Under certain circumstances, you can add water to a battery to keep the fluid level above the lead plates—but water must only be added when the battery is fully charged. If it is not fully charged, the battery will overflow as it powers up and cause damage. How Can Water Be an Electrolyte? Water, on its own, is not an electrolyte.
Purified water is free from impurities and minerals, which can react with the battery’s electrolyte and cause damage to the internal components. Using purified water ensures that the battery is provided with the cleanest and most suitable fluid solution for optimal performance.
You may add acid to an old battery when reconditioning it. When adding battery water, you should never add tap water or bottled water. Tap water contains minerals that will react with the sulfuric acid in the battery. When this reaction takes place, it will create sulfur compounds that do not break down when the charge current is introduced.
Unlike traditional flooded lead-acid batteries, maintenance-free batteries do not require adding water to the electrolyte. The electrolyte in a maintenance-free battery is a combination of sulfuric acid and water, which creates a fluid solution that allows the battery to produce and store electrical energy.
When the first electrolyte is added to the battery, only distilled water should be added as the sulfuric acid will always remain in the battery. Adding acid will accelerate the corrosion rate thus destroying the battery. Always check the electrolyte levels and add water when you notice it is below the indicated levels or the plates are exposed.
Battery fluid, also known as electrolyte, is a solution used in batteries to facilitate the flow of electric charge between electrodes. It typically consists of a mixture of acid, water, and other additives.