How To Add Distilled Water To A Battery

Watering Your Lead Acid Battery: The Basics

Just like how yous can't get without h2o, neither can your battery. Watering your pb acrid battery is an essential maintenance footstep that can't exist skipped. It keeps your battery safe for use and in optimal condition. Non watering your lead acrid battery at the right fourth dimension can lead to serious harm, but knowing when is the correct time to water your battery isn't always easy. Follow these steps on how to water your pb acid bombardment.

Why batteries need to be watered

Atomic number 82 acrid batteries consist of flat atomic number 82 plates immersed in a pool of electrolyte. The electrolyte consists of water and sulfuric acid. The size of the battery plates and amount of electrolyte determines the corporeality of charge lead acid batteries can shop or how many hours of use. Water is primal part of how a pb battery functions.

Additionally, during the recharging process as electricity flows through the water portion of the electrolyte, h2o is converted into its original elements, hydrogen and oxygen. These gasses are very flammable and the reason your RV or marine batteries must exist vented outside. Gassing causes h2o loss, which is why atomic number 82 acid batteries need to have water added periodically. Low maintenance batteries like AGM batteries, are the exception because they have the power to compensate for water loss.

Overwatering and under watering can both impairment your battery. To go along your pb battery running at peak levels, follow these watering guidelines.

Kickoff – Kickoff with Safety

To get started, make sure to wear personal protection equipment such as protective eyewear and gloves when working on batteries. Too, it is very of import to sympathise that some batteries require regular watering service – while other batteries evangelize maintenance-complimentary operation.

Make sure to expect for information on the battery labeling that betoken whether the battery can be opened and serviced. Depending upon the bombardment type you are using, the alarm labels on your battery should directly yous to "DO NOT OPEN" the bombardment, or "KEEP VENT CAPS TIGHT Following WATERING SERVICE." Make certain to follow the warning label instructions.

How to water a battery

While a battery should just be filled after it is completely charged, you should as well check the water level before charging to make sure at that place is merely plenty h2o to encompass whatever exposed plates. After charging, add enough h2o to bring the level to the lesser of the vent, about ¾ beneath the top of the cell.

It'south important to annotation that battery owners should never add sulfuric acid to their bombardment. During normal operation batteries will only eat water – and non sulfuric acid. When your battery's electrolyte is observed to be low, filling the battery with water will go along the battery healthy and safe for use.

Don't Over Water

While a battery is charging, the density of the electrolyte solution volition increase. If besides much water was added before charging, the electrolyte levels volition aggrandize and cause the battery to overflow and damage the battery. Additionally, excessive watering of a bombardment can result in additional dilution of the electrolyte, resulting in reduced bombardment functioning.

When should you water a battery

How often y'all add water to your battery volition depend on how oft you use it. A golf cart battery that is only used on the weekends may only require once a month watering. A forklift used all day, every day, may need to have its battery watered every week. When the weather is hot, this will increase the need for watering. It'southward important to bank check your battery's fluid level regularly – and the best practice is to do so after the bombardment is finished charging.

What type of water should exist used

Avoid using tap h2o. When filling your battery, regular tap h2o isn't going to cut information technology. Tap water contains minerals that are harmful to batteries, even if added in small amounts. This is specially true for h2o softened by water softeners which contain chlorides. To be safe, distilled h2o is your best bet and is a much smaller investment than a new battery.

Recollect, that water volition sit on top of the acid solution in your battery until it is mixed by the bubbles produced past charging. If you lot are taking hydrometer readings of the electrolyte, it's best to take them after charging is complete.

Don't permit your battery go dehydrated. Proceed it watered during hot months and all year long.