives. The average battery needs general cleaning every three months

To give a battery a general cleaning, use Powerhouse Cleaner's 3 Step Process (Corrosion Remover, Battery Cleaner, Rinse)

Powerhouse's Corrosion Remover was developed specifically for the removal of heavy corrosion and acid neutralization. For use, spray onto the corroded areas (will turn a rust looking color) and let sit for at least 10 minutes

Powerhouse's Battery Cleaner is a mixture of 2 parts cleaning detergent to 1 part acid neutralizer. Battery Cleaner is OSHA compliant and environmentally safe. For use, spray across the entire battery and let sit for at least 10 minutes

After the Corrosion Remover and Battery Cleaner have both sat for at least 10 minutes the battery can now be rinsed. The corrosion and acid should be neutralized and can be washed down the drain (note if lead pieces from the top of the battery are in the water they should be disposed of properly.)

Warning: This procedure requires trained personnel!

Enter the current charge of the battery (in amperes)

If the charger is rated higher than the connector on the battery, proceed with the following steps:

Are dual intercell connectors installed?

Is the cooling fan operational?

Is the battery recording device functional?

Are thermistors and pilot contacts in place?

- Lead Acid Motive Power Batteries can become unbalanced or sulfated if they are not recharged or equalize charged on a regular basis

Likewise over-discharging or unbalanced discharge can cause low uneven cell voltages. The treatment for restoring the battery to its full potential involves charging and discharging the battery in a very tightly controlled manor

This is a last resort remedy in order to salvage a battery that's been allowed to get into this condition. This may or may not be successful, as sulfate is extremely hard to remove from the cell plates and if let in this condition, may not be reversible

A. Charge the battery as normal to a fully charged condition.

B. Record all individual cell voltages and specific gravities. These readings will be used later to measure how successtul the treatment was.

C. Starting with a cool (less than 80°F) fully charged battery, charge the battery at 2.5 amps per 100 amps of battery capacity. A 24-85FC-21 has a capacity of 850 A.H. Therefore the charge rate would be 21 amps. Charge the battery for at least 24 hours. Stop the charge, if the battery temperature goes to 120°F or higher.

A. Let the battery cool back down to about 80°F

As is true with any piece of industrial equipment, proper maintenance not only keeps it operating to its design specifications, but also helps prolong the equipments life. The following effective battery maintenance tips can help achieve the best performance out of your industrial battery

1. Maintain the proper electrolyte level. Avoid overfilling

2. Charge properly, check charger controls and instruments periodically. Calibrate meters as needed

3. Repair any damage promptly. Minor damage, if not repaired in a timely manner, can lead to major damage

4. Don't overcharge, many batteries deliver short service life from too much charge