SIDE TERMINAL ATTACHMENT FOR BATTERY CHARGING AND TESTING

THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS CORRECTIONS ON TOOL NUMBERS FOR CHARGING ADAPTERS. SOME REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED THAT BATTERIES ARE DIFFICULT TO CHARGE WHEN OUT OF THE CAR. THESE REPORTS ALSO INDICATE THAT BOLTS ARE BEING SCREWED INTO THE SIDE TERMINALS OF THE BATTERY TO PROVIDE A TERMINAL FOR THE BATTERY CHARGER CLAMPS. SIMILAR CORRECTIONS ARE USED FOR LOAD TESTING. BOLTS SHOULD NOT BE USED SINCE THE MATING THREADS INSIDE THE BATTERY TERMINALS PROVIDE A VERY SMALL CONTACT SURFACE, WHICH HAS HIGH RESISTANCE TO CURRENT FLOW. THE HIGH RESISTANCE CAN PREVENT ADEQUATE CHARGING CURRENT FROM REACHING THE BATTERY, CREATING THE APPEARANCE OF THE BATTERY NOT ACCEPTING A CHARGE, OR AT THE LEAST REQUIRING LONGER CHARGING TIME. IT ALSO EXPLAINS WHY SOME BATTERIES ARE CALLED BAD WHEN THEY ARE LOAD TESTED, BUT ARE OBVIOUSLY GOOD BATTERIES WHEN CHECKED WITH PROPER CONNECTIONS AT THE TERMINALS. THERE ARE TWO WAYS OF CONNECTING TO THE SIDE TERMINALS TO CHARGE A BATTERY: 1. BY USE OF AN ADAPTER CHARGING TOOL (SEE FIG.1). THE NUMBER OF THIS TOOL IS AC-DELCO ST-1201 (AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH AC-DELCO). THE ADAPTER SHOULD BE SNUGGED UP AGAINST THE LEAD PADS OF THE BATTERY WITH PLIERS TO KEEP RESISTANCE BETWEEN THE ADAPTER AND BATTERY TERMINALS AT A MINIMUM. THIS IS THE PREFERRED METHOD. 2.BY THE USE OF A 3/8" BOLT WITH STANDARD THREADS (16 UNC) AND 3/8" NUTS WITH STANDARD THREADS (SEE FIG.2). BOLT AND NUT MUST BE CADMIUM OR ZINC PLATED CARBON STEEL. DO NOT USE STAINLESS STEEL OR PHOSPATE COATED PARTS. A. SCREW 3/8" NUT ON 3/8"BOLT (1 1/2" OR LONGER.) B. USING FINGERS, SCREW ONE BOLT INTO EACH SIDE TERMINAL UNTIL IT BOTTOMS OUT, AND THEN BACK OFF ONE FULL TURN. (DO NOT TIGHTEN WITH WRENCH AS BOLTS CAN BE DRIVEN THROUGH CASE.) C. HOLDING THE BOLT, SCREW THE NUT DOWN ON THE BOLT UNTIL THE NUT IS AGAINST THE BATTERY TERMINAL LEAD PAD. SNUG NUT WITH PLIERS. (DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN AS NUT INSIDE BATTERY TERMINAL COULD BE PULLED OUT.) D. ATTACH THE CHARGER OR TESTER LEADS TO THE 3/8" NUTS AND FOLLOW NORMAL CHARGING AND TESTING PROCEDURES. THE MAIN CHARGING OR LOAD TEST CURRENT WILL BE CARRIED THROUGH THE LEAD PADS OF THE BATTERY TERMINALS AND NOT THROUGH THE NUTS INSIDE THE TERMINALS.

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