Crown Battery 85S

Warning: This procedure requires trained personnel with PPE!

Check for any breaks in the coating of the steel tray

Check for any accumulation of dampness or acid on the battery

Check the electrolyte level of two or three cells each time the battery is changed

Add water to all of the batteries assigned to each charging area on a regular time schedule

Spot check the electrolyte levels periodically to determine if the proper levels are being maintained

Determining a reasonable and proper battery watering time schedule

CAUTION: ONLY EXPERIENCED PERSONNEL SHOULD ATTEMPT BATTERY REPAIRS! ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES AND A FACE SHIELD WHEN WORKING ON OR NEAR BATTERIES

If you don't have an experienced battery repair person, send the battery to your nearest authorized Crown Battery repair facility or arrange to have a Crown Battery service technician perform the repairs at your plant site

BEFORE PERFORMING ANY REPAIRS, REMOVE THE BATTERY FROM THE LIFT TRUCK.

- 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

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

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