By T.K. Malhotra (President)
During winter flat batteries are the main cause of emergency service calls received from Automobile Association of Upper India members. About 50 per cent breakdown calls received were for electrical problems, mainly faulty batteries. Following is a simple, easy guide on how to maintain car battery: The battery is the vital electrical power source that drives the starter motor, the ignition system, the lighting fitments, horn, wipers, air conditioning and stereo system.
The average life of a battery is about 18 months but is depends upon the working condition of your car and the care taken by you.
Periodical maintenance should be done. the maintenance typically involves five Cs: checking the electrolyte level, cleaning the battery terminals, Clearing the battery top, Checking the battery tray and hold-down clamps and Caring the battery for physical damage.
Top up battery Fluid : Remove the cell caps and fill each one to the level marked on the battery case. If there is no mark, fill until the electrolyte covers the battery plates which can be seen through the filler holes. The battery fluid should be checked at lease once a month and topped up below the correct level-just above the tops of the battery plates. If the battery fluid level falls, below the tops of the battery plates, the related cell starts to lose its efficiency.
Ensure to use filtered or distilled water. Buy proprietary topping-up fluids only in sealed containers to be sure that these are not contaminated.
Always keep the battery top clean-wipe it before removing the cell caps or through cover; when dirt is likely to fall into the cells.
The cell caps or covers have ventilating holes to allow the escape of gases when the battery is being charged. Make sure holes are clean.
After topping up, wipe away any water spilled on the top of the battery.
CAUTION : Never top up battery with tap water which usually contains mineral that may damage the battery. Use distilled or purified water.
The hydrogen gas produced by the chemical reactions in the battery is highly flammable. So keep all sparks and flames away from the top of the battery.
Battery Test : It is possible to find out how well a battery is changed by measuring the specified gravity with a hydrometer. The specific gravity is the weight of a specific volume of liquid compared with that of the same volume of water. The figure for electrolyte in a fully charged battery is between 1.270 and 1.290-menaing that is 1.270 times heavier than water. However, as the battery loses charge, the specific gravity drops to 1.130 or lower. The hydrometer contains a weighted float. the float is marked with a graduated scale usually reading from 1.10 to 1.30.
Battery Charge Test : Insert the syringe into a cell, then squeeze and release the bulb to draw up a sample of electrolyte-enough to make it touch the bulb.
Read off the graduation mark which is level with the surface of the electrolyte.
The state of the charge can be gauged from how much the figure is below 1.290. A reading of, say 1.200 would show the battery to be about half charged and 1.150 would represent a fully discharged battery.
The float may be graded red, yellow and green to show low, half or full charge.
After taking the reading, squeeze the bulb to return the electrolyte to its cell, and test the other cells in turn. All should give similar reading within about 0.04 of each other-any greater variation indicates a defective cell and the battery must be replaced.
The readings taken immediately after topping up are inaccurate and are misleading.
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