Battery care--distilled water

[Grumpy]

I have always used distilled water when servicing my batteries. My question is: is there such a thing as distilled water getting too old to use?

I use a Dual Pro on-board battery charger, which I keep hooked up when ever the boat is at home. I check and usually add water to my batteries at least once a month in the warm months and every other month or so from October to March. At the rate I am using it, a gallon of distilled water lasts well more than a year and I am wondering if I should get new distilled water or keep using the stuff til it all gone. I know its not a lot of money (especially compared so some of the other things I spend money on) but I hate to throw something away that is still usable.

Thanks for any input.

Grumpy

[artcarney_agr]

Take you a drink and see....if it tastes moldy, throw it out! I wouldn't think it would make all that big of a deal......

Why does it have to be distilled? I know it's recommended, but I've just used good ol' tap water for years in batteries that have lasted 5+ years.

[RoadToad]

The only reason you need to use distilled water in the first place is because tap water contains trace amounts of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, etc.). Distilled water itself is virtually a non-conductor. As long as the water isn't sitting in contact with metal pipes or some place else where the impurities removed through distillation can get back into it, it should be fine.

[Danny]

Hey D-i-c-k, (it edits out your name otherwise...LOL)

About the only way the water could go bad is if some bacteria got into the jug and you kept it in a warm dark place where it would grow. I doubt though that you have a real problem.

My biggest concern is why your batteries are boiling off so much water? I recharge my boat when I get home, I then unplug them, and then top them off the night before I go out. In two years I have used no water in my batteries, and I do check them on a regular basis.

As the one poster mentioned, the purity of the distilled water is why use it. Just think of what is left in a pan or a tea kettle if you boil it dry. You normally will see a deposit of white substances which were held in suspension in the water.

Good luck,

Danny

[ljbass]

I would just use rain water. It evaporates into the sky and comes down distilled. Thats why old people caught it in rain barrels. One use was to put in the clothes iron so it did not collect all the mineral despostis and ruin the iron.
Have used it in batteries form 35 years with no trouble.

ljbass

I have always used distilled water when servicing my batteries. My question is: is there such a thing as distilled water getting too old to use?

I use a Dual Pro on-board battery charger, which I keep hooked up when ever the boat is at home. I check and usually add water to my batteries at least once a month in the warm months and every other month or so from October to March. At the rate I am using it, a gallon of distilled water lasts well more than a year and I am wondering if I should get new distilled water or keep using the stuff til it all gone. I know its not a lot of money (especially compared so some of the other things I spend money on) but I hate to throw something away that is still usable.

Thanks for any input.

Grumpy

[peter]

Are you serious 5 years on a deep cycle? I am a two year guy. Never charge when get back from lake only day before I go. Guess that is bad. Maybe those t bank on board chargers help out to.

Save me some money and educate me.

I was told by an old guy that knows just about everything that 2 years is about it on a trolling motor battery so i figured my casual approach was OK.

Same me some dollars with some advice.

[fishcatcher]

I also have had my trolling batteries last 5 years. I put them on charge with my 2 bank on board charger and usually with in 24 hours I unplug them. I tried to leave the charger on all of the time but the water level was low after a month of this and I was thinking it would fry my batteries. Just my 2 cents worth.

Nick

[bevo]

Are you serious 5 years on a deep cycle? I am a two year guy. Never charge when get back from lake only day before I go. Guess that is bad. Maybe those t bank on board chargers help out to.

Save me some money and educate me.

I was told by an old guy that knows just about everything that 2 years is about it on a trolling motor battery so i figured my casual approach was OK.

Same me some dollars with some advice.

You need to recharge the battery as soon as possible after a discharge. This will help prolong the life of the battery. Also, as mentioned earlier check the water levels. Put some of the Minn Kota Battery Equaliser fluid in for good measure.

[sglass]

My batteries only last around 2 years as well but I buy them from wall-mart. They have a three year warranty on them and I just take them back and get a new one. Very good battery but I normally fish them around two to three times a week for six to ten hours at a time.

[Grumpy]

Peter, for everything you ever wanted to know about batteries, go to:

http://www.marine-electronics.net/te..._faq/b_faq.htm

especially, see number 7 "How do I increase the life of my battery?"

Grumpy