On the golf course, your crew works with mowers, tractors, bunker rakes, and other utility vehicles. All of these vehicles have batteries, and just like on all devices, these batteries won’t last forever. Vehicle batteries usually last a few years, depending on how well they’re cared for. However, a minor mistake like leaving a key in the on position could cause the battery to die within a few hours. If the vehicle’s battery dies your crew may have to charge or service the vehicle’s battery. In this article, we’ll cover the proper procedures your crew should be taking to maintain a battery, as well as how to safely service or jump-start an engine.
Every golf facility is different. At yours, vehicle battery maintenance may be exclusively the job of a mechanic or the responsibility of crew members. Whatever your club’s policy on this is, reading the information in this blog is likely to prove useful because at some point you will definitely have to jump start a vehicle, help do this, or train your crew on how this is done. Remember to remind your crew that if they haven’t been specifically authorized and trained to deal with batteries, they shouldn’t be touching them.
How Vehicle Batteries Work
First, if you or a crew member needs to jump or charge a battery, one should first understand the basics of how an automotive battery works. A standard battery is divided into six separate cells, providing about 2.1 volts per cell. The combined voltage of the cells equals 12.6 volts, but the voltage produced by the battery decreases as its charge decreases. The power inside of the battery is created through a chemical reaction that takes place as its positive and negative lead plates interact with the battery acid. This interaction causes a chemical reaction which then creates voltage. The voltage is released as power through the battery’s positive end and then returned through the battery’s negative terminal.
Voltage from the vehicle’s alternator should keep the battery charged. Batteries can usually last a few years if they are properly cared for. However, they may become depleted if any electrical parts of the vehicle are left turned on for an extended period of time while the vehicle’s engine is off. If the alternator is not charging the battery it will eventually die. In this instance, the vehicle’s engine won’t start the next time someone tries to run it, and it will need charged or jump-started.
Battery Maintenance
Battery maintenance is an important part of every vehicle’s maintenance procedures, however, crew members should only handle batteries if they have been trained to do so.
Corrosive by-products are the result of normal battery use, and they may form on battery terminals. It’s crucial that batteries and their terminals are kept clean and that any corrosion that forms on them gets cleaned off. Review this checklist with your crew to avoid injuries and damage to your equipment:
Maintenance Checklist
What to do when a vehicle’s battery is depleted
If a vehicle’s battery is depleted and the vehicle won’t start, your crew will have to charge or jump-start the battery. A battery can be jump-started with either a booster pack or another vehicle’s battery.
It’s imperative to note that the procedure we are talking about applies to traditional lead-acid batteries only. Manufacturers are increasingly fitting new equipment with lithium (LiFePO4) batteries. These tend to be smaller in capacity (a lower AmpHour rating) and so discharge more quickly. A deeply discharged lithium battery needs to be recharged very carefully, but a high-voltage shock, like you get with a jump start, could cause severe damage, and even make it explode or catch fire. Recovering these types of batteries using a lithium-specific charger is the safest way to bring a ‘dead’ battery back to life. It starts off charging slowly, to avoid overheating, balancing the cells inside the battery in the process, and ensuring it is returned to peak condition.
To restart a lead acid battery, follow these steps:
In any facility where there are vehicles, jump-starting batteries is going to be an inevitability. For the safety of your crew members and the long-term good condition of your equipment, it’s crucial that your crew is trained on the correct procedures for performing this task. To ensure that they are, sign up for a Golf Safety Training Video streaming membership today. This includes easy-to-follow videos in both English and Spanish that help your crew understand the correct safety procedures to follow for all the jobs on your golf course. Also included are attendance registers and quizzes, so you’ll always be OSHA compliant when the inspector comes knocking. Click this link today to find out more.
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