Revealed: Secrets to Maintaining Auxiliary Power Supply Batteries for Construction Machinery

1. Maintain a certain level of electrolyte liquid

According to the usage requirements, the electrolyte level should be 10 to 15mm higher than the plates. When inspecting, first insert a glass tube with an inner diameter of 4 to 6mm and a length of approximately 150mm vertically into the liquid filling port until it touches the upper edge of the plates. Then, press the height of the electrolyte in the glass tube with your index finger. This is the height at which the electrolyte level inside the battery exceeds the plates. After measurement, return the electrolyte in the glass tube. If the liquid level is insufficient, distilled water should be added in time. Do not add spring water, river water or tap water, and especially do not add dilute sulfuric acid, otherwise the density of the electrolyte will increase and damage the plates. It should also be noted that Distilled water should be added when the battery is in a charging state to ensure that the electrolyte is mixed more evenly. The liquid level should not be too high to prevent the electrolyte from overflowing during charging and discharging.

Second, remove the yellowish-white paste on the shell cover in a timely manner

The yellowish-white paste on the battery case cover is the result of sulfuric acid solution splashing around the battery case cover and the electrode posts, causing electrochemical corrosion at the electrode posts. Among them, the white substance is lead sulfate and the yellow substance is ferric sulfate. It is highly corrosive and has a large resistance. If it is at the contact point of the wire, a large contact resistance will be formed, resulting in poor conductivity.

For this purpose, it is necessary to frequently use alkaline water. Alternatively, cotton yarn soaked in 10% soda water or 10% ammonia water solution can be used to wipe off the electrolyte splashed from the battery casing and cover, keeping the surface always neutral. If there is oxide in the gap between the terminal post and the wire joint, it can be scraped clean with a tool.

Iii. Regular supplementary charging

Under normal circumstances, a fully discharged battery should be charged within 24 hours. For the batteries on machines that are out of service (or large equipment that is not in use for the time being), they must be recharged once a month. The batteries in use should be removed and recharged once every two months to maintain the batteries of construction machinery.

4. Regularly check the density of the electrolyte

The density of the electrolyte must be adapted to the region and season where it is located. Based on practical experience, in most regions of our country (except for extremely cold areas), the relative density of the electrolyte in newly charged batteries can reach 1.20 to 1.25g/ m ³ around summer. When used batteries are recharged, the relative density of the electrolyte should be maintained at 1.15 to 1.18g/ m ³. In autumn, the relative density of the electrolyte should be gradually increased from 1.18g/ m ³ to 1.25g/ m ³. In winter, it should be adjusted to 1.285g/ m ³. During the Spring Festival, distilled water should be gradually added to lower the relative density. The density of the electrolyte should be adjusted according to the change of seasons for the maintenance of construction machinery batteries.

V. How to Maintain the batteries of Construction Machinery in Winter

1. Always keep the battery fully charged. To prevent the electrolyte from freezing due to the decrease in density, to prevent the shell from cracking, the plates from bending and the active material from falling off, etc.

2. The density of the electrolyte should be reduced as much as possible without freezing.

3. Before each trip and operation, check the liquid level of the battery electrolyte. If necessary, add distilled water. Adding distilled water to the battery can only be done when it is fully charged, allowing the distilled water to mix with the electrolyte more quickly to reduce the possibility of the distilled water freezing.

4. Due to the reduced battery capacity in winter, the engine should be preheated before cold starting. The motor should not run for more than 5 seconds each time, and the interval between each start should be no less than 15 seconds.

5. When the vehicle is parked for a long time, insulation measures should be taken for the battery.

6. Regularly clean the debris on the surface of the battery to keep its surface clean.

7. Regularly check if the electrode post clamps of the battery are loose. If any are found loose, tighten them promptly.