PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-696
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 696
NOVEMBER 2010
10
PS 696
NOV 10
Daily Start-ups
Daily start-up helps to preserve the life of your
batteries. But you need to run the engine long enough to
recharge the battery. Thirty minutes should be enough.
A fully charged lead-acid battery loses a third of its
cranking power at 32°F. At 0°F, it has less than half its
cranking power, and at -20°F it has only 30 percent. If
that’s what happens to a battery in good shape, imagine
what happens to one that’s in bad shape!
Test the Battery Condition
Before testing the condition of a
fooded type battery, check the level
of electrolyte. (
Don’t
do this on
sealed AGM or gel type batteries.)
Add distilled water, NSN 6810-
00-682-6867, as needed. Replace
the caps, then start the vehicle’s
engine and let it run on fast idle
(1,000-1,200 rpm) for at least 20
minutes, or attach a charger for
20-30 minutes. Charging mixes the
water and electrolyte.
Make sure you do this because if they don’t mix, you’ll end up only testing
water! This mixing also helps keep plain water from freezing, preventing cracked
battery cases.
It’s best to test the electrolyte right after shutting off the engine; if you see bubbling
in the cells, wait until that stops before testing. Then use an antifreeze and battery
tester, also known as a refractometer, NSN 6650-00-105-1418, or a hydrometer
tester, NSN 6630-00-171-5126.
Check Specific Gravity
Before putting a battery—old or new—
on the job, mechanics, use the tester to
check the battery’s speciFc gravity. That
tells you the battery’s state of charge.
I± the speciFc gravity is less than 1.100,
or i± the di±±erence in speciFc gravity
between cells is more than 0.025, don’t
use the battery! Turn it in.
Check your batteries now so they’ll work when cold
weather hits. And take these steps to determine if your
batteries can survive the cold.
Read the TM
winter
battery
care
Lead-Acid Batteries…
WINTER
BATTERY
CARE
At a place like
Fort Drum, you
may be exposed
to temperatures
around -30°F.
That’ll sap
your vehicle’s
batteries!
So here’s what
you need to know
to preserve
your batteries in
winter weather!
Have a copy of
TM 9-6140-200-14
(Sep 98),
Operator’s, Unit,
Direct Support and
General Support
Maintenance Manual
for Lead-Acid
Storage Batteries,
handy.
The guidance you
need to test and
keep your batteries
fully charged is in
Chapter 3.
now that
cold
weather
is here, I
need to
warm you
guys up!
BATTERY CRANKING
POWER
ENGINE RESISTANCE
TO STARTING
100%
65%
49%
30%
70°
32°
0°
-20°
Normal
1
2
/
3
times
2
1
/
2
times
3
1
/
2
times
Specific
gravity
less than
1.100?
Don’t use
battery!
me-
me-me-
mee!
la-
la-la-
laa!
fa-fa-ff
{hack}
{koff} gag!
I can’t do my
part
without
pm!
Fill cells with distilled
water to within
1
/
4
inch
of filler cap neck
696.10-11.indd
1-2
10/5/10
10:54 AM
Click here for a copy of this article to save or email.
Back to TopBack to Top
