I acquired a used 85ah leisure battery recently. Excuse my ignorance, but as it has 6 screw off caps across the top, is this the type of battery I need to empty and re-fill with distilled water? If so, what exactly should I do.

I've noticed when I attach it to my charger to give it its monthly top up, the % reading is always at zero. Is this becaue it's knackered, or would the distilled water trick rejuvenate it do you think??

Thanks,
Matt

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The sun pushed dark spokes of melt and sparkle
Across the fields of hoar. And the river steamed -
Flint-olive.


http://northcountryangler.blogspot.com

Never empty this type of battery all you need to do is fully charge the battery and then top up the cells with distilled water to just above the lead plates inside that are what those screw in plugs are for. NEVER EVER empty the battery it is full of ACID. If as you say it is showing zero it could well be knackered take it to your nearest battery stockist they can check it out for you free of charge.

Alan

Thanks Alan. Where's the best place to procure distilled water? Last time I used that stuff was in science classes at school!

M

__________________
The sun pushed dark spokes of melt and sparkle
Across the fields of hoar. And the river steamed -
Flint-olive.


http://northcountryangler.blogspot.com

Any petrol station or car spares shop.

Alan

And dont use a naked flame to check the level.
I seen some body do the years ago and lets say his is 1 lucky lad !!!!

Gazza

The following link gives useful background on maintaining your battery
Battery Basics: How to Provide Care and Maintenance for Your Battery | BatteryStuff.com
Bill

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Handeman

may be some one from the south through it away because it was f#####
sorry can't help my self

Battery may be ok your charger only indicates charge rate check with meter across terminals should be just under 12v dc if less than 10.5 check your charge rate,If this is 85ah its probably a deep cycle and will need a low charge rate,Don't use a charger for normal car battery, You can end up with (what is termed) memory problem.Hope this helps

__________________
CONNAUGHT FLY Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding.
Mohandas Gandhi

Never heard of memory problem on a lead acid battery Nicad yes.
Check the state of charge using a direct current voltmeter
12.7 volts indicates a fully charged battery,
12.3 volts it’s half discharged and
anything less than 11.8 volts the battery
has fully discharged.
Courtesy of Caravan and Camping Club.

Alan

Quote from one of my .docs on battery

Aging affects each cell differently. Since the cells are connected in series, controlling the individual cell voltages during charge is virtually impossible. Even if the correct overall voltage is applied, a weak cell will generate its own voltage level and intensify the condition further. end quote
Capacitance also affects cell performance or I.R. present in all battetry types due to chemical ionize and other changes. This is what we crowd term memory.
Ni Cadnium is famous or infamous for it but all suffer to some degree, Some of my colleagues are even at the stage of looking at the much lauded Li ion for degen memory affect and are testing a large type for just this affect

__________________
CONNAUGHT FLY Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding.
Mohandas Gandhi