New Battery Filling

[Owen Snell]

My battery was getting tired, so I've bought a new one and filled it today. The filling is easy with a six pack of acid and adapters provided for each cell, but once filled, the acid is below the low level mark and not covering the plates. The instructions helpfully state that if a single acid bottle is provided, to fill each cell to the max level. No mention of what to do if the 6 pack of acid is insufficient to even hit the min level, so I don't know whether to just add water or to get some more acid.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

The amount of acid in the 6 containers will be right for the battery. I would top it off with demin water if it were me.

 

[morty]

cost about a quid for litre of distilled water,just make sure you don't pour into a metal container or filler.

 

[Owen Snell]

I've got distilled water, just not entirely happy about filling up the battery from minimum to maximum with water and not acid.

 

[Redboots]

I've got distilled water, just not entirely happy about filling up the battery from minimum to maximum with water and not acid.

Read the warning in "When should I add water to my batteries? " in this link

 

[Owen Snell]

Read the warning in "When should I add water to my batteries? " in this link

OK so:

1. On a new battery, charge it first before adding any water.
2. Never let the electrolyte level drop below the top of the plates.

The acid supplied with my new battery does not cover the plates, which means I can neither add water nor charge it!

E-mailed Exide, see what they say.

 

[Pukmeister]

It's simple chemistry. Ensure plates are completely covered by electrolyte (acid/water mix) then charge. The voltage applied will cause a chemical reaction, releasing hydrogen molecules and storing energy within the cells. Monitor during charging and ensure the cells remain covered to prevent local overheating and plate distortion/damage. Once the battery is fully charged, add demin water to top up fully to the recommended level. Job done.

 

[Beemerboff]

Add more acid - do anything else and the battery will never work to its full ,err, potential.

 

[Smug]

Are you looking at the top of the plates or at the piece of casing that punctures the seals on the acid container? The acid in the container should be exactly the right amount.

 

[Owen Snell]

In correspondence with Exide now - they said don't do anything yet! 5 of the 6 cells are below minimum, 1 is 10 mm below and the best one is 1 mm above. That's a big difference to come from a set of 6 separate sealed containers!

 

[Fanum]

cost about a quid for litre of distilled water,just make sure you don't pour into a metal container or filler.

Boiled water from the kettle is free

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Boiled water from the kettle is free

Do hope you're joking, old boy.

 

[Fanum]

Do hope you're joking, old boy.

There is such a minimal difference between boiled water (particularly from a soft water area) and distilled that topping up with it is fine.

Yes, better to use distilled, but I'd be happier topping up exposed plates with boiled water than leaving the plates exposed.....the lesser of two weevils

 

[Ogmios]

rule of thumb;
look at kettle element. whatever 'deposits' on it, are what's likely to end up on your battery innards.
As one who has the luxury of living in an area of soft Liffey water (as used by Guinness ), where the worst that can happen is mild peat pollution - i've never bought demin water in 30 years.
~~

 

[Owen Snell]

Boiled water from the kettle is free

So is the water from my workshop dehumidifier, a by-product of keeping the bike cosy and dry.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Agree not much difference between demin and soft water, but what's boiling supposed to do ?

 

[Voyager]

Agree not much difference between demin and soft water, but what's boiling supposed to do ?

You guys are confusing me . .

The water used in a battery is supposed to be "De-Ionised" - i.e. there are no (or few) free ions in it that will conduct electricity.

Distilling water in non-metallic equipment (i.e. glass) removes the ions, but contact with metal will contaminate it.

A kettle may be plastic, but the heating element won't be .

De-mineralised - i.e dissolved salts removed - will also reduce the free ions in the water, but does it remove them all .

I always use Halfords "De-ionised" top-up water.

Any Chemists out there who can explain the reason for using the other water sources ??

Bob (confused of Kirkliston ).

 

[Greg Masters]

but what's boiling supposed to do ?

By boiling off some of the water (but not the minerals), you get a stronger mineralisation of the water.

Unusually, Bill may be confuddled by an old Gipsy's trick. What you should do is boil the kettle and then collect and condense the steam and tip that into the battery.

 

[Packer]

I would have expected better from Exide.

If the acid is the correct strength for battery use, which it probably is, adding water is definitely a bad idea.

I have a nice Ion Exchange system at work, produces very high quality de-ionised water, I just fill up my old, rusty, galvanised bucket every now and then and take it home for battery top-ups. My old army days tin mug which got squashed a bit makes a great scoop for topping off the cells.