adding water to batteries

DoorKicker

I have all new batteries that are only two weeks old so I haven't had to fill them yet, but I want to be prepared for when I do.

I have 8 6v batteries in my cart for a 48V system. If I wanted to have enough distilled water on hand to top them all off, how much should I get?

And where is the best place to get distilled water from?

Any secrets to adding water?

Thanks again. Still learning, not contributing much besides maybe pictures...

BGW

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Great white north

Just add water to approx. 1/4 inch above the plates ... But wait till batts are fully charged before adding water to batts ,,, being you have new batts . Should not have too add water for quite awhile if you get a good charger like a DPI one

DoorKicker

I have a Quick Charge onboard charger 4815

http://www.batterychargerdepot.com/Q...ardonboard.htm

I hope it is a good one...

yurtle

I buy a gallon at the local grocery store. Probably lasts a year, but I don't really track it. Read the label to be sure it's distilled.

scottyb

I fill regular 16oz plastic water bottle with distilled water and poke a hole in the cap with a carpenters scratch awl or 16 penny nail will do. Then I use this smaller bottle as a squirt bottle to fill the batts. 16oz is usually enough for the average cart.

tag50

Mustard squirter from Dollar Tree.


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JohnnieB

Yep, that is a good one.
Quick Charge for On-Board
DPI for Portable

remac

Check your batteries before charging to make sure none of the plates are exposed.
If they are then add just enough water to cover the exposed plates.
Then after you are done charging check the water level and bring up to recommended.
Over time you will get a feel for how much water the batteries use
and how often and how much you will need to add to each battery or cell.

DaveTM

I buy distilled water at the grocery store. Usually a gallon and it last longer than a year. I brush my teeth and rinse with the distilled water....then spit it into the battery hole. I'm pretty darn good at 40 feet. This will soon be an Olympic event....so you may want to start practicing. Use baking soda for toothpaste and you can kill two birds with one stone.


Ok.....now the first two sentences were true. Anything after that was just the medication speaking.

JohnnieB

There have been several mentions of only filling battery when it is fully charged, unless the plates are expose and then only enough to cover the plates before charging.

The reason for not filling or partially discharged battery is because the electrolyte grows in volume as the battery is charged. In addition, the battery warms up while charging, which also increases the volume of the electrolyte.

If a battery is overfilled, some of the electrolyte overflows and the net result is that the battery's storage capacity is eventually reduced. I say eventually because battery manufacturers tend to design cells that hold slightly more electrolyte than is actually needed to meet the storage capacity rating, but the fudge factor isn't much.