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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Adding acid or water to battery

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Tom

03-22-2004 18:39:39




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I need to add some water to my batterys. They are weak and low on water,what would be best to put in them battery acid or distilled water? I read somewhere that you could take a old battery and flush out the old acid and put new battery acid in it and it would charge up again anyone ever tried this? Thanks




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RAB

03-22-2004 22:43:37




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 Re: Adding acid or water to battery in reply to Tom, 03-22-2004 18:39:39  
The modern battery has enough acid in when new. Unles some has leaked out during it's life you should not need to add any more. The acid gets trapped in the battery as lead sulphate on the plates, which will not be converted during attempted charging, so any new acid is almost always a waste of time anyway, as the plates are already sulphated and much reduced in charge capacity. Batteries normaally only lose water by evaporation or electrolysis (as hydrogen and oxygen) by overcharging, or charging a worn out battery for long periods.
Regards,RAB

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Ben in KY

03-23-2004 01:15:32




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 Re: Re: Adding acid or water to battery in reply to RAB, 03-22-2004 22:43:37  
That is what I thought too, however my friend has been keeping batteries going longer than I thought possible by adding acid... so now I am not so sure...



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buickanddeere

03-23-2004 07:05:22




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 Re: Re: Re: Adding acid or water to battery in reply to Ben in KY, 03-23-2004 01:15:32  
Adding acid does work IF the battery was filled to the proper height when new, the acid was mixed too weak when new or if some has been spilled out. Otherwise add only distilled water while wearing safety glasses and wearing gloves.



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Ben in KY

03-22-2004 22:34:23




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 Re: Adding acid or water to battery in reply to Tom, 03-22-2004 18:39:39  
I have a friend who has just added straight battery acid to his tractor batteries for years with good results. I have not tried it yet as I just found out he had been doing it.



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Ray,IN

03-22-2004 19:18:12




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 Re: Adding acid or water to battery in reply to Tom, 03-22-2004 18:39:39  
Flushing out the old acid presents a problem- what do you do with the solution? It is poisionous to most all animals if they lick it up. Some 13 years ago a close friend sat an old battery out beside his barn, it froze and burst. Four fattened steers in that corral licked up the acid solution(it tastes sweet), and they all died. It's highly corrosive as you know, and will burn flesh, as well as the fumes burning lungs and eyes. Add deionized water as nearly all battery mfgrs do. Well, this website will explain battery maintence much better than I.

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John S-B

03-22-2004 19:08:20




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 Re: Adding acid or water to battery in reply to Tom, 03-22-2004 18:39:39  
I used distilled when it was handy, but usually just clean tap water. Clean off the battery good first so no crud gets in. Then add water and charge the battery and use a tester to check the specific gravity in each cell. If one of your cells is too far off from the others its dead and you need to replace the battery. The best thing of course is to keep an eye on your water level so the battery lasts longer. You might as well clean your terminals and cables at both ends while you're at it.

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