Battery water use debate

[chuck hahn]

Ive heard that the reason they say to use distilled water is that regular tap water has chlorine, which kills the elctrolytes. Are there any other reasons? If you took tap watr and let it sit to "gas off" the chlorine is it considered safe?

[Crankthat]

Dont know the technical terms. But they say to use distilled water not only because of chlorine but minerals and any other stuff in tap water will stick to everything in battery causing it to not charge right. When battery is charging they cook onto battery parts like stuff on a hot water element when you pull it out. It just takes less time on heater element.
Ever look in old car radiator and see calcium deposits on inside all built up(the white stuff)? Its the same thing. If they had used distilled water it wouldnt be there because those minerals are not in it.
Bought a glass packed battery at local auto store and put on bike without charging first, bike started right up its supposto last alot longer then regular battery and hold its charge during long terms of storage.
Just bought this spring so dont know how long battery is good for. And i will usually ride some in the winter so wont be able to tell you about storage.
If it holds up like the salesman at store says (hes got one on boat) the extra $20 bucks spent was worth it.

[koolaid_kid]

Chuck, it is the minerals that harm the battery. Never, NEVER, use plain tap water. It will kill the battery. Distilled water tastes horrible because of this lack of extra crud in the liquid, but makes it safe for battery plates.

[mriddle]

Synthetic water is even better

[Steve]

Synthetic water is even better

I even carry a pack of powdered water, just in case I need some more.

.

[Gibbelstein]

Chemically, the battery manufacturers only accounted for Hydrogen and Oxygen (in a 2:1 ratio if I paid close enough attention in HS chemistry) and a PH of 7. And anything else that is in there, chlorine, calcium, twigs, amoeba, hopes, dreams, whatever, gets in the way of the chemical process working at it's full potential for as long as possible. And distilled water should ONLY be H2O.

Because chlorine isn't the only problem, it might be possible to distill your own if you were to boil the water, catch and condense the steam in an super clean container, keep impurities out during transport, and use the result. But I think it is much easier to drop the $0.97 on a gallon of it at the grocery store.

[Killer2600]

Synthetic water is even better

Yeah but it doesn't taste like real water, besides I think access to a starfleet replicator is hard to come by.

I even carry a pack of powdered water, just in case I need some more.

.

Yeah just add water

Chemically, the battery manufacturers only accounted for Hydrogen and Oxygen (in a 2:1 ratio if I paid close enough attention in HS chemistry) and a PH of 7. And anything else that is in there, chlorine, calcium, twigs, amoeba, hopes, dreams, whatever, gets in the way of the chemical process working at it's full potential for as long as possible. And distilled water should ONLY be H2O.

Because chlorine isn't the only problem, it might be possible to distill your own if you were to boil the water, catch and condense the steam in an super clean container, keep impurities out during transport, and use the result. But I think it is much easier to drop the $0.97 on a gallon of it at the grocery store.

Indeed, distilled is cheap to come by...but who uses batteries that require maintenance these days

[chuck hahn]

ALL my batteries require maintenance..Guess im not as ghetto rich as the rest of you guys.

[bomber737]

AGM (Advanced Glass Matt) maintenance free battery on eBay for 38.95. Works great, lasts long time. Battery maint is for over achievers, ill just be lazy

[Big T]

ALL my batteries require maintenance..Guess im not as ghetto rich as the rest of you guys.

Chuck

A gallon of distilled water will cost less than $2 and last you for years

[Matchless]

You can also use deionized water.
We had large battery installations and only used deionized water where the batteries lasted nearly 20 years!
I found a lot of "battery water" sold as "distilled water" with a high ppm count which should be low for distilled water.
Deionized water will have a very low conductivity, but could have a high ppm. Distilled water again will have both low ppm and low conductivity.

[cableguy]

Chemically, the battery manufacturers only accounted for Hydrogen and Oxygen (in a 2:1 ratio if I paid close enough attention in HS chemistry) and a PH of 7. And anything else that is in there, chlorine, calcium, twigs, amoeba, hopes, dreams, whatever, gets in the way of the chemical process working at it's full potential for as long as possible. And distilled water should ONLY be H2O.

Because chlorine isn't the only problem, it might be possible to distill your own if you were to boil the water, catch and condense the steam in an super clean container, keep impurities out during transport, and use the result. But I think it is much easier to drop the $0.97 on a gallon of it at the grocery store.

What he said

Plus, softened water would leave salt deposits over time, and hard water would would leave mineral deposits over time, which I guess could short the plates, but it seems like moto batteries get replaced at intervals where just normal use would wear them out before that would happen.

Powdered water is NOT recommended, at least not before adding water.