Napa Essentials 85-303 - Manual (Page 5)

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2. PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS
2. Always have someone within range of your voice or close enough to come
to your aid, when working around lead-acid batteries.
2.2 Have plenty of fresh water and soap nearby in case battery acid contacts
skin, clothing, or eyes.
2.3 Wear complete eye protection, clothing protection, and rubber soled
shoes. When the ground is very wet or covered with snow, wear rubber
boots. Avoid touching eyes while working near the battery.
2.4 If battery acid contacts skin or clothing, wash immediately with soap and
water. If acid enters the eyes, immediately flush with running cold water for
at least 0 minutes and seek medical attention.
2.5 NEVER smoke or allow a spark or flame in vicinity of the battery or
engine.
2.6 Be extra cautious to reduce risk of dropping a metal tool onto the battery.
It might spark or short circuit the battery or other electrical part that may
cause an explosion.
2.7 Before working with a lead acid battery, remove personal metal items
such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, watches, etc. A lead acid battery can
produce a short circuit current high enough to weld such items, causing a
severe burn.
3. PREPARING TO CHARGE BATTERY
3. If necessary to remove the battery from the vehicle to charge, always
remove the grounded terminal from battery first. Make sure all accessories
in the vehicle are off to prevent a possible arc.
3.2 Be sure the area around the battery is well ventilated while the battery
is being charged. Gas can be forcefully blown away by using a piece of
cardboard or other nonmetallic material as a fan.
3.3 Clean the battery terminals. Be careful to keep corrosion from coming into
contact with your eyes.
3.4 Add distilled water in each cell until the battery electrolyte reaches the
level specified by manufacturer. This helps purge excessive gas from
cells. Do not overfill. For a battery without caps, carefully follow the
manufacturer’s recharging instructions.
3.5 Study all battery manufacturer’s specific precautions, such as removing or
not removing cell caps while charging, and recommended rates of charge.
3.6 Determine voltage of the battery by referring to the vehicle owner’s
manual, and make sure that the output voltage selector switch is set at the
correct voltage. If the charger has an adjustable charge rate, charge the
battery initially at lowest rate. If the charger has only one voltage, verify
that the battery voltage matches the voltage of charger. For a charger