Battery water and dehumidifier water

[purplerobbie]

I was going to buy water for my batteries and someone said its the same water you throw out of your dehumidifier every day?

Any truth?
Can I use it?

 

[Malish]

I wouldn't:
The condensate from the humidifier is derived from condensation on metal plates in the unit and will have picked up dust and any soluble material from the plates - you want pure water, condensate from a humidifier is not pure and may indeed be quite dirty.

 

[VicS]

I was going to buy water for my batteries and someone said its the same water you throw out of your dehumidifier every day?

Any truth?
Can I use it?

Pretty much the same plus any contamination it picks up. A little saltiness perhaps in coastal areas.

"They" always advise against it but I bet before the thread disappears of the bottom of the page someone will claim that they always use tap water with no adverse effects!


Do your batteries really require that much topping up that you need to consider reclaiming water from the dehumidifier

 

[jac]

SO is the dehumidifier water any use for anything? - I tend to chuck it but have used it to swill down decks rather than go grab a bucket full. Not sure i'd want to put it into anything

 

[Vara]

I've changed my view on this after using dehum water for the iron, and it does leave an albeit small amount of scale in the iron.

I now use it for washing the windows, saves having to use shammy.

So I wouldn't use it in batteries except in emergency.

Incidentally de ionised water is very cheap in France.

 

[Ruffles]

I used it in an 'emergency' battery I have in the garage. I'd left it on my late grandfather's battery charger for a few months and there was no visible sign of moisture in any of the cells. Seems to be still charged. Not sure I'd trust my life on it!

 

[Vegable]

Ok I'll be the one at the bottom then!
From the Rolls Battery site:-
http://support.rollsbattery.com/support/solutions/articles/431-preventive-maintenance

In it it says and I quote:-
"Preventive maintenance involves, at a minimum, checking the cell electrolyte level for correct acid volume once a month and equalizing once every six months. The cells should be watered back to the original acid level which is 1/4 - 1/2" below the bottom of the vent well (tube inside the battery cell with slots on each side). Distilled water is preferred but local water (not chlorinated) maybe acceptable if it is not "hard" or does not contain high iron levels. Use of non-distilled water can cause mineral build-up in the battery cell.". ( The underlining isn't mine)

I do use tap water BUT I have always lived in a soft water and non chlorinated areas. I've never checked iron levels though. I've never had problems but that doesn't mean you won't. I've had yachts since 1992 and lead acid batteries in cars since 1962. Maybe I 've been lucky.
Your choice!
Mike

 

[RichardS]

Dehumidifier water is fine for battery use - just filter it through a coffee filter or similar if it has any bits floating around in it.

I've always saved the water from defrosting the fridge after filtering and used that. Just throw away the first lot as that has most of the crud. Pretty much the same. More difficult with self-defrosting fridges but more batteries are sealed these days.

Just taste it to convince yourself - it will be tasteless.

Richard

 

[nigelmercier]

Having been infected by Legionella bacteria once, I now wash my hands after emptying my dehumidifier. Putting it in an iron is asking for trouble.

 

[Anders_P42]

Last time I topped up I used about 750ml across four batteries at cost of about £1.50. I don't understand why anyone would risk anything but proper battery water, why risk contaminating £400 worth of batteries for less than price of a coffee!?

 

[Haven't-a-Clue]

I have access to reasonably large quantities of double distilled water (ie water for injections) which is obviously sterile. Can I assume this is suitable for battery top-up?

 

[VicS]

I have access to reasonably large quantities of double distilled water (ie water for injections) which is obviously sterile. Can I assume this is suitable for battery top-up?

yes

 

[vyv_cox]

Skipper Stu has posted several times that he tops up batteries at home with tap water. He and I live in an area of very soft water, lowest value on the Clark scale, virtually no calcium or iron in it. I have topped up a battery using dehumidifier water but the battery was already scrap, only used for test purposes.

Deionised water is so cheap that It seems pointless taking any risk that other sources might be contaminated.

 

[Haven't-a-Clue]

yes

Ta very much, I thought that might be the case.

 

[danielefua]

Having been infected by Legionella bacteria once, I now wash my hands after emptying my dehumidifier. Putting it in an iron is asking for trouble.

I am very sorry for you because being affected by Legionella pneumophila is not pleasant at all but I assume that batteries and irons do not have lungs while high temperature and sulphuric acid will positively kill the bacterium...

Daniel

 

[RichardS]

I am very sorry for you because being affected by Legionella pneumophila is not pleasant at all but I assume that batteries and irons do not have lungs while high temperature and sulphuric acid will positively kill the bacterium...

Daniel

The bacteria dies above 51 degrees C. Wobetide anyone in the hospitality industry who has the EHO do an unsolicited inspection and finds the hot water temp below 51 degrees.

Richard

 

[Heckler]

Pretty much the same plus any contamination it picks up. A little saltiness perhaps in coastal areas.

"They" always advise against it but I bet before the thread disappears of the bottom of the page someone will claim that they always use tap water with no adverse effects!


Do your batteries really require that much topping up that you need to consider reclaiming water from the dehumidifier

Just for you Vic, water in Pwllheli and Holyhead pretty soft so used it, the batteries are now 7 years old and still going strong. Numax leisure. allegedly sealed but you can undo the tops with a pair of pointed nose pliers. For the other poster, alternator charge boosters cause water evap and Sterling tells you to check regularly.
In Portugal de ionised water is as cheap as chips in the Jumbo so I used that this winter.
S
For what its worth, 50 plus years in maintenance in the oil field in third world countries, using relatively soft water was never an issue, we didnt have the luxury of stores in the desert or african bush selling de ionised water!

 

[Jamesuk]

send the water through a coffee filter and off you go :/)