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Information provided by
Unique Battery & Electrical Service |
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1. How often should you check
the water? |
Once or twice every 3 months with a new battery.
Once a week, if the battery is older than 1½ years. |
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2. How do you remove the battery
cap to add the water? |
Batteries have different types of caps. Some
have caps you can unscrew with your fingers, some you need to
use a coin to unscrew them and others you can pull off with
your hand. See illustrations below. |
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3. Does it matter if you use
Tap water or Distilled water? |
Yes. You should use distilled water since it
lacks the high mineral content present in tap water. Barbados'
tap water contains high amounts of lime. The lime settles in
the battery compartment causing the development of a lime cell
within the battery and inhibits the proper operation of the
lead acid cell. |
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4. How much water should you
put in? |
Some batteries have a low level and full level
marking on the battery. However, some batteries do not have
a marking indicating the level you should fill the water to.
In such a case you should fill the battery where the water level
is below the bottom of the battery cap, when the cap is replaced. |
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Battery Water Level Indicators
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Battery with Text & line markings
indicating the Upper
& Lower Level
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Battery with 2 Horizontal Bands
indicating the Upper
& Lower Level
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For Batteries without indicators,
water level should be below the bottom of the Battery
cap
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5. What happens if you over
fill the battery? |
If you put too much water is in the battery,
when the car is started, the acid will spill. The reaction inside
the battery when the car is started causes the water level to
rise. If there is too much water in the battery, the rising
water level from the reaction will cause the water to overflow.
This causes valuable acid inside the battery to be lost. The
acid is the conduit in which the electricity flows. The acid
will cause corrosion if it comes in contact with metal. |
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Corrosion caused by battery acid
spills
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Be careful where you wash off the sediments cause
by the corrosion since it will leave a stain. Big brown stains
may not look to good in your garage. |
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Stain left in road
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6. What happens if the water
runs too low? |
Two serious problems occur by running the water
level too low. There is an increase in heat and a deterioration
of battery plates. This restricts the battery from charging
and destroys the battery plates. Just like overcharging this
destruction can take place in a matter of 5 months. |
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Information provided courtesy
of Unique Battery & Electrical Service |
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