Re: Battery water?

Posted by jdemaris on August 31, 2007 at 13:51:01 from (66.218.12.55):

In Reply to: Battery water? posted by 6U684 on August 30, 2007 at 18:13:59:

I suspect in some situations, using non-distilled water does shorten battery life. Screws up steam-irons too (if anyone uses them anymore). When it comes to batteries in cars and tractors though, I doubt it matters much. Their use, and charge-rate does not cause much water use. In other uses though, batteries can normally use a lot of water when all is right. A solar-electric system, for example. Mine has a battery bank with a price tag of over $3000. They are all true deep-cycle, 6 volt batteries of conventional flooded/liquid acid design (Rolls/Surette). Come with a 10 year warranty but usually last 15 years if mineral-free water is used. Keep in mind, that large battery banks with high price-tags usually have a high-tech charger with an "equalization" charge-function that is supposed to be used every few months to make the batteries last longer by overvolting. This process churns up the electrolyte and boils off water. If they were constantly refilled with a water loaded with the wrong minerals - it would shorten the life of the batteries.
In regard to reverse osmosis - it does not remove as much as a true distillation process - but not all RO setups are the same. I use RO on making maple sugar and it uses drinking-water membranes. I've had the water analyzed after RO and many minerals are still present. There are many databases on the Net showning lab tests of various brands and types of water - some sold as spring water, some as RO, and some as distilled.
I contacted "Poland Spring" water company, owned by Nestle to find out about the distilled water they sell in my local store for $1.79 per gallon. They claim it is indeed, distilled by the conventional heat and condensation process as well as being carbon filtered.
I suspect some people have well or spring water that has low mineral content. But, not here in NY where I live. We've got some areas here that have won contests for the best tasting water in the country - and I suppose that taste is caused by the resident minerals.

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