Battery acid is bad for the clothes and the skin. Do not splash it. Be especially
careful of the eyes. If there is an accident, the best cure is to flush with plenty of
water.
Batteries produce hydrogen gas, which is very explosive. Do not make sparks near a
battery or it may explode, and throw acid in the eyes!
Battery Charging
Lead acid batteries should be kept in a charged condition. In the case of a wind
powered system, you may have to wait for a wind to charge the battery. But be
careful not to discharge the battery too deeply, or to keep it too long in a discharged
state, or it will be damaged (sulphated) and become useless. Stop using a battery
before it is fully discharged. If there is a problem with the wind generator, then
charge the battery from another source within two weeks.
Charging the battery too hard will also damage it. At first, when the battery is
discharged, it is safe to use a high current, but later the current must be reduced or
the battery will overheat and the plates will be damaged. The best way to fully
charge a battery is to use a small current for a long time.
Watch the battery voltage. If the battery voltage is below 11.5 volts, then it is
being discharged too much. If the voltage is high (over 14 volts) then the battery
charging current is too high. Use less current or more current in the loads to correct
these problems. If there is no voltmeter available, then the user should watch the
brightness of the lights and follow these rules:-
• Dim lights, mean low battery. Use less electricity!
• Very bright lights mean too much windpower. Use more electricity!
A good way to use more electricity is too charge more batteries in windy weather,
perhaps charging batteries from neighbours' houses.
There are simple electronic circuits which can regulate the battery voltage
automatically. They are called 'low voltage disconnects' and 'shunt regulators'. If
the user is not willing to watch the battery voltage, then it is necessary to fit a
disconnect and a regulator.
PMG manual
page 48
June 2001