Maintenance of "Maintenance Free" Batteries?

CaptainBob

CaptainBob

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Maintenance of \"Maintenance Free\" Batteries?

You lot gave me some advice re checking and topping up the water in my batteries. I'm onboard now and have had a good look at them. Both are "Lucas Maintenance Free", one "Premium" one "Supreme". Checked on Lucas' site and they seem to be implying I do nothing with them at all - but one has two removable caps - the other some (+) topped plastic caps. Should I leave them alone?

TY!
 
Re: Maintenance of \"Maintenance Free\" Batteries?

If you can see that the electrolyte is low, add some de-ionised water, if you can undo the caps for access.
 
Re: Maintenance of \"Maintenance Free\" Batteries?

If you had said either of the batteries had 6 screw caps I would have said remove them and if necessary top the batteries up with distilled or "demin" water so that the plates are covered.

With only two caps you will not be able to see the levels I guess.

It is best not to try removing caps other than screw ones as they often break!

Luckily all my batteries, cars and boat, have screw caps but as all are low maintence batteries they do not need topping up.

Provided your alternator is correctly regulated you should have no problems.


EDIT:
I think I have just realised what you mean by "+ topped" They are flush fitting scew plugs that you can undo with a very broad bladed scew driver I think.

If there are six check the levels
 
Re: Maintenance of \"Maintenance Free\" Batteries?

Well I have two batts.

One has two large flat covers which easily lever off - beneath each cover there's 3 0.5" diam holes. Inside there's perhaps 0.5" of air, then liquid, then metal. Hard to see depth of liquid above metal, but rocking the battery a bit doesn't reveal metal above the surface.

Other battery has 6 3/4" (+) covers. Just lifted one and again there's air, then liquid, then metal plates.

Two questions:

When you say "top up", presume you don't mean to the very top?

Do I need to put water in each hold individually on both batts? Or just into one - and it flows around all space to fill evenly?

Thank you!!
 
Re: Maintenance of \"Maintenance Free\" Batteries?

So long as the plates are just covered that's OK. On a boat I prefer to keep the level as low as possible ie just covering the plates to minimise the risk of spillage. These are automotive batteries so not really designed to be used heeled over on their ears.

Each cap gives you access to one cell only so top each up individually. A small jug or plastic measuring cup is the best thing to use for the water.

I'll bet they wont need topping up! You've already discovered one doesn't

When the time comes to replace either of them consider a battery better suited to deep cycling. Even a leisure battery would be better than a car starter battery, which these appear to be, for the domestics.
 
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