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water for battery

Not_An_Abba_Fan

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Tap water contains dissolved impurities, so as the water in the battery evaporates the solids do not and sink to the bottom forming a sediment. As this sediment builds up it reduces the surface area of the plate and reduces the effectiveness of the battery, shortening it's life.

It would be OK to use tap water occasionally but I wouldn't use all the time.

Having said that, it also depends on the quality of the tap water. IMO, filtered tap water would be perfectly fine.
 

VSIIBerlinaL67

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how about boiled water from the kettle that's been boiled a couple of times? is that ok?
 

Not_An_Abba_Fan

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how about boiled water from the kettle that's been boiled a couple of times? is that ok?

No different than tap water because the dissolved solids don't evaporate.
 

Vee-ard

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I wouldn't be shortening the life of a hundred dollar battery, just to save three dollars on four litres of distilled water
 

ephect

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if you need 4ltrs of distilled water to top your battery up, i well and truelly think ur battery is cactus :p
 

Vee-ard

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if you need 4ltrs of distilled water to top your battery up, i well and truelly think ur battery is cactus :p

Just bought a four litre bottle for my radiator.
 

VrWagz1

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I know this thread is answered, but i'll just add i have been using tap water in my batteries for years. Not that they need topping up very often at all, maybe once in their life if at all. Some ive had dont even make it to the first top up. Yes its bad, but a once off top up of town water wont hurt it, especially if its filtered. But as above if you know your town water has lots of minerals in it then it may be best to avoid it.
BTW rain water is not that good it catches many minerals on its way down, especially if your like me and live next to the steel works, its even worse if your collecting it off the ground or off your roof.
 
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