Battery water?

[LBD]

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

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]

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!

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

[p.dath]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

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]

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....

[jono035]

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]

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!

[ready4whatever]

i get the rainwater out of the rain gauge

[jonbuoy]

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]

Maybe cowboy mechanics do.

Tell that to Unitec.

[Madmax]

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

have you got something against rain?
it still better for a battery than tap water

[jonbuoy]

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.