When you see your battery acid level begin to drop, you may wonder when and if it is appropriate to add acid, or just water.
Battery acid is sulfuric acid that has been diluted with water to attain a 37% concentration level. This particular type of acid is used in sealed lead acid batteries, however, concentration levels differenciate with some brands. Lead and lead dioxide, the active materials on the battery's plates, react with sulfuric acid in the electrolyte to form lead sulfate. The lead sulfate first forms in a finely divided, amorphous state, and easily reverts to lead, lead dioxide and sulfuric acidwhen the battery recharges.
Simple Guidelines for Extending Battery Life
Allow a fully saturated charge of 14-16 hours. Charge n a well-ventilated area.
Always keep lead acid charged. Avoid storage below 2.10V/cell, or at a specific gravity level below 1.190.
Avoid deep discharges. The deeper the discharge, the shorter the battery life will be. A brief charge on a 1 to 2 hour break during heavy use prolongs battery life.
Never allow the electrolyte to drop below the tops of the plates. Exposed plates sulfate and become inactive. When low. add only enough water to cover the exposed plates before charging; fill to the correct level after charge.
Never add acid. This would raise the specific gravity too high and cause excessive corrosion.
Use distilled or ionized water. Tap water may be usable in some regions.
When new, a deep-cycle battery may have a capacity of 70 percent or less. Formatting as part of field use will gradually increase performance. Apply a gentle load for the first five cycles to allow a new battery to format.
New batteries with low capacity many not perform as well as those that begin life with a high capacity. Low performers are known to have a short life. A capacity check as part of acceptance is advisable.