Battery water? [Archive] - Kiwi Biker forums

CookMySock

25th July 2009, 12:27

Water from a domestic underbench filter is quite suitable since it is deionizedUhh, I would be very surprised if it was deionized.

Every battery I have put plain tap water in, died very shortly afterwards.

Steve

slofox

25th July 2009, 12:50

Uhh, I would be very surprised if it was deionized.

Mine is definitely deionized...according to the book anyway. Goes through ion exchange resins in the filter body...

JMemonic

25th July 2009, 12:53

Going against the trend or popular opinion, perhaps?

Doh, yeah possibly against the trend, they actually have some useful products :)

crazyhorse

25th July 2009, 13:05

I've tried a couple of chemists for distilled water but no luck.

Anyone know where you can get it.

Skyryder

Didn't think it would take a scientist to know this one, but I've always been taught that you use boiled water out of the jug - no not hot, but cooled down. :shit:

MarkH

25th July 2009, 13:45

Didn't think it would take a scientist to know this one, but I've always been taught that you use boiled water out of the jug - no not hot, but cooled down. :shit:

No, that isn't distilled - the steam that left the jug, if you collected that and condensed it, that is what distilled water is.

Boiled water is actually HIGHER in lead/iron/mercury/etc than the water straight out of a tap. Boiled water will have less live bacteria though, which can be safer to drink but does nothing for a battery.

one fast tl1ooo

25th July 2009, 13:45

I just use water from the old battery,

Madmax

25th July 2009, 13:52

good old rain water

YellowDog

25th July 2009, 14:01

I would say:

'Don't use tap water because it will screw up your battery.

But from what has been said in here, I guess it depends upon where you are in the country which may well affect the quality of the water.

IMO - It really isn't worth the risk that you might damage your battery beyond repair; for the sake of buying something so cheap.

wickle

25th July 2009, 14:11

Saw bottles of it at Repco Thursday by batteries

Skyryder

25th July 2009, 14:13

Many thanks all.

Skyryder

Sam I Am

25th July 2009, 14:54

super market it's used in steam iron

fliplid

26th July 2009, 10:19

The water from the tap round here aint good for drinking let alone chucking in your battery!:sick:

Laxi

26th July 2009, 10:24

my old man always has bottles of tap water that he keeps in a cuboard in the garrage (got an emergancy kit?:Police:) hes done that for 40 odd years without a problem

Max Preload

26th July 2009, 12:49

Forget distilled & de-ionised - demineralised is what you want. Some people think dehumidifier water is ok but it's the filthiest crap you can imagine.

BMWST?

26th July 2009, 12:52

in welly i have always used tap water....get very good life out of my batteries.The trick is to keep the fluid level up to the max

shafty

26th July 2009, 14:19

good old rain water

You've got it Right Madmax - rainwater - leave a bucket out!

Soul.Trader

26th July 2009, 14:26

Rainwater is filthy. It picks up a lot of crap on its way down.

peasea

26th July 2009, 15:05

I've seen so many auto-sparkies pour ordinary tap water into batteries it isn't funny. I've always used tap water and if your battery dies shortly afterward.....I'll bet you a pound to a knob of goat's shit it was fucked anyway.

If your battery is boiling off water check your charge rate, it might be too high.

KiwiRat

27th July 2009, 09:42

Forget distilled & de-ionised - demineralised is what you want. Some people think dehumidifier water is ok but it's the filthiest crap you can imagine.

Demineralised and de-ionised water is the same thing. The ion exchange process removes the offending minerals.

SMOKEU

27th July 2009, 12:25

It depends where you get your tap water from. Christchurch tap water is great so it doesn't harm batteries, can't say the same about other towns/cities though.

vifferman

27th July 2009, 12:41

I buy 10L containers of distilled water from the supermarket for under $10. Use it in the steam iron, batteries, radiators, etc.
My last few bikes have semi-sealed batteries, so don't need topping up, but the VF500 had a battery that I only ever used distilled water in, and it was still good when I sold the bike after nearly 6 years of use.

MarkH

27th July 2009, 17:01

Forget distilled & de-ionised - demineralised is what you want.

I find it hard to imagine that there would be any problem with using distilled water - that stuff should be pure enough for the purpose. I kinda think that distilled, de-ionised or demineralised water is all good and much better than tap water unless you know the tap water where you live is fine.

A friend used to live on a farm and had bore water - that shit was full of iron and definitely a no-no for topping up the battery.

sil3nt

27th July 2009, 17:20

I got hold of NDORFN's old battery and a few of the cells were below the low level mark. I purchased some battery water from repco to top it up but i was too lazy to actually do it and the battery has done several hundred k's in the bike just fine. Today i thought i better top it up so i pull the battery out and all the cells are right where they should be :crazy: Any reason for this?

ManDownUnder

27th July 2009, 17:27

good old rain water

Dat's the one!!!!!!!!!!

doc

27th July 2009, 17:32

I've tried a couple of chemists for distilled water but no luck.

Anyone know where you can get it.

Skyryder

Get with the programme ,modern bikers use gel batteries. :blink: Water got too expensive

MarkH

27th July 2009, 18:21

Get with the programme ,modern bikers use gel batteries. :blink: Water got too expensive

Mine is sealed - no topping it up. In fact Suzuki mount it upside down I believe (haven't yet taken a look) so I am doubly glad it is sealed.

1wheel riot

31st July 2009, 22:07

you get a pot of water get it boiling and put a big lid or sumthing over it on a angle and a bowl under the low end of the lid so the steam gose up from the pot hits the lid runs down the lid and drips in to the bowl and the water thats in the bowl will be pure water. or just put a bowl out side and cach some rain water thats pure to.

LBD

31st July 2009, 23:09

You've got it Right Madmax - rainwater - leave a bucket out!

In a plastic bucket

Rainwater is filthy. It picks up a lot of crap on its way down.

Only near Auckland, Wellington or Chch

Macros

1st August 2009, 13:00

New Zealand tap water is perfectly fine. It's what you're mechanic has been putting in. Special water is only really used in other countries with average tap water.

Max Preload

1st August 2009, 13:19

New Zealand tap water is perfectly fine. It's what you're mechanic has been putting in. Special water is only really used in other countries with average tap water.

As long as you ignore mind the calcium, sulphate, chloride, fluoride, magnesium, potassium, sodium and any number of other trace contaminants which batteries don't react well to, that is. That which we biological carbon-based lifeforms can tolerate is not the same for everything - try your cellphone in a glass of tap water and see how well that works after.

you get a pot of water get it boiling and put a big lid or sumthing over it on a angle and a bowl under the low end of the lid so the steam gose up from the pot hits the lid runs down the lid and drips in to the bowl and the water thats in the bowl will be pure water

Once again, distilled water is not necessarily clean.

... or just put a bowl outside and catch some rain water thats pure too.

Only near Auckland, Wellington or Chch

Do you really think the airborne particulates collected by falling rainwater, from clouds, which themselves often seed from dust particles, is concentrated only around the major cities?

LBD

1st August 2009, 15:08

Do you really think the airborne particulates collected by falling rainwater, from clouds, which themselves often seed from dust particles, is concentrated only around the major cities?

Guess your comic cynism meter was turned off when you read that huh?

Max Preload

1st August 2009, 15:28

Guess your comic cynism meter was turned off when you read that huh?

Might have been. I am at my place of work on a f'n SATURDAY! :angry2:

JMemonic

1st August 2009, 15:29

It depends where you get your tap water from. Christchurch tap water is great so it doesn't harm batteries, can't say the same about other towns/cities though.

Apart from the fact it carries a huge amount of calcium, hence the crap that builds up in the bottom of the jug http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Water/HowWeGetOurWater/ChemicalAnalysis.asp

LBD

2nd August 2009, 01:25

Might have been. I am at my place of work on a f'n SATURDAY! :angry2:

Overtime $$$$$in these times of economic uncertainty?????:niceone:

Max Preload

2nd August 2009, 02:05

Overtime $$$$$in these times of economic uncertainty?????:niceone:

No such thing as O/T for me. I'm just an lowly contractor with too much work. I am however paid by the hour, at my exhorbitant rate. :wari: :shifty:

Motig

2nd August 2009, 09:52

Better some sort of water than none at all I would think. Personally I've always used the jug water with no problems.

sondela

2nd August 2009, 10:31

- try your cellphone in a glass of tap water and see how well that works after.

Once again, distilled water is not necessarily clean.

Ok so I give up..how do you get clean enough water for cell phones to work in then? :confused:

Max Preload

2nd August 2009, 10:33

Ok so I give up..how do you get clean enough water for cell phones to work in then? :confused:

It's not about the water... it's about the shit in the water. Cellphones don't like water as batteries don't like contamination in the electrolyte.

LBD

8th August 2009, 00:50

Ok so I give up..how do you get clean enough water for cell phones to work in then? :confused:

That reminds me, a few years back .....quite a few years back when cell phones were just new on the scene...a work associate had bought a new one.

Stepping from wharf to boat in Port Douglas it slipped out of his pocket and splash....less than a day old it was.

Down to his jocks and in he went. 3rd time up for air I asked what his number was so I could dial it and he could home in on the tone. He almost finished giving me the number when he realised I was having a lend of him.

AllanB

8th August 2009, 08:39

It's good stuff that comes out of our taps in Christchurch - only ever used it and batteries last ages. It's also what local workshops use here.

But I personally prefer to fill it up with a can of sugar-free V - I find this really gives the electrics a buzz! :shutup:

Writer disclaimer: come on if you are considering using V, please give up motorcycling for the rest of our sakes.

p.dath

8th August 2009, 09:52

If you want distilled water why not try ringing a battery manufacturer. I bet they sell bottles of it - especially ready to go in batteries.

Pixie

8th August 2009, 09:57

Water from a domestic underbench filter is quite suitable since it is deionized, which is what it is all about...

I didn't know underbench filters used reverse osmosis/ ion exchange resin canisters and pressure pumps?

Sounds sophisticated to me,or maybe crap

pete376403

8th August 2009, 20:28

Bought a 5 litre container of deionised batttery water today from Supercheap - $3.99 IIRC. They also have larger and smaller containers available. Find it in the shelves where the batteries and accesories are stocked.

(Imported from Aus, too!)

Macros

9th August 2009, 08:21

As long as you ignore mind the calcium, sulphate, chloride, fluoride, magnesium, potassium, sodium and any number of other trace contaminants which batteries don't react well to, that is. That which we biological carbon-based lifeforms can tolerate is not the same for everything - try your cellphone in a glass of tap water and see how well that works after.

Regardless... Mechanics use tap water. I'm a mechanic, I have friends who are mechanics and they all do what has been done for years. If a battery needs a top up, its done with tap water.

jono035

9th August 2009, 10:59

Regardless... Mechanics use tap water. I'm a mechanic, I have friends who are mechanics and they all do what has been done for years. If a battery needs a top up, its done with tap water.

Exactly why I don't trust the majority of mechanics as far as I could throw em :p

Although it depends on the state of the battery and vehicle really. If it's an old dunger or a battery that's a few years old then sure, tap water, why bother. If it is a brand new $200 battery then I'd probably lean towards spending a couple of bucks for a jug of distilled water...

I doubt tap water will make the battery completely turn up its toes within a short span of time but it will definitely affect its ability to charge/discharge efficiently and probably increase the resistance of the cells which can very easily be the difference between a easy starting or lots of swearing as the battery ages or something gets left on.

jellywrestler

9th August 2009, 11:02

jono035

9th August 2009, 11:06

Good old kiwi biker for chasing things around in circles. 14 posts before someone mentioned rain water, its as simple as that although i'm in the hutt valley so its plentiful here...
failing that what about someone with a dehumidifier, thats distilled....

Well rain water in NZ should be a pretty good bet, does require a little bit of forward planning however... Not 100% sure I'd go with the dehumidifier though, although it would probably be better than tap water by a long shot.

Max Preload

9th August 2009, 12:32

Good old kiwi biker for chasing things around in circles. 14 posts before someone mentioned rain water, its as simple as that although i'm in the hutt valley so its plentiful here...
failing that what about someone with a dehumidifier, thats distilled....

This just in! Rain and dehumidifier water is STILL not good for battery electrolyte! :brick:

ready4whatever

10th August 2009, 11:42

i get the rainwater out of the rain gauge

jonbuoy

10th August 2009, 18:07

Regardless... Mechanics use tap water. I'm a mechanic, I have friends who are mechanics and they all do what has been done for years. If a battery needs a top up, its done with tap water.

Maybe cowboy mechanics do. That way you can shorten the lifespan and flog a new battery sooner. Unproffesional for a garage and a "mechanic" to be doing that, OK in an emergency.

Macros

10th August 2009, 23:31

Maybe cowboy mechanics do.

Tell that to Unitec.

Madmax

11th August 2009, 00:01

This just in! Rain and dehumidifier water is STILL not good for battery electrolyte! :brick:
have you got something against rain?
it still better for a battery than tap water
:confused:

jonbuoy

11th August 2009, 01:29

Tell that to Unitec.

Shocking that Unitec would teach that to apprentices. Distilled water isn't hard to find or even expensive, I saw 2 litre drums at Pack and Save. Its just poor practice and ethically dodgy, your charging a decent hourly rate & people expect you to do a decent job. Not having a pop at you personally if thats what you were taught. I'd be shot for putting tap water in emergency battery/engine start banks.

jono035

11th August 2009, 06:33

Shocking that Unitec would teach that to apprentices. Distilled water isn't hard to find or even expensive, I saw 2 litre drums at Pack and Save. Its just poor practice and ethically dodgy, your charging a decent hourly rate & people expect you to do a decent job. Not having a pop at you personally if thats what you were taught. I'd be shot for putting tap water in emergency battery/engine start banks.

Yeah, don't believe everything you're taught. Teachers can be and are often wrong.

And just because you can't see the effects immediately, that doesn't mean they aren't there or don't develop over time/cycles.

If it's your battery, go nuts. If you're being paid to (and trusted to) fix someone elses car, anything short of 100% is a cop-out.