Automobiles, Cars
What to add to the battery - water or electrolyte? Car battery maintenance. Electrolyte level in the battery
Anyone, even a novice motorist knows that timely car maintenance is very important for its comfortable operation. Therefore, the inspection of its main parts, devices and sensors before the trip is an obligatory ritual of the driver. Also an important condition - periodic inspection and repair of the vehicle by qualified masters at car maintenance stations . But many car owners in the process of increasing their driving experience begin to independently understand the main parts and mechanisms of their vehicle. Therefore, in most cases, they are able to repair and service their devices themselves.
To such basic parts in the vehicle it is necessary to carry the battery. In the normal scenario, such a battery is charged while the car is running. But it is not uncommon for cases when other devices in the car fail to be charged with a special device. Such operating conditions affect the rapid wear of the device. In addition, from time to time it must be filled. Many are often confused about what to add to the battery: water or electrolyte. What functions are performed by this device, how to determine the level in it, how and what to properly fill, we will understand in this article.
Understanding the battery
This is a special mechanism that is used in the vehicle directly for its launch and further operation. In addition, such a device is designed to optimize the operation of voltage peaks at the time the vehicle is launched.
The concept of electrolyte
For effective performance of the battery, an electrolyte is always used. It is a solution of hydrochloric acid and distilled water. Here, third-party impurities should not be used. Otherwise, this will change its density. For proper operation, the level of the electrolyte in the battery is also important. If it is below the norm, then in the future it will inevitably lead to an unstable operation of the auxiliary power source of the vehicle, and the owner will not be able to start the car normally. Internal plates will dry up, and the battery power will drop significantly. Also, do not exceed the sufficient level of liquid in the system. Otherwise, in the future, this will lead to a complete or partial breakdown of this mechanism. The battery will be discharged faster. Therefore, the level of electrolyte in the battery must be stable. This will ensure the normal operation of the vehicle.
When to charge the battery
According to many experts, the car battery is not subject to maintenance. Therefore, the question of what to add to the battery: water or electrolyte - some masters consider irrelevant. But this is if it is used under normal conditions. If the car owner likes to travel on his vehicle for long distances, then he must take into account this parameter. The composition of the electrolyte necessarily uses water mass. During operation of the device, it may evaporate. The liquid can begin to actively transition to a vapor state in the event of a complete and partial failure of the relay-controller. The main points of failure of the mechanism must include:
- The appearance of a strong pair of jets.
- The appearance of electrolyte droplets on the battery case.
- Great heating of the battery during operation of the vehicle.
It is also worth considering the type of battery. They are serviceable and unattended. In the first case, evaporation will be greater, so it is for them the actual question of what to add to the battery: water or electrolyte. In unattended batteries, the liquid is in a sealed enclosure. Therefore, during operation, the liquid nevertheless rises upward, but does not go beyond the boundaries of the body, and then again falls down, precipitating. In such devices, the loop is closed. Such batteries do not require testing of liquids in them.
Methods for testing the electrolyte level
As noted earlier, such testing requires only serviced batteries. The first method of verification must include a visual inspection. As a rule, the battery case of the device is made transparent. Here are put different grades. They indicate the level of the liquid. Therefore, it is possible visually to track the amount of electrolyte in the system.
But not all models of serviced batteries are made with a transparent casing. In this case, the car owner can use a special transparent tube, which has a diameter of 5 mm.
To conduct the audit:
- It is necessary to unscrew the battery cover;
- Release the tube into the liquid until it stops;
- Finger tightly clamp the outer hole;
- Get out the phone.
The electrolyte level should correspond to the level of its column in such a tube.
What to do if the electrolyte level does not match
The car owner should know that the level of the liquid in the tube must be within 15 mm. If this rate is exceeded, then remove the excess solution. To do this, you need a rubber pear or syringe.
If the electrolyte is low, you can pour water into the solution. Is the electrolyte in the battery? The answer to this question can be obtained by analyzing the composition of the solution in the battery. As already noted, it is water and a solution of hydrochloric acid. During operation, only water evaporates, so it is also topped up during maintenance. But if the density of the solution is too low, then to increase it, the acid is added. Therefore, when answering the question about what to add to the battery: water or electrolyte - you must first measure the density of the solution. You can do it yourself.
Checking the electrolyte density
The car owner must also know that, in addition to the electrolyte level, it is necessary to check its density. Therefore, before you add distilled water to the battery, it is necessary to check the density of the solution.
You can do it with a special device called "hydrometer". It has the form of a float. It has a corresponding scale, graded in density units. Above is a balloon. It is it that receives the solution. The fluid level should ensure the normal movement of the float in an upright position. The indicator of the electrolyte density in the battery should remain within 1.25-1.3 g / cc. See. When the level deviates to the higher side, the distilled water mass is applied. If such a level deviates to a smaller side, then a special correction electrolyte is used. It significantly increases the density of the liquid used in the system.
How to add distilled water to the battery
If the density is higher than normal, this indicates evaporation of the liquid that must be added. How much water should I add to the battery? The solution level in the battery should be maintained 1-1.5 cm above the plate level. Do not add distilled water more than the allowed rate. After filling, be sure to re-check the density of the liquid, pre-charging the battery.
Conclusion
Based on the foregoing, it must necessarily be concluded that in order to ensure the normal operation of the vehicle, the owner must always monitor the electrolyte level in the car battery. In another version, the driver simply does not get his vehicle. The level should not deviate more or less. In the future, this will necessarily lead to malfunctions in the system. In addition to monitoring the electrolyte level, we must closely monitor its density. If the set value is rejected, you need to perform certain actions to increase or decrease the level of density in the system. Is it possible to add water to the battery? Yes, but only if the density of the solution in the battery is higher than normal.
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