Additional Info on Battery maintenance

[Ozz]

I talked with a tech at the Trojan Battery factory in Georgia (USA not Russia)
I asked if R.O. water was Ok to fill batteries (Thought it was, but...) He said it was fine, also how long I should wait to check the specific gravity after filling, he said a few hours would be good.
He did say that if the check revealed a 1.270 reading, to charge, or wait if on-charge until the number moves up from there.
He said if a battery was bad, the balls in solution would not even move. Also, usually one or maybe two cells usually are bad in a 6 Volt battery, not all of them. He verified that if the electrolyte was even with the top of the plates, they should be Ok.
All predicated on healthy batteries going into this deal..
I also asked how they check batteries, with an electronic meter, or the bulb, glass tube, and little Gerbil balls. He said they use both.

[Tom S.]

R.O. water? Royal Oak? I hope it's not "regular old" as in tap water. I hate it when an 'expert' is wrong!

[Ozz]

Often wrong always willing to learn
Reverse osmosis, sorry for the short-hand
OMG!!! :-)
Ozz

[ranch560]

Thanks for clearing that up Jim. I started to look in the liquor cabinet thinking it was a whiskey from Canada.

[WaltBennett]

Just pick up a gallon of steam distilled water at a grocery store - they're only about a buck and last for months. I've about six poly bottles I fill from a gallon jug as I don't like the thin plastic they have and don't want one splitting. I've the glass tube & float hydrometer & sometimes use it to put water in when using a full one, but otherwise can pour it straight from a smaller bottle.

[Ozz]

Good call Walt, I have the R.O. System in my house and in the Monte, so (almost) always have a good supply of it.

[7.3Ford]

Jim,

I got a couple of these, one the house and one for the Monty. Just push down in the hold and it fills to correct level.



Here is the URL for one of many on Amozon:

http://www.amazon.com/Plews-75-030-C...battery+filler

[Ozz]

I do have one of those, but my batteries are below a wire shelf and I can't use mine, that is why I came up with the bottle and tube design I am using. When I had 12 Golf cart batteries in my home I used one of those, as I could get to the tops easily. They are nice as they stop when full, like you mentioned. It's The 'Cat's meow', as it were