Alpha Technologies Nickel Cadmium Clear Case - Installation and Operation - Manual (Page 13)

13 745-680-B6-001 Rev. A
Table 3-2, Floating Charge Voltage
Cell Type Floating Charge Voltage (Vpc)
HDV 1.40–1.42
HDH 1.40–1.42
HDM 1.40–1.45
HDS 1.40–1.45
4.0 Maintenance
A battery gives optimum performance and longer life when given proper maintenance. It is
important to inspect batteries periodically and record the results found at each inspection.
Should something unusual be found, discover the cause as soon as possible.
In order to determine the type and frequency of maintenance needed during normal service,
conduct maintenance checks on the battery monthly during the fi rst few months of service.
Practices for proper maintenance:
Clean the outside of the battery, especially the cell top and pole assemblies, at least once
a month. Apply a suffi cient quantity of anti-rust oil (supplied by Alpha Technologies) or
petroleum jelly to the nickel plated parts.
Tighten the poles or other connections occasionally.
Avoid using solder and similar materials to repair the battery.
Do not use sand paper or emery cloth on nickel plated parts as they will damage the
nickel plating, resulting in increased resistance and rusting.
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What to Check How Often Action Required
Floating charge voltage Once a month Refer to section 3.4.
Terminal voltage of cell Every 3 months Measure it with a voltmeter.
Electrolyte level Every 2 months Refer to section 2.3.
Clamped part of connector Every 3 months Using a pole spanner, tighten
bolts and nuts if loose.
Appearance of container
and cell cover Every 3 months Check to see if any cell container
or cell cover is broken.
Conduct equalizing charge Every 6 months Refer to section 3.3.
Table 4-1, Inspection Check Points
3.0 Charging continued
3.4 Floating Charge
When connected to a fl oating charge, the battery is kept in a fully charged state. Floating
charge voltage is normally 1.40–1.50Vpc (see Table 3-2) and the ampere is about 1/40 of a
5 hour rate current (1/200 C). Adjust these values accordingly; too much gassing or water
consumption means the charging voltage is too high, whereas a gradual drop of capacity
indicates the charging voltage is too low.
Total fl oating charge voltage is obtained by multiplying the standard per-cell voltage by the
number of cells within the battery. If something unusual is detected, check the load side for
the cause.
4.1 Inspection Check Points