Battery Question

[kevfish]

After you have to add water to a deep cycle battery does it lose any of its reserve capacity or cranking amps. I had to add water to my starting battery today- I also run the livewells and depth finders off this battery???

[justin]

Im no bat expert but this is what I understand, when you buy a dry batery you add acid and water, the acid starts a chemicial reaction in the lead plates and once that starts all cells need to be wet. over time the water in the cells will evaporate and does need to be replaced but I have been told not to use tap water or mineral water, instead use distiller water. As far as amp and power loss adding water will maintain your batteries but letting them go dry will decreass the life and power of them but remember i am no expert.

[Ufatz]

All batteries will deteriorate over time-fact of life. It really DOES help to keep them wet. If you can, try to get yourself set up to run your electronics off a deep cell and use another starting battery for the big engine. There IS a difference in the batteries. But eventually you will have to replace them all.

[BIG DS]

Keeping water in the batteries does help. Make sure you use only distilled water though. Any other water will dramatically shorten the battery life.

[musky hunter]

The battery must lose acid, that's what causes the corrosion on the terminals, etc. I just cleaned a whole bunch of white crystaline stuff out of the bottom of the aluminum battery compartment. It reacted well with baking soda and washed away neutralized. Then I topped off the battery with distilled water. But I agree with the earlier post that adding acid would be good, but I know of no outlet to purchase sulfuric acid over the counter. If any one knows where or how to purchase battery acid in small quantities, please let us know.

[BIG DS]

Adding acid would help if you knew the proper amount to put in. Adding distilled water to the battery should be enough. According to the battery maufactures, you don't actually lose the acid, you are just evaporating the water. The corrosion on a battery post is caused by the reaction of the lead post, oxygen, and electricity. If the battery is leaking, it will be wet. If that is the case,

replace the battery and if the store you buy the battery from doesn't take the old one make sure it is disposed of properly by a qualified recycler.

[New Yankee]

I agree w/big d - the reason you use distilled water is that it is free of minerals and chemicals. The acid starts the reaction between the lead or lead alloy plates in the batteries, they wear out after the plates become covered in corosion, a natural by product of the chemical reaction. That is why over time the battery loses its steam quicker and quicker. The minerals in tap water simply accelerate the process. When two plates are coroded enough to 'meet' they create a dead short and you'll see dead cells. Same reason you don't want batteries to freeze.

[Macgyver55]

Never add acid once a battery is in service and previously charged! Add distilled water only . When electrolyte is lost under normal use, the water evaporates while the acid remains in the battery. Adding acid will, therefore, alter the chemical composition of the electrolyte and cause the battery to fail more quickly. The only time electrolyte should be added is after accidental spillage.