Before Charging

To avoid an electric arc (or spark), turn off or disconnect all of the accessories in the boat or vehicle. Always remove the cable that is connected to grounded terminal from battery first. Make sure the area around the battery is well-ventilated while the battery is being charged. If necessary, use a non-metallic material to fan away the gas in the area. If necessary, clean the battery terminals. Be careful to keep the corrosion and other debris from coming in contact with your skin or eyes.

If the battery is not a sealed battery, add distilled water to each cell (if necessary) until the battery acid solution reaches the level specified by battery manufacturer. Do not overfill. For a battery without cell caps, such as a valve regulated lead-acid battery (VRLA), carefully follow the battery manufacturer’s charging instructions.

Before charging, carefully read the battery manufacturer’s specific precautions and recommended rates of charge.

Determine the voltage of the battery by referring to the boat’s or vehicle’s owner’s manual and make sure that the battery charger has compatible voltages.