BatteryMINDer SureGuard 12212 - Manual (Page 5)

SureCare™ Model 12212
Rev. B-031809 Page 5 P/N VDC12212-MNL
Testing Your Battery
It is extremely important that you determine
the health of your battery before you attempt to
recharge and maintain it. If any of the cells are
shorted (no reading on a hydrometer tester), or
the difference in charge level is greater than 0.50
SG between any two cells (two ball difference
if you use a ball-type hydrometer), your battery
cannot be properly recharged and maintained.
Discard the battery in an appropriate lawful
manner. The SureCare has no electrical output
unless it is connected to a healthy battery.
Testing the SureCare with a volt or an Amp
meter without the unit being connected across a
good battery will result in a false reading. If you
experience any problems, or are not sure of how
to properly use or connect your SureCare, please
e-mail our technical support at techsupport@
vdcelectronics.com or call our toll-free technical
support line (800-379-5579 ET). Be certain to
leave your phone number with the area code,
time zone and the best time to call.
Testing a Manifold-type Lead Acid Battery
1. Carefully remove all 6 caps or both manifold-
type covers from your battery.
2. Check the water/electrolyte level. If the level is
low or has ever been below top of plates, severe
lead plate sulphation has taken place.
3. Refill each cell with distilled water only to a
level of minimum over the top of the cell’s plates.
4. Recharge the battery with a standard battery
charger to ensure that it is completely charged
before you determine its condition.
Testing with a Hot/Cold Calibrated Hydrometer
Tester
Read the tester instructions carefully for most
accurate readings.
1. When using the tester the first time or after
a long period of non-use, fill the tester with the
battery fluid and let it sit for 1/2 hour or longer.
This will soak the balls in order to give you more
accurate readings. Failure to do so will give
you false readings indicating a battery that may
not be in as good a condition as you may have
thought.
2. After inserting the tester in a cell, gently tap
the tester several times against the inside wall of
each cell to dislodge air bubbles that will cause
more balls to float than should. Failure to do so
will yield false readings that indicate a battery that
is not fully desulphated or does not qualify for
desulphation.
3. If no balls float in any cell, the cell is
considered shorted. This means that your battery
is beyond the point of being properly recharged
or reconditioned.
4. Dispose of the battery.
5. If each cell floats two or more balls (or 1260 on
gauge-type), your battery can be reconditioned.
6. Always rinse the tester with fresh water after
every use. Failure to do so will cause false
readings.
7. Store the tester in the holder to prevent
breakage.
Testing a Sealed, Maintenance-free,
Gelled-type Lead Acid Battery
These batteries have no filler caps or manifold-
type covers. If you cannot gain access to the
interior of your battery, because it is sealed, you
cannot test it with a hydrometer.
1. Test the battery with a voltmeter. If the voltage
is less than 11 volts, charge the battery overnight
with a regular charger.
2. Let the battery rest for minimum of 8 hours,
which means that you do not use or charge the
battery for 8 hours.
3. Test the battery with a voltmeter. If the voltage
is less than 12.2 volts (25% charge), the battery
might have too much sulphation in it to reach full
charge. In this case, you can desulphate the
battery with a BatteryMINDer.
4. If the voltage is above 12.2 volts (25% charge),
connect the SureCare to the battery.
Installing the SureCare
Before you connect the SureCare to your battery,
test the battery for any shorted cells and check
the voltage in the battery. The battery has to have
a minimum resting voltage of 11 volts before
the unit will turn on. Resting voltage means that
the battery has not been charged or discharged
within 8 hours minimum. If you test a battery that
has not rested for at least 8 hours, you will get