Battery top up?

[PaulJ]

Simple question......... Can you use the product water from a reverse osmosis water maker for topping up batteries?

Thanks,

Paul

 

[VicS]

No the water is not sufficiently pure. You should use distilled or deionised water.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Simple question, simple answer. I like it Vic. Now another. Can I use the water from my dehumidifier for topping up?

 

[RichardS]

Simple question, simple answer. I like it Vic. Now another. Can I use the water from my dehumidifier for topping up?

If it's solely condensed water vapour the answer must be yes. (Surely )

Richard

 

[aquaplane]

The water from my dehumidifier always had dust and fluff in it, loads of air goes through a dehumidifier so it cleans up the particulates too.

Distilled/deionised is best as already said.

In West Yorkshire the water is soft so tap water can be used if it's an occasional top up, you won't be putting much junk in there.

If you are always topping up or the water is hard use distilled.

 

[noelex]

I have heard of cruisers using water from the watermaker that has passed twice through the membrane. This is done in some watermakers as standard practice to rinse them after use.

The boats I spoke to have done this for years with no apparent ill effects, but I agree with Vic batteries are too expensive to take chances.

Still worth remembering as an emergency measure. I think the double pass water would be better than leaving the plates dry.

 

[ccscott49]

I have used watermaker water, but as VicS says, best use de-ionised or distilled, normally easy to get even from a supermarket in the meddy, as water for steam irons.

 

[VicS]

Simple question, simple answer. I like it Vic. Now another. Can I use the water from my dehumidifier for topping up?

It is still not recommended due to air borne contaminants. General dirt and dust and there's bound to be some salt spray in the air in a marine environment.
Similarly rain water is not recommended

I'm sticking to the "text book" recommendation to use distilled or demineralised water only but I am well aware that there are people who use tap water.

 

[PaulJ]

Thanks

Thanks to all for taking the trouble to reply......... So far I have always had enough distilled or de-mineralised water and have always used that but it has sometimes been a bit hard to find. I have been told that the membrane in the watermaker removes just about everything, including all salts and minerals, hence the need to suplement your diet with such things if watermaker water is all you have. I just wondered if it removed enough to use it for topping up the batteries if distilled or de-mineralised water ran out....... So perhaps the answer is "Yes, but don't make a habit of it"?

Paul

 

[ithet]

You could catch nice pure rain water in the umbrella you keep on board. Storing it in the boat's wheelbarrow until needed.

 

[VicMallows]

Just read the instructions that came with a new hot water bottle:....

"Do not fill from domestic water system as this can prematurely degrade the product"

It doesn't tell me what I SHOULD fill it with?