can you even add water to new batteries in this day in age?
2007-09-07 05:29:23 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
If you look in the fill hole you will see what they call plates they should be covered the level should be about 3/4 to 1 in below the fill hole but not right to the top. Distilled water is preferred because minerals deteriorate the battery.
2007-09-07 09:04:57 · answer #1 · answered by petethen2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A battery with the plates exposed because of low electrolyte levels will not explode. Charging a battery and having a cat knock the wire off the post will cause a spark that ignites the hydrogen gas causing the battery to explode and spew battery acid all over your mom's car and refrigerator leaving spotted car paint and paint eaten completely off the refirgerator. Moral of the story is that cats and batteries don't mix.
As mentioned, the electrolyte level needs to be kept high enough to keep the plates submerged. If they are exposed for a length of time, the lead on the plates dries out, sloughs off and falls to the bottom of the battery. When the level of residue gets high enough to touch both negative and positive plates, it shorts out and reduces the energy output of the battery.
Many so called maintenance free batteries can have water added to them. They usually have a big plastic sticker pasted on the top of the battery and if you remove it, you'll find plastic caps below that can be removed to add water.
2007-09-07 14:40:59 · answer #2 · answered by bikinkawboy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are fill level indicators above each cell. the distilled water is added up to to these. The level must be over the plates as if not you can get arching across the plates witch can cause the battery to explode. some batteries are completely sealed, but some you can pry off the top. Take to an auto Zone or a Kragen etc. and they will show you.
2007-09-07 13:56:16 · answer #3 · answered by gary o 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't have to be that low to be low. A dry cell can kill a battery quick. Ideally you'll want to check it every so often and more in hotter weather. If it is a sealed battery then no you can't refill it but many are still the older still with pull off caps. Remember to use distilled water only.
2007-09-07 12:38:50 · answer #4 · answered by tugar357 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋