Car Battery Chargers – 10 Safety Tips
1.) Be sure to use the car battery charger in a well-ventilated place. Potentially explosive flammable gas is formed during the process of charging and ventilation stops it from building up to dangerous levels.
2.) Ensure that there are no naked flames or persons smoking near to the car battery whilst you are charging it. Equipment that could cause sparking (electric motors for example) needs to be some distance from the charging area.
3.) If you are using metal tools, avoid short circuiting between the battery terminals. Also avoid short circuiting between the terminals to the vehicle bodywork or engine.
4.) Car battery chargers should never be switched on before connecting to the battery to be charged. Connect to the battery terminals then switch on the charger, this will avoid sparking which could start ignition of the gas from the battery.
5.) Always read the charger manufacturers instructions and adhere to them at all times. If you have a charger with no instructions you should obtain a copy of the instructions before first use.
6.) When opening up the battery's cells for checking the levels of electrolyte or adding water, eye protection is a must and you should also put on protective gloves. The corrosive acid in the battery could potentially cause burns on the skin and eyes.
7.) When you open the cells of the battery it is advisable to keep some water close by. It may come in useful for flushing your skin or your eyes should they get splashed by acid.
8.) A discharged car battery may freeze if the weather is cold enough. If you suspect that the battery may have frozen, you need to let it defrost otherwise it may rupture and start to leak acid.
9.) Ideally you should run the car battery charger at its lowest setting. This prevents overheating and damaging the battery and can increase its life.
10.) Be sure to keep the charger away from the vicinity of the battery. It's also important to stop any people or animals from accessing the area.
Be safe, see Peter Martin's site for more vehicle battery charger information and essential vehicle battery charger safety tips.