Snorkel S2545 - Manual (Page 20)

Chapter 6. Batteries
The battery tray contains 4, 240 amp, 6 volt
batteries. The batteries supply 24 volt DC
electrical power to operate the aerial platform
electrical and electro hydraulic components.
Proper machine operation depends on well
maintained and charged batteries.
■ General Maintenance
Always keep the batteries clean, free of dirt and
corrosion. A film on top of the battery can
accelerate discharge.
Cold reduces battery capacity and retards
charging. Heat increases water usage and can
result in overcharging. Very high temperatures
can cause thermal run away which may lead to
an explosion or fire. Consult a battery charger
specialist if extreme temperature use is
unavoidable.
Battery acid can damage the skin and eyes.
Serious infection or reaction can result if
medical treatment is not given immediately.
Wear face and eye protection when working
near the batteries.
Use distilled water to refill the batteries. Avoid
water containing metallic solids such as iron.
■ Charging
Fully recharge the batteries, immediately after
use. One charging cycle per day is preferred.
Fully charged batteries perform best. The deeper
the discharge, the fewer number of cycles a
battery will deliver. Deep discharges deteriorate
the battery quicker than light shallow cycles.
An overly discharged battery may need to be
cycled a few times before it can fully recover. If a
battery begins to heat before becoming fully
charged, it may be necessary to recharge and
discharge the battery a few times.
The aerial platform is equipped with an automatic
battery charger that will completely recharge the
batteries and turn off after the charge cycle is
completed.
Batteries give off hydrogen and oxygen that
can combine explosively. Death or serious
injury can result from a chemical explosion.
Charge the batteries only in a well ventilated
area away from sparks or flame.
The batteries can be overcharged and/or
damaged if the charger fails to shut off
automatically. Do not leave the battery
charger on for more than two days.
It may take from 1½ to 16 hours to recharge the
batteries depending on the amount of discharge.
If the charging cycle exceeds 16 hours without
the batteries being fully recharged, shut off the
charger and have the batteries checked.
Use the following procedure to charge the
batteries.
1. Turn the battery disconnect switch off (refer
to Figure 6.1).
Figure 6.1—Lower Controls
2. Check the battery water level. Add water to
individual cells only if the plates are exposed.
3. Plug the charger into a properly grounded
outlet using a 3 conductor, 14 gauge or
larger extension cord. After a short delay the
charger will turn on. The ammeter (refer to
Figure 6.2) will indicate near 20 amps initially
then taper off to 5 to 10 amps as the
batteries charge.
Figure 6.2—Battery Charger
S2545 – 0410002 page 6 - 1
Battery
Disconnect
Switch DANGER
CAUTION
DANGER
Ammeter