BATTERY ELECTROLYTE SPECIFIC GRAVITY TEST
Battery electrolyte is an acid. Severe burns may
result if precautions are not taken to avoid contact
with skin
1 . Using a hydrometer, draw enough fluid from battery cell to allow indicator
to float freely
2 . Read indicator with your eye approximately level with fluid and note your
readings
NOTE: Readings taken while looking at indicator from a
sharp angle are very inaccurate
3 . Test all cells of battery and note readings. High to low difference shall be
0.030 points maximum
4 . At 80F electrolyte temperature, each cell of a fully charged battery
should read 1.280 maximum. At 80F, a battery is discharged if it reads
less than 1.220 (See chart A)
5. Temperature affects specific gravity. Each 10F variation from 80F will
change specific gravity 0.004 (See chart B)
