Battery maintenance. Safety precautions when servicing the battery

10.3.1 Battery maintenance

• It is advisable to open the hood and check the battery fasteners before each trip. In case if the loose attachment of the battery to the support is not detected in time, the battery can be seriously damaged during shaking.
• Check the battery pack terminals regularly. Make sure that deposits due to oxidation are not formed on them. Otherwise, it is possible to increase the resistance on the connections and, as a consequence, the lack of normal battery charging, malfunction of electrical equipment and melting of the clips.
• Always remove dirt from the battery pack cover with a clean, dry cloth. Dirt is not a dielectric. Thus, when it accumulates in large quantities, a short circuit may occur between the terminals of the battery pack.
• In the battery pack cover or plugs there are special vent holes for removing flammable gas from the inside of the casing. These same holes shall be cleaned in order to avoid gasaccumulation inside the battery pack.
• The electrolyte level in each of the battery pack cells shall be checked every two months.

Note
Despite the fact that maintenance-free battery packs do not seem to need to be checked, but to be sure it still worth to check the electrolyte level once a year.

If necessary, add the required amount of distilled water in order to bring the electrolyte level to normal.

Note
Under no circumstances add electrolyte or sulfuric acid! Only distilled water can be added!

10.3.2 Safety precautions when working with batteries

• Always wear safety goggles and rubber gloves when handling battery packs.
• In case if the electrolyte gets on exposed parts of the body, it is necessary to immediately rinse the affected area with plenty of water and then with a 5% solution of caustic soda.
• In order to avoid an explosion, do not use open flames near the battery. Do not short-circuit the positive terminal of the battery to the frame.
• In order to prevent sparking, do not disconnect the terminals from the battery when the consumers are switched on.
• Increase of the voltage, which is generated by the generator above the value specified in the vehicle's operating manual, is not permissible. This leads to the intensive formation of an explosive mixture of hydrogen and oxygen inside the battery.
• While removing the battery, first disconnect the negative terminal ("ground"), then the positive one. When installing on the car do the opposite - first connect the positive and then the negative terminals.