How to avoid problems with the battery while using it? This question is especially often asked by young drivers. They wonder why the battery runs out of service earlier than stated in the technical documentation. And this is a direct consequence of an inattentive attitude to the product. Replacing the battery ahead of schedule is not a cheap pleasure these days. Usually, the uninterrupted operation of the battery is announced by manufacturers for periods of five to seven years.
Consider the main activities for servicing the battery. Before you buy a battery, you should visually inspect its case for integrity and the absence of signs of oxidation of the terminals. Read the simple operating rules. It is worth checking the electrolyte level every two weeks. It must be topped up to a special mark located on the battery case (cover the upper level of the separators by 1–1.5 cm). Never add concentrated acid to the battery. For these purposes, use deionized or distilled water. After the required electrolyte level has been restored, it is recommended to charge the battery for uniform acid mixing.
The density of the electrolyte should be checked with the same frequency. For this, a special device is used - a hydrometer or a density indicator. To minimize the measurement error, electrolyte density measurements should be made provided that its level corresponds to the recommended one, and the liquid temperature is within the range of + 15 + 27 ° C. The density of the electrolyte should be 1, 25–1, 3 g / cc.
The next important point in diagnosing a battery is checking the current voltage, the rating of which should be in the range of 12, 6-12, 7 V. If the charge is reduced to 12 V, then the battery is considered 50% charged and urgently needs to be recharged because further discharge will lead lead plates to sulfation. If the voltage rating drops to 11.6 V, the battery operation (without diagnostics and charging) is prohibited. Otherwise, the internal elements of the battery will be destroyed. To measure the voltage, use a voltmeter, multimeter or tester, setting the scale range to 20 V.
Timely implementation of the recommended measures for diagnostics and maintenance of the battery should become a habit for the car owner. This will help extend the battery life and save a lot of money.
