According to experts, the ideal water to acid ratio for a lead-acid battery is 1:1. This means that for every liter of water, you should add one liter of acid. However, it’s important to note that the type of acid used can vary depending on the specific battery.
Lead-acid batteries are made up of lead plates and an electrolyte solution, which is a mixture of sulfuric acid and water. The electrolyte solution is what allows the battery to store and release energy. Over time, the electrolyte solution can become depleted, which can lead to decreased battery performance.
The recommended water to acid ratio for a lead-acid battery is generally between 1.2 and 2.4 liters of water per liter of battery capacity. This means that for every liter of battery capacity, there should be between 1.2 and 2.4 liters of electrolyte solution. The most common ratio is 1.5 liters of water per liter of battery capacity.
In a functional lead-acid battery, the ratio of acid to water should remain close to 35:65. You can use a hydrometer to analyze the precise ratio. In optimal conditions, a lead-acid battery should have anywhere between 4.8 M to 5.3 M sulfuric acid concentration for every liter of water. How do you properly refill a battery with acid?
When the battery tips over and spills the acid. Here also you need to add the battery acid to restore the previous levels. 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 you add more acid to the battery, it means the level of sulfuric acid concentration will increase dramatically with every drop added. Sulfuric acid is a very reactive acid and when the balance of concentration is affected, the excess acid will start to corrode the battery plates.