BRAKE GP-PARKING 4362627 - Caterpillar

Cold Weather Battery Maintenance
General Maintenance
1. After adding make-up water, charge the battery. The added water could dilute the electrolyte enough without charging to cause freezing and permanent damage to the battery.2. Keep the batteries fully charged either by operating the charging system or by using a battery charger.3. Keep the battery warm when not in use. In an unheated area, the heat from a lighted electric bulb is usually sufficient.
Use only a shop cord with a heavy wire guard around the light bulb.
Do not lay a lighted bulb directly on a battery case; the heat at point of contact could melt the battery case.Do not lay cloth or flammable material in contact with a lighted bulb; charring and/or fire could result.4. Use starting aids as instructed for starting the engine.5. Use booster batteries as required. Connect the batteries as instructed below.6. If a battery is not going to be used for a period of time, be sure the battery is fully charged while stored. Use a battery hydrometer to check the specific gravity of each cell, and use a battery charger to keep the battery charged. See the instructions below.Charging the Battery
Never smoke near the area where batteries are being charged. Hydrogen gas is given off at each vent cap during charging. Hydrogen mixed with air is highly explosive.
1. Connect positive charger clamp to positive battery terminal.2. Connect negative charger clamp to negative battery terminal.3. Connect charger power cord to proper outlet.4. Allow battery to charge slowly.
If battery is charged too rapidly, the battery will be damaged.
5. After the battery is charged, disconnect charger power cord from outlet; remove charger clamp from negative battery terminal; remove charger clamp from positive battery terminal.Testing Electrolyte
If the electrolyte level is too low to allow taking a hydrometer reading, add make-up water to the correct level and then charge the battery 2 to 4 hours before taking a reading.1. Insert the hydrometer tube into a cell. Fill the hydrometer barrel while holding the hydrometer in a vertical position. The float must not drag on the wall of the barrel.1.250 or above: fully charged battery cell; freezing point @ -60°F (-51°C)1.225 - 1.250: half to fully charged battery cell; freezing point @ -40°F (-40°C)1.150 - 1.225: low to half charged battery cell; freezing point @ -20°F (-29°C)Below 1.150: dead battery cell; freezing point @ +10°F (-12°C)1.000: water; freezing point is +32°F (0°C)2. Read the hydrometer. Specific gravity ranges shown above may vary because of electrolyte temperature, battery construction or strength of electrolyte used in different climate zones.3. Test each cell in the same manner. If there is more than .050 (50 gravity points) variation between the highest and lowest reading, the battery should be replaced.The hydrometer reading is of most importance during cold weather. A low specific gravity reading means the battery has less available power to crank the engine, booster batteries may be required, or the battery may freeze if not charged.Connecting Booster Batteries:
1. Remove all filler caps from all batteries before