Preparing New Battery for Service

TM 11-6140-203-14-4&P

b. Clean Battery. Clean the battery as given in (1),

water as in (a) above particularly around the vent

opening.

(2), and (3) below.

(d) After

rinsing

they

may

(1) Remove the battery box cover.

reassembled while still wet. Press the sleeve over the

CAUTION

stem, working it down until it is seated over the venting

Do not use solvents for cleaning,

hole.

damage to the battery box liners and the

(e) Dry the vent cap as described in

cover gasket may result. Do not use a

paragraph 4-13b(6) and pressure check (para 5-12)

wire brush, because short circuiting

before installing into the battery cell.

between the cell terminals will occur and

NOTE

cause damage to the cell cases, the

Refer to paragraph 2-3, TM 11-6140-

fillercaps, and the battery terminal links.

203-14-1 for detailed information

(2) Wipe off the battery box and its cover with

concerning the electrochemical action

a clean cloth (item 1, appx E). Be sure that all fillercaps

when charging a nickel-cadmium

are tight.

battery.

(3) Brush the top of the cells, the fillercaps,

and the battery terminal links with a nylon brush. There

WARNING

may be white deposits on the top of the cells. The

Explosive gases may be released during

deposits are potassium carbonate that should be

charging. Check to be sure that the

removed by brushing with a nylon brush and washing the

charging area is well ventilated. Do not

battery with tapwater. Dry the battery with a dean, lint-

smoke, use matches or an open flame

free cloth (item 1, appx E) and compressed air, as

in the charging area. Guard against

necessary.

short circuits; resulting arcs may cause

c Check Polarity Position of Cells. Check

the

an explosion. Do not disconnect the

polarity position of each cell or group of cells to be sure

charging cable from the battery unit the

that they are connected properly. The polarity of each

battery charger has been turned off

cell is indicated by a red marking and a plus (+) sign

Explosions or serious burns may result.

molded into the cell cover adjacent to the appropriate cell

f Charging.

Charge the battery using the

post. For the cell layout refer to (chap. 2).

automatic charger/analyzer equipment procedures given

d Tighten Terminal Screws. Tighten terminal

in (1) or (2) below. If this equipment is not available then

studs to 50 inch-pounds.

use constant-voltage method or the constant current

e. Clean Vent Caps.

charging method as given in (3) or (4) below. At the end

(1) Clean the vent caps by following the

of the charge, before the current has been shut off, the

instructions contained in paragraph 4-136(6).

individual cell voltages should be checked for

(2) Vent caps which show signs of white

uniformity. Cell voltages should be within 0.1 volts of

deposits (potassium carbonate) on the top of the cap

each other. Low cell voltage (under 1.2 volts) may

should receive a more complete cleaning as given

indicate a shorted cell while high voltage (over 1.9 volts)

below.

indicate either a dry cell or bad connection.

(a) Wash the vent caps using a

(1) Charging a new battery with AN/USM-431

detergent (soap), water and brush to remove all white

Charge battery in the manual mode for 1 hour in

deposits.

accordance with procedures given in TM 11-6130-413-

(b) Using a small screwdriver (118 in.

12. Set Charge Amp Hour Control (R2) to 35 for BB-

tip) pry the black rubber sleeve out of the vent cap body

693AIU. Check cell voltages at the beginning and end of

by inserting the screwdriver tip between the sleeve and

charge. Check electrolyte level 30 minutes after end of

the stem located in the top center of the vent cap. This

charge; addition of water is not required this time unless

stem contains the opening through which venting takes

no electrolyte level is visible at the end of charge.

place. With the screwdriver tip held between the sleeve

NOTE

and the stem move the screwdriver tip around the stem

Since some new batteries have

to separate them. The vent cap and sleeve should be

considerably above rated capacity it may

wet during this operation. The sleeve can now be

be necessary to reset the charge clock

removed by grasping it gently with a long nose plier. Use

for an additional 30 minutes if the battery

care so as not to tear the sleeve.

does not go into tapping mode during

the first hour.

the vent cap can be thoroughly washed in detergent

5-2