Lost battery power in the cold

[WotEver]

Well, basically, deionized water will not have removed non-ionic organic compounds whereas distilled water probably will have. Bearing in mind that the majority of non-ionic compounds are viruses and bacteria, I can't see that doing any great harm to your batteries. "Oh no, my battery has caught a cold!"

 

Both procedures will remove minerals such as calcium, chloride etc, so I'm with you; I'd have thought that deionized (or deionised if you prefer) water would be prefectly fine for batteries.

 

Tony

[Grace and Favour]

With all respect to CV Bloke I'm still sceptical.

I've just spent some time Googling the subject and found:

- All the battery topup water for sale is specifically described as deionised, not distilled (Halfords are just one example).

- None of the 'battery related' sites contain any warning that distilled not deionised should be used for batteries.

- Those sites describing the deionisation process seem to be saying the end product is 'pure' water.

 

Now I don't subscribe to the "It's on the 'net so it must be true" persuasion, but I would really like to see an authoriatative statement one way or the other.

I have a very expensive battery bank to maintain and squeeze the longest possible life from.......

 

 

I happen to know the Chemist in one of the UK's larger manufacturers of distilled water - -

 

I'll let you know shortly!

[barge sara]

I happen to know the Chemist in one of the UK's larger manufacturers of distilled water - -

 

I'll let you know shortly!

Excellent!

Thank you.

[jelunga]

Thats what I said.

Only if the pan and lid are made of glass or, er, plastic...

 

Tony

 

 

 

It's not a misconception. Batteries (all batteries, not just lead/acid batteries) will indeed perform worse in winter. That doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with the battery, just that the chemical reaction is slowed by the cooler temperature.

 

Tony

[WotEver]

Thats what I said.

I know

[twocvbloke]

I'm only repeating what I have been told by a fully qualified electrical engineer who's family business deals with Batteries, Motors and Generators (and vacuum cleaners on the side!!), and who told me off for using deionised water in my Halfrauds battery...

[sueanddaren]

How much power does a battery loose when it gets down to -8c ish (our bank is outside in a wooden box)?

 

Over the last cold spell our bat would only last 1 day before needing charging up. Normally it runs for 3 (ok a slight increase in usage but not that much).

 

It has improved & will now last 2 days (and seems to still be gaining) but I'm guessing its had it, or has it?

 

Luckily I have found a supplier of good use forklift banks for sensible money.

 

The normaly accepted rate is 3% to 4% for every 5deg C below 25degC but this is from the nominal C20 capacity (see IEEE485). At high rates eg engine starting rates the loss is greater, if you use 25degC as the base (100%) then at 0 degC the starting capacity will be down to 53% and at -5 deg C it is down to 45%. That is why you should use the CCA (cold Cranking Capacity) to size engine start batteries not C20 capacities.

 

Daren

[Smelly]

Don't know if it's true but in Canada and perhaps other countries headlights are left on for 10 mins or so prior to starting in cold weather to warm battery and raise voltage.

 

My uncle in Alaska told me they do that more to make sure the battery isn't dead. A poor battery's more likely to damage a starter motor. It's been said on here as well so I remember.

 

The difference between Distilled and Deionised water is that Deionised still contained minerals that can cause damage to the battery when discharging, leaving unwanted deposits on the plates which hampers performance. The only reason why Deionised is sold "for batteries" is because it's a cheap solution for those not in the know...

 

Distilled water is basically the condensed steam from boiled water, it contains practically no unwanted minerals, and is so easy to make by yourself, infact, most boaters do it every day when they boil a kettle and it condenses on the hull or windows...

 

If you can capture* the condensed water, you've got a pretty much free battery top-up solution in your hands, no need to buy something that'll most likely cake your plates up...

 

 

*One way is to put a large pan lid on a small pan at an angle, so one edge hangs over the outer rim of the pan and the other side into the pan, and aim a kettle of boiling water at the open edge, the water then condenses on the lid and falls into the pan, and there you have free Distilled water...

 

If you want to be fancy, and more efficient, look up a glass distiller tube on ebay, preferably the one with the spiral core, that has cold water running over the coil which has the steam passing through which in turn condenses and makes distilled water...

 

 

Well, basically, deionized water will not have removed non-ionic organic compounds whereas distilled water probably will have. Bearing in mind that the majority of non-ionic compounds are viruses and bacteria, I can't see that doing any great harm to your batteries. "Oh no, my battery has caught a cold!"

 

Both procedures will remove minerals such as calcium, chloride etc, so I'm with you; I'd have thought that deionized (or deionised if you prefer) water would be prefectly fine for batteries.

 

Tony

 

 

My chemistry education says what Tony said although being english as I am I can see no place for an organised "Zee" in deionised.

[Grace and Favour]

So - - I've asked the MD of a company that supplies a goodly percentage of 'De-ionised / De-mineralised / Distilled water to industry & retail . . . .

 

His reply was:

 

"In answer to your question, the end result is the same - pure water without the minerals (or ions). It's the process that is different. Obviously distilled is formed by a distillation process of heating the water to make steam then back to water again. You can also get the same result from a dehumidifier or from defrosting the fridge.

De-ionised or demineralised as we sometimes call it uses filters and current which attracts and removes the ions/minerals. "

[WotEver]

"In answer to your question, the end result is the same - pure water without the minerals (or ions). It's the process that is different. Obviously distilled is formed by a distillation process of heating the water to make steam then back to water again. You can also get the same result from a dehumidifier or from defrosting the fridge.

De-ionised or demineralised as we sometimes call it uses filters and current which attracts and removes the ions/minerals. "

... but not the non-ionic compounds.

 

Like wot I writ 9 posts back.

 

T