2011 Kawasaki Mule 610 4x4 XC Owners Manual - Page 118

116 MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT charged. If your Mule is only used occasionally or for short periods of time, the battery is more likely to discharge. Due to their internal composition, batteries continually self discharge. The discharge rate depends on the type of battery and ambient temperature. As temperatures rise, so does the rate. Every 15°C (27°F) doubles the rate. Electrical accessories, also draw current from the battery even when the key is switched off. Combine such "key-off" draws with hot temperatures, and a battery can go from fully charged to completely discharged in a matter of days. Self-discharge Approx. Number of Days From 100% Charged to 100% discharged Lead-Antimony Battery 40°C (104°F) 25°C (77°F) 0°C (32°F) 100 Days 200 Days 550 Days Lead-Calcium Battery 300 Days 600 Days 950 Days Current Drain (Y50-N18L-A) Discharging Ampere 7 mA 10 mA 15 mA 20 mA 30 mA Days from Days from 100% 100% Charged Charged to 50% to 100% discharged discharged 60 Days 42 Days 28 Days 21 Days 14 Days 119 Days 83 Days 56 Days 42 Days 28 Days j Temperature In extremely cold weather the fluid in an inadequately charged battery can easily freeze, which can crack the case and buckle the plates. A fully charged, properly maintained battery can withstand sub-freezing temperatures with no damage. Battery Sulfation A common cause of battery failure is sulfation. Sulfate is a normal byproduct of the chemical reactions within a battery. Sulfation occurs when the electrolyte level is low and exposes the plates within the battery to air. The active lead on the plates oxidizes and sulfates, causing permanent damage so that the battery will not hold a charge. Low electrolyte levels also concentrates the acid in the electrolyte, causing further corrosion to the plates that often falls off and settles at the bottom of the battery. The accumulated corrosion can eventually bridge the plates and cause the battery to short.