APR 15, 2022 Pageview:1092
A battery is one of the most important parts of your motor vehicle. If it is not there, the vehicle cannot start and when it is faulty, you could also be in trouble because it can fail you anywhere and expose you to trouble. A car battery’s most important job is to store charge, which makes the starter ignite the car and hence make it start. It is therefore important to ensure that your car battery is in good health at all times so that you can have the guarantee that no matter where you are your car will always start without problems.
The care of your car battery starts with ensuring that there is enough battery water for the battery. Car batteries use distilled water because it is free of impurities and therefore suitable for use in the car battery. If there is no liquid in your battery, then the battery cannot work. Battery water helps keep the battery healthy because it shields the lead plates from the oxygen and hydrogen gas in the battery. Without water in the battery, the battery will get destroyed because of the reaction between lead and oxygen as well as hydrogen. If there is little battery water in the battery, the Battery will have some ability to start the car, but its ability to store charge will be limited. It is therefore important to ensure that there is enough battery water in your battery so that it can hold the right amount o charge it was designed for.
No Distilled Water in Car Battery
Batteries use both water and acid to function correctly and store charge as required. With time, however, the battery can drain its water and expose the lead plates to the reaction between oxygen and hydrogen gases in the battery which could affect the battery and reduce its longevity. To avoid such from happening, it is necessary to check the condition of your battery from time to time so that your battery will be in perfect working condition at all times.
With time, water in the battery runs low due to evaporation and your battery is left with a higher percentage of acid compared to water. When that happens, you must add distilled water in your battery to the level marked by the manufacturer. Only distilled and not tap water, should be added to the battery. Distilled water is deionized and free of impurities so it is safe to be sued in the eatery because it will not react with the lead plates. Tap water on the hand should be avoided because it contains impurities that can react with the lead plates and therefore compromise the health of your car battery.
If there is distilled water in your car battery, the battery cannot work properly because it will not store charge. Therefore, you will be required to add it so that the ratio of battery acid to distilled water will be within the right proportions so that your battery can function as required. Normally, unless there is a spillage, your battery will run low on distilled water and not sulphuric battery acid. The distilled water is lost with time due to evaporation and therefore you shouldn't check the level of distilled water in your car battery whenever you take your vehicle for service.
Low Water in Car Battery Systems?
Low water levels in car battery systems will cause imbalance in the battery electrolyte which will result to sulphation of the battery plates because of the high acid to water ratio. Asa result, there will be a reaction and the resulting lead sulphate crystals will prevent the flow of current through the battery electrolyte, therefore, limiting its functionality. The formation of lead sulphate crystals for a long time will eventually destroy your battery electrolyte. It is therefore important to keep your battery with the required water levels so that the lead plates can always be shielded. Low water in car battery systems is one of the main contributing factors to reduced car battery life.
Low water in a car battery happens when you fail to refill your battery with distilled water when the low electrolyte level is reached. With every battery charge, the battery water level will keep dropping until the lead plates will be exposed to the oxygen and hydrogen gas present in the battery and that will result in sulphation. Sulphation is dangerous to your battery because it wears out the lead plates and prevents the flow of charge. To avoid sulphation, always keep your battery water levels optimum. You shouldn’t be worried about the time it takes for the battery water to go low, which means that ideally, you should check for reduced battery water levels when you service your vehicle.
Some batteries have an indicator that tells you the level of water in the battery. This indicator will glow green when the water level is as required and the battery is fully charged. When the battery needs fluid or is discharged, the indicator will darken. If on the hand the indicator turns yellow, then the battery water is either running low or the battery is defective.
How much water does a car battery hold?
Whenever you add battery water to your battery, it is necessary to ensure that the water level is above the plates. Battery water shields the leads plates and protects them from sulphation hence ensuring that the electrons flow within the battery as required. When you are adding battery water ensure that it is distilled and not tap water.
The battery water level should always be at either ? or ? of an inch above the lead plates. That is the range that is considered optimum and at that level, your battery will be safe sulphation and it will store charge as required. The reason only distilled water is recommended for use in car battery systems is that tap water contains minerals that react with the battery components and diminish the functionality of the battery. Also, the minerals in tap water increase the rate at which the batteries discharge.
Conclusion
Batteries need distilled water for them to function correctly and deliver charge as required. Battery water, as well as acid, are the liquid components of a lead-acid battery. With time and constant charging, the levels of battery water get low and with time they may get too low and eventually get below the lead plate levels. At such times the battery’s health is compromised because of the resulting sulphation.
To avoid sulphation and poor battery functioning, it is recommended that you check your battery water levels from time to time, especially when you take your car for service. That way, you will be well updated on the levels of battery water in your car battery, and whenever additions are needed you do as required. Please note that only distilled water should be used in car batteries and not tap water. Tap water contains minerals that compromise the functioning and eventually the overall functioning of your car battery.
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