safety precautions to be followed while dealing with lead acid rechargeable plant batteries

 

Batteries :

1) Battery room should be well ventilated ,clean and dry.

2) A damp room is dangerous due to possible earth leakage from the battery.

3) A notice should be exhibited in the battery room prohibiting smoking ,electrical or sparks and use of naked flames.

4) The  battery room should be well lit at all the times of the day and night .Direct sun light on the cells should be avoided

5) A wash basin is to be provided in the room suitable placed for washing of accidental acid splash on eyes ,body and garments for the personnel working in the battery room

6) Any spillage of acid on the floor is to be washed and neutralised, to avoid leakage path. It is advisable to provide acid proof tiles on the floors and on the sides of the wall. Alternately acid proof paints to be provided which would require periodic renewal.

7) Proper exhaust fans to be provided to remove hydrogen gas from the battery room during boost charging. The ventilation system of the battery room has to be designed accordingly. It is always better to pump in filtered cool air in the battery rooms, having provision for natural exhaust, so that the battery room will be slightly at higher pressure.

8) Warning signs should be put on the walls indicating dangers of explosion in using naked flames for smoking inside the battery room.

To dilute strong acid, the quantities required for mixing are given below: For 100 litres Dilute Acid:

Initial Sp. Gravity	Final Sp. Gravity	Quantity of water in litres	Quantity of acid in litres
1.840	1.190	87	18
1.825	1.400	66	40
1.825	1.190	86	18
1.400	1.190	56	45

 

Caution:

 1. All job to be done under supervision of authorised personnel only.

 2. Clean vessels of hard rubber, plastics, porcelain or leadlined MS tanks/ Wooden Boxes only should be used for storage & handling of acid & DM water. Do not use metal vessels other than lead.

 3. When working with acid or electrolytes always use protective goggles, rubber gloves and rubber apron.

 4. Keep ready Bi-carbonate of Soda solution or 5% to 10% Ammonia solution to take care of accidental spill / splash of acid on skin, eyes or garments. Remove garment immediately, neutralise spot with 5 to 10% ammonia or soda solution and wash thoroughly in water. On skin / eyes: flush with large quantities of water. Seek medical aid immediately.

5. NEVER ADD WATER TO ACID. IT WILL SPURT DANGEROUSLY. ALWAYS ADD ACID TO WATER. Add the acid in a thin stream, slowly, stirring the solution with a long glass rod or tube. –

 6. Smoking, Welding Arcs, Electrical Sparks and Open Flame should be strictly prohibited in the battery room.

7. Only insulated tools should be used for live parts. Extreme care should be taken while handling of metallic parts within battery room to prevent their accidental falling / touching of live parts and causing short circuit.

 

Installation:

1)      The positive end of the battery has to be connected to the positive output of the charging equipment and negative end of the battery to the negative of the charger .

2)      The positive and negative „take-off ‟ of the battery should have sufficient space between them to avoid short circuits