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adding water to battery

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LA in Wi.

10-16-2006 08:01:10




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When adding water to the battery on my "H", should I add distilled water? Or is well water just as good? (Not on city water, but I've heard clorinated water should not be used.)




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John M

10-16-2006 14:16:47




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 Re: adding water to battery in reply to LA in Wi., 10-16-2006 08:01:10  
Had an uncle get drunk and well, went in a battery one time because it was low on water.Seriously!



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John T

10-16-2006 13:43:37




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 Re: adding water to battery in reply to LA in Wi., 10-16-2006 08:01:10  
How about Barely Soda?? Its mostly water anyway right?? and Im sure the brewery filtered it well buttttt tt Id as soon drink it and add some other clear liquid lol

Of course, distilled is better cuz the extracted/distileld out minerals n iron n calcium n all that other harmful stuff wont react so bad with the acid n not settle out n cover the plates

John T



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Ron Sorden

10-16-2006 13:39:16




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 Re: adding water to battery in reply to LA in Wi., 10-16-2006 08:01:10  
I always have used distilled water. Though on the last battery I bought they forgot to put plugs in for adding water so I had to drill holes in the top.

Ron



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tasbrus

10-16-2006 10:07:45




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 Re: adding water to battery in reply to LA in Wi., 10-16-2006 08:01:10  
Distilled is the correct answer. Now that being said. My chevy s-10 delco battery was over 10 years old when I got rid of it (still in operation) and all I ever added was bottled water or filtered tap water.



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IH2444

10-16-2006 08:57:18




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 Re: adding water to battery in reply to LA in Wi., 10-16-2006 08:01:10  
Duistilled water is also best for cooling systems, but almost no one uses it. .95 per gal vs 12.00 for antifreeze and people still use mineral rich water :)



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Farmallgray

10-16-2006 17:07:32




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 Re: adding water to battery in reply to IH2444, 10-16-2006 08:57:18  
I suppose softened water is probably a no-no in cooling systems too? I'm thinking the salt makes it more corosive. I may have to do some re-plumbing in my house so I have a spigot that I can get non softened water from.

I would think water out of a dehumidifier would be ok to use in a battery too.



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Rob Baird

10-16-2006 17:58:34




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 Re: adding water to battery in reply to Farmallgray, 10-16-2006 17:07:32  
HI You get more sodium from eating a slice of bread than you do from dring softened water. Yes water softeners add some sodium but not much The brine water is for cleaning and recharging the softener. I have been a well driller and also sold water treatment system



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Rauville

10-16-2006 08:44:55




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 Re: adding water to battery in reply to LA in Wi., 10-16-2006 08:01:10  
Years ago, my Dad had an old stoneware "Battery Water" filter / dispenser in the shop. It was a two part affair with a charcoal filter on the top and a storage crock with a spigot on the bottom. About all it did was strain the frogs out of the well water. But, everyone thought it was a real deal to come in and get free battery water. One ol' gentleman would walk in with his 7-Up bottle every spring to get some water to top off the battery, before he started his Studebaker for the year.
Never heard anybody complain about the water, or their batteries.

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JT

10-16-2006 08:35:46




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 Re: adding water to battery in reply to LA in Wi., 10-16-2006 08:01:10  
Have been using well water for at least 30 years and have had no adverse effect nor shortened battery life as long as we could see. Battery life can be influeance by so many things more than minerals in water. Sulfation is more of a problem than minerals, I agree with Allan on this. But probably 30-40 years ago it was a little more important, today, with newer technology I don't think it makes a hill of beans differance.

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Allan In NE

10-16-2006 08:37:40




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 Re: adding water to battery in reply to JT, 10-16-2006 08:35:46  
Never step on the crack in a sidewalk tho. :>)

Allan



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sd pete

10-16-2006 08:34:06




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 Re: adding water to battery in reply to LA in Wi., 10-16-2006 08:01:10  
Spose distilled water is the best. But i usually used tap water. Never had a tractor battery last much longer than 2 years anyway. They just get all shook up and jerked and bounced around.



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Bronson

10-16-2006 08:10:33




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 Re: adding water to battery in reply to LA in Wi., 10-16-2006 08:01:10  

I always add distilled water to My batteries. I am also on well water and I wont use it because it is loaded with minerals. The minerals seem to clog the plates in the battery and causing possible internal shorting which creates short battery life.



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JayWalt

10-16-2006 08:42:05




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 Re: adding water to battery in reply to Bronson, 10-16-2006 08:10:33  
Moreover, these minerals can cause a ph change, they can interact with the lead plates, it just plain wreaks havoc on batteries.

If you notice your batteries need water and it is below the plates, your battery is probably on a downward spiral. There is a small tube that comes down from the hole, add water ONLY until they reach the tube, until you can see the meniscis (sp?)(the clinging to the tube walls).

ONLY add DISTILLED water to batteries. Never add acid. If acid is needed, the plates are most likely toasted (sulfated) as well.

The reason you add water to batteries, is because when you charge the batteries fast (typical with the older charging systems), the water is slowly boiled away. The acid remains, so there is never a need to add acid. The acid dissapates when it sulfates the lead plates, which is when your batteries dont hold a charge.
Remember, ALWAYS DISTILLED water. It's not worth ruining a $60 battery for a $0.60 gallon of water that will maintain at least 5 battries for their life.

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Allan In NE

10-16-2006 08:47:24




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 Re: adding water to battery in reply to JayWalt, 10-16-2006 08:42:05  
Jay,

Yer gonna get cross-eyed reading all those manuals late into the night like that. :>)

Allan



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Allan In NE

10-16-2006 08:08:04




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 Re: adding water to battery in reply to LA in Wi., 10-16-2006 08:01:10  
By the time a guy would see any benefits of using distilled water, think one would be all growed up and haired over. :>)

'Nother one of those "Don't remove the label from the matress" things. :>)

Allan



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brainerd dave

10-16-2006 08:07:22




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 Re: adding water to battery in reply to LA in Wi., 10-16-2006 08:01:10  
Stick with the distilled. Well water typically has mineral content which will shorten the life of your battery.



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Bob

10-16-2006 08:04:22




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 Re: adding water to battery in reply to LA in Wi., 10-16-2006 08:01:10  
A gallon of distilled water is about 65 cents at WaldoWorld, so it's not a BIG expense to use the right stuff!



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RustyFarmall

10-16-2006 08:06:17




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 Re: adding water to battery in reply to Bob, 10-16-2006 08:04:22  
Distilled water is always the best for any battery. More of us should use it.



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Janicholson

10-16-2006 10:26:45




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 Re: adding water to battery in reply to RustyFarmall, 10-16-2006 08:06:17  
My well in MT had 3700ppm disolved solids That is an issue. If you can taste the water it is probably best to use distilled. JimN



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