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You are here: Knowledge Base > Battery Chargers
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Battery Charging Safety Tips Last Updated: 09/29/2007 |
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The most important safety tip is to carefully read the owner's manual that comes with your Solar battery charger. You can safely recharge lead-acid batteries yourself if you read and follow all safety and operational instructions exactly. Failure to do so may cause serious injury to yourself and others.
1. Always wear safety glasses when working around batteries.
2. Work in an open, well-ventilated, and shaded area. Remove personal metal items such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, and watches. Be extra cautious when using metal tools around a battery - they might spark or short-circuit the battery, which could cause an explosion.
3. Never charge a frozen battery.
4. Marine (boat) batteries must be removed and charged on shore.
5. Follow the battery manufacturer's charging instructions.
6. Position the charger as far away from the battery as the charger cables will allow. Keep portable/benchtop chargers at least 18 inches above the floor or ground. Make sure the vehicle and all accessories are turned off NOTE: the electrical system of most vehicles these days is negative- ground. If your vehicle has a positive ground, check the owner's manual for battery charging instructions. The following basic charging procedure is for negative-ground vehicles.
7. When hooking up the charger to the battery, it's important to make the last connection away from the battery. First, connect the charger's positive cable to the battery's + (plus) terminal. Then attach the charger's ground clamp to the vehicle chassis away from the battery. Do not clamp onto the carburetor, fuel injectors, fuel lines, or any part of the fuel system.
8. When charging a battery that's been removed from the vehicle, do not connect both charger cables directly to the battery. Again, make your last connection away from the battery. First, connect the charger's positive cable to the battery's + (plus) terminal. Then attach a standard booster cable to the battery's - (negative) terminal. Finally, connect the charger's ground cable to the free end of the booster cable, completing the circuit without directly attaching the ground cable to the negative terminal. This method of connection is to ensure there is no sparking at the battery.
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