Why distilled water for batteries?

[Aries 181]

And not just tap water?

Thanks,
Bill

[flyinghappy]

Tap water contains a lot of impurities.

[BMCD]

No minerals, or way less. U could use purified water that has been run thru filters too. But not all bottled water is purified of minerals

[csurp]

As tap water evaporates in the battery, the dissolved minerals (more or less depending on hardness) are left behind and can accumulate on the plates. Distilled water has had these dissolved minerals removed.

[Wedgestank]

That accumulation can eventually grow and when the two large plates now touch.....well the top of the battery blows off in a violent explosion. I used to service generators and seen it happen a few times.

[ChampioNman]

Same reason your mom used Distilled water in the steam iron, no minerals in the water to clog up the steam outlets.

[Gungle George]

Dosen't seem to matter really. The important thing is to keep water in the battery. 50 years of using tap water with no issues.

[RFSims]

Only use tap water and my batteries tend to last 4-5 years. Might make a difference if one only has high mineral well water.

[Cerus]

Will tap water make it blow up? Probably not. But it does reduce the lifespan and make the battery work harder. Is it really worth the 1$ gallon of distilled water?

[larryhyco]

No minerals

[Ohio Archer]

Will tap water make it blow up? Probably not. But it does reduce the lifespan and make the battery work harder. Is it really worth the 1$ gallon of distilled water?

Unless you're over charging your batteries, 1 gallon will last a couple of seasons. Only a couple ounces per cell at the most. $1 per year is cheap insurance. Use your wife's distilled water for her iron. She'll never know...

[billius]

I always use distilled water when I need to add to a battery. On the other hand, I worked at a golf course for a couple of years while I lived in Alabama. The factory rep from the golf cart company told us it made no difference. We used tap water right out of the hose to top off the cart batteries. Most of them lasted 6-7 years before they needed to be replaced. Those batteries got a lot of use 365 days a year those carts were in use.