■ Keep sparks, flames and cigarettes away from batteries ■ Charge only in well-ventilated areas. 2. Charging ■ Charge after each use, as per manu-facturer recommendations ■ Before charging, ensure the electrolyte level is above the plates in flooded bat-teries ■ Tighten vent caps before charging ■ Do not interrupt a charge cycle and never charge a frozen battery. 3. Watering (flooded batteries only) ■ Add water only after fully charging the battery (unless plates are exposed) ■ Check with the manufacturer regarding proper electrolyte fill levels ■ Never allow the electrolyte level to fall below the plates ■ Use distilled water. 4. Cleaning ■ Tighten all vent caps before cleaning ■ Clean the battery and cable lugs with a solution of baking soda and water ■ Do not allow anything to get inside the battery ■ Rinse with water and dry. 5. Equalizing (flooded batteries only) ■ Do not equalize AGM or gel batteries ■ Connect battery to charger, set to equal-ize mode and start the charge cycle ■ Equalization is complete when voltage no longer rises (take readings every hour) ■ If charger does not have an equaliza-tion setting, call the battery manufac-turer’s technical support staff to deter-mine setting. 6. Storage ■ Completely charge batteries before storing ■ Store batteries in a cool, dry location ■ Keep batteries fully charged to prevent freezing ■ Avoid direct exposure to heat sources, such as radiators or heaters. Gaining a clear understanding of the vari-ous battery technologies and committing to a regular maintenance schedule ensures that your battery-powered floor machines will continue to operate at peak levels of performance and reliability. With proper care and maintenance, an initial investment in deep-cycle flood-ed, AGM, gel or lithium battery technology can be extended as well as keep the total cost of ownership to a minimum — all resulting in more uptime and profits for your company. CM Elke Hirschman is vice president of marketing for Trojan Battery Company. She is responsible for leading Trojan’s overall global product and business marketing efforts for its floor cleaning, renewable energy, golf, transportation, aerial platform and recreational product divisions. During her tenure at Trojan, Hirschman successfully launched the company’s AC Series floor machine batteries, the HydroLink™ watering system for deep-cycle flooded batteries, the OverDrive AGM 31™ anti-idling battery for heaving trucking applications and the industry-leading AGM and gel battery products. www.cmmonline.com 37
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