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The Automotive battery supplies electric current to operate the starting motor
and ignition system while starting the engine. It also acts as a voltage stabilizer by supplying
current for the lights, radio, and other electrical accessories when the alternator is not
handling the load. In addition, the battery supplies a small current to the volatile ceremony in
the electronic control (ECM) while the Ignition key is off.
The battery is an electro chemical device which uses chemicals to produce electricity,
the amount of electricity it can produce is limited. As the chemical in the battery is depleted
the battery runs down and is discharged. It can be recharged by supplying it with electric
current from the vehicle alternator or from a battery charger. The depleted chemicals are
restored to their original condition as the battery becomes recharged.
TYPES OF BATTERY
Below are two types of automotive batteries. On the left, caps can be removed
to check the battery state of charge and to add water if needed. On the right, a maintenance-
free battery that requires no additional water. The charge indicator in the top shows the state
of change.
2
PARTS OF THE LEAD ACID BATTERY
BATTERY CONSTRUCTION
The battery case is molded plastic. The plates are molded to plate straps to form plate
groups. To make a battery cell, a positive plate group fits into a negative plate group. Porous
separators are placed between the plates.
This prevents positive and negative plates from touching while allowing electrolyte to
circulate between the plate. The assembly of plate groups and separators is an element. The
elements fit into compartments in the battery case to favor cells. Heavy leads connectors
attach to the cell terminals and connect the cells in series. A plastic cover forms the top of the
battery. Some batteries have openings in the cover from when filler plugs or vent caps are
removed to add water maintenance free batteries do not have removable caps.
Follow the safety cautions listed below when working with batteries, testing or
charging battery.
1. The sulfuric acid in the electrolyte is very corrosive. It will eat holes in cloth. It can
cause serious burn if it sets on your skin. It can make you blind if it gets into your
eyes. Wear eye protector when working with testing or charging a battery. If you get
battery acid on your skin, flush it off at once with water. If you get battery acid
(electrolyte) into your eyes, flush them with water at once then go to the school nurse,
a doctor or hospital emergency room.
2. When disconnecting a battery, always disconnect the negative or ground cable first
3. If the battery has vent caps, make sure the vent holes are open before charging. Cover
the caps with a damp cloth. Discard the cloth after the battery is charged
4. Never lean over a changing battery
5. Do not charge a frozen battery for maintenance-free battery because the charge
indicator dot shows light yellow or clear the battery could explode
SELF – CHECK No.1
Directions: Select the correct answer to each question and write the letter on the blank
provided for.
________1. The battery in an electro chemical device, this means the battery
a. makes chemicals by electronic means
b. uses chemicals to provide electricity
c. has non-chemical plates
d. does not use an electrolyte
Batteries are tested in two ways, for state of change and for performance. The state of
change of a vent – cap battery is determined with the hydrometer. The built-in battery
provides this information. The battery load test indicates if the battery is capable of
performing its job.
HYDROMETER TEST
1. Ball Hydrometer
2. Float Hydrometer
Ball hydrometer is similar to the ball type coolant hydrometer. Put the rubber tube
into the electrolyte, then squeeze and release the bulb. Electrolyte will be drawn into the tube.
If all balls float, the battery is fully charged. If none, the battery is discharged. The more balls
that floats, the higher the battery state of charge.
The float hydrometer is used in the same way it will float in the electrolyte drawn in.
Marks on the float stem show the electrolyte specific gravity. This indicates the state of
charge, the more fully-charged the battery, the higher the float.
1. Draw electrolyte into the hydrometer several times to permit the thermometer to adjust to
the electrolyte temperature and note the reading. Examine the color of the electrolyte. A brown
or gray coloration indicates a problem with the battery and is a sign that the battery is nearing
the end of its life.
STEP 2
2. Draw a
full sample
of
electrolyte
into the
hydrometer
to permit
the float to
float freely.
STEP 3
3. Hold the hydrometer in a vertical position at eye level and note the reading where the
electrolyte meets the scale on the float.
STEP 4
3. Add or subtract four points (.004) to the reading for every 10° F (6° C) the electrolyte
temperature is above or below 80° F (27° C). Adjust the reading to conform with the
electrolyte temperature, e.g., if the reading indicates a specific gravity of 1.250 and the
electrolyte temperature is 90° F (32° C), the 1.250 which gives a corrected reading of 1.254.
Similarly if the temperature was 70° F (21° C), subtract reading of 1.246.four points (.004)
from the 1.250 to give a corrected
STEP 5
4. Test each cell and note the readings (corrected to 80° F or 27° C). A variation of fifty points
between any two cell readings (example 1.250 – 1.200) indicates a problem with the low
reading cell(s).
As a battery ages the specific gravity of the electrolyte will decrease at full charge. This is not
a reason to replace the battery providing all cells are within fifty points of each other.
1.100 18 [-8.2]
1.160 1 [-7.2]
1.200 -17 [-27.3]
1.220 -31 [-35]
1.260 -75 [-59.4]
1.300 -95 [-70.5]
Directions: On the blank provided for, write the correct letter of your choice.
_________4. The more fully charge the battery is the higher the float is
indicating the state of charge of.
a.) float hydrometer
b.) ball hydrometer
c.) A and B
d.) All of the above
_________5. The more balls float, the higher the state of charge is.
a.) ball hydrometer
b.) float hydrometer
c.) A and B
d.) None of the above
OPERATION SHEET No. 1
Procedure:
The teacher will discuss the procedure with the student with the aid of pictures and
actual battery.
8
Program/Course: Automotive Servicing
Assessment Criteria
1. Battery is removed and replaced to avoid damage to any work place property or vehicle.
Resources
9
INFORMATION SHEET No. 1
Topic 1:
Connect a memory holder (a 9-volt battery and adaptor) to the cigarette lighter to
keep the volatile memories alive while the battery is disconnected from the vehicle. Follow
the manufacturer’s instruction to avoid overloading the 9-volt battery.
Disconnect the ground cable clamp, use a box wrench or battery pliers. Loosen the
clamp ball then pull the clamp from the terminal. Do not use other pliers or an open-end
wrench. If the clamp sticks, use a battery clamp puller, do not pry the clamp off with screw
driver or pry bar. You might break the cover. Next, disconnect the insulated cable from the
battery. Clean the terminals and cables clamp. Detach the spring ring cable clamp squeeze a
part the ends of the rings with pliers. Next, disconnect the insulated cable from the battery
clean the terminals and cable clamps loosen the hold-down clamps and remove the battery.
Clean the battery tray and hold-down clamps if the parts are metal, clean them with stiff
brush on a solution of baking soda and water. Open the water drain holes in the bottom of the
tray, after rinsing and drying, paint the tray and other metal parts with acid resistant paint.
When installing the battery, do not reverse the terminal connections. Reconnect the
insulated cable first then the ground cable – tighten the hold down clamps, do not over-
tighten.
BE CAREFUL: Never install a battery backward. The reversed polarity may caused
high current flow which will damage electrical components.
If your battery is dead and you need to replace it, here's how to do it simply and safely.
GETTY IMAGES
Your car won't start. You have a dead battery. We know, it's a pain! You'd
like to pull it out and get it checked at an auto parts store or maybe even
replace it—and you want to do it yourself to save a few bucks.
If you haven't attempted to disconnect a battery before, we're here to help. It's
simple and requires just a couple of tools. But you need to know how to do it
properly to ensure your safety and make sure that nothing bad happens to
your vehicle or its electrical system. Follow these steps and the operation
will go smoothly and quickly.
This is one of the most important steps. The positive terminal is marked with a "+," and
the negative is marked with a "-." Some batteries have plastic caps covering the terminals
that will have to be removed for you to gain access to the battery cables—the wires
connecting the battery to the rest of the vehicle—and the cable clamps that you will have
to remove to disconnect the battery.
Step 3: Find the Right Wrenches
You will need at most only a couple of wrenches to get the job done, depending on how
much space there is to maneuver the wrench and whether the battery cable uses a single
bolt on the clamp or one that also uses a nut on the other end. You'll have to borrow the
wrenches from a friend or relative or buy a set. Most but not all battery-cable clamps have
10-millimeter bolts, so you'll likely need a 10-millimeter open-end wrench to disconnect
the cables. A socket-wrench set that includes that same-size socket will be helpful as well.
In some cases, you can get by with just an adjustable open-end wrench.
Directions: On the blank provided for write the correct letter of your choice.
1
2
OPERATION SHEET No.1
Condition
Apron
Gloves
Soda solution
Tools
Box wrench(12x13)
Screw drivers
Lifting clamp
Equipment
Engine mock-up
vehicle
PROCEDURE:
3. Loosen the clamp bolt for the negative cable using terminal pliers and wrench of
correct size. Be careful not to just excessive force against the terminal.
4. Use the terminal puller to remove the cable from the terminal. Do not pry the cable
off the terminal.
1
4
6. Loosen the clamp bolt for the positive cable and use the terminal puller to
remove the cable.
Assessment Criteria
Resources
4. When you are ready you can proceed to Answer the self-check within the least
learning outcome no. 4 possible time allotment.
17
INFORMATION SHEET No. 1
Slow Charge: The battery is given a charge of a few amperes for several hours.
For further charging, reduce the charging rate to 20 amp or less for up to 3 hours
longer. Change a maintenance free batter until the green dot appears. To connect the charger
to a side terminal battery, it may be necessary to install bolts or adapters in the terminal bolt
holes. When charging a battery in a vehicle, disconnect the ground cable from the battery.
This protects electrical & electronic components from the high charging voltage.
BE CAREFUL: Never connect the battery charge backward. The reversed polarity
may cause high-current flow which would damage the vehicle electrical equipment.
WARNING:
Quick or fast charging two battery requires that the battery be monitored at all times
and the charging time must be controlled. Do no fast charge a battery longer than tow hours.
Excessive fast charging can damage the battery. Do not allow the voltage of a 12-volt battery
exceed 15.5 volts. Also, do not allow temperature to rise above 125ºF.
CHARGE RATE
Car batteries stay charged by harnessing the extra power of the car's engine, and most can go
for at least five years without needing to be replaced or recharged.[1] But even the best car
batteries will run out of power eventually — or lose their charge prematurely when you leave
your lights on too long. It can be a serious inconvenience to find yourself with a dead battery,
but recharging one can require very little in terms of tools or mechanical experience.
1
Put on the appropriate safety gear. Safety is paramount any time you are working on
your vehicle. Start by putting on protective eyeglasses to protect you from any falling
material under the hood of the car, sparks or battery fluid in the event the battery becomes
compromised. You may also want to wear gloves. Make sure the area you are working in
is well ventilated and lit sufficiently to allow you to see where you are going and what
you are working on.[2]
.
Gloves are not necessary but may protect your hands from small pinches
and cuts while working on your vehicle.
Make sure there are no children in the area while you work on the battery
of a vehicle as sparks could fly if positive and negative cables come into
contact with one another.
2
Determine what kind of battery you have. In order to properly charge your battery, you
must first identify the type of battery you have. You can usually find this written
somewhere on the battery, but you may need to check the manufacturer's website if the
label is too worn to read or missing. You should also find out the voltage of the battery by
looking on the battery’s label or by checking in your vehicle owner's manual. Types of
batteries include:[3]
.
Wet cell batteries may be serviceable, which means there are things you
can do to help improve the charge and the life of your battery.
VRLA Batteries (Valve Regulated Lead-Acid Battery) are completely
sealed and require no maintenance. These batteries come as Gel Cell or
Absorbed Glass Mat batteries and are less common in cars unless purchased as
an after-market modification.
3
Get a car battery charger. Pick a charger that is appropriate for your battery and
purposes. Most chargers will work for all types of batteries except Gel Cell batteries. There
are fast chargers that can charge your battery quickly or even provide you with a jump start, as
well as "trickle" chargers that provide a slow but longer lasting charge. Many newer chargers
come with a microprocessor to monitor how much the battery has charged. These digital
chargers will then stop the process automatically when the battery is fully charged. Older,
simpler chargers must be stopped manually to prevent dangerous overcharging and should not
be left alone for extended periods of time while connected.[4]
Read the charger's instruction manual to make sure you are using your particular unit
correctly.
Even new digital chargers should be monitored closely while charging to ensure it
functions properly and stops before over-charging the battery.
4
Disconnect and remove the battery from your vehicle if necessary. It’s important to
disconnect the battery before conducting any repairs or maintenance on your vehicle. Most of
the time you will be able to charge the battery without taking it out of the car, but if reaching
the battery or fitting the charging cables in the engine bay or trunk where the battery is located
proves difficult, remove the battery from the car completely while you charge it.[5]
If you are unsure where your battery is located, check the owner’s manual for your
vehicle. Some vehicles have the battery in the trunk, while most have it under the
hood.
Disconnect the negative terminal first, then the positive when removing a battery.
5
Clean the battery terminals. Any dirt or grime on the battery terminals can prevent the
charging cables from establishing a strong connection to the battery, so it’s important to clean
the terminals thoroughly. Use baking soda and a wet cloth or a sandpaper pad to wipe away
any grime or rust. Make sure the terminals are bare metal before moving on to the next step in
order to ensure a strong charge.[6]
Sometimes you may find the battery has a solid charge, but dirty terminals were
preventing the electricity from flowing.
Do not touch the terminals with your bare skin, especially if there is any white powder
on them. This powder is usually dried sulfuric acid, and it can burn your skin if you
come in contact with it.
SELF CHECK No. 1
Direction: On the blank before each number write the correct letter of your choice.
Assessment Criteria
2. Jumper leads are selected and used to ensure spark protection which is employed when
necessary.
Resources
LEARNING EXPERIENCES/ACTIVITIES
20
OPERATION SHEET No. 1
CONDITIONS
Tools
Wrenches
Pliers
Equipment
PROCEDURE
STEP 3: Find the Red (Positive) and Black (Negative) Battery Terminals
Find the batteries and their terminals. Each battery has two metal terminals. One is marked
positive (+), the other negative (-). There are also positive and negative cables in the jumper
cable set. The red one is positive (+), the black one is negative (-). Never connect the red
cable to the negative battery terminal or a vehicle with a dead battery.
STEP 4: Dead Battery: Identify a metal ground
Identify a metal ground within the vehicle with the dead battery. You can use the metal frame
of the vehicle.
STEP 5: Dead Battery: Attach the Positive Jumper Cable Lead to a Positive
Terminal
Connect a positive cable clamp to the positive (+) terminal of the dead battery.
STEP 6: Good Battery: Attach the other Positive Jumper Cable
Lead to a Positive Terminal
Connect the other positive cable clamp to the positive (+) terminal of the charged battery.
Remove the black negative clamp from the ground of the vehicle needing the jump.
Remove the red positive clamp from the formerly stalled vehicle.
We recommend fully charging your battery at the first opportunity after its being jump-
started.
CAUTIONS: Do not use more than 16 volts to jump starting a vehicle that is
equipped with an engine control module (EICM). The excess voltage may damage
the electronic components.
ASSESSMENT PERFORMANCE
Workmanship/Performance Points
35 - Exemplary
25 - Adequate
10 – Need improvement
TOTAL SCORES
23
ASSESSMENT PERFORMANCE
Workmanship/Performance Points
35 - Exemplary
25 - Adequate
10 – Need improvement
TOTAL SCORES
24
ANSWER KEY
No. 1
1. b
2. c
3. a
4. a
No. 2
1. a
2. b
3. a
4. a
5. a
No. 3
1. D
2. A
3. A
4. C
No. 4
1. A
2. A
3. A
4. A
2
5
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING: