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12-31-2018, 08:47 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: West Jordan
Posts: 233
Utah
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denatured vs. distilled water for battery
We were told to check and refill the water in our 12 V deep cycle batteries often. Two questions:
(1) The RV dealer told us to use "denatured" water (yes, that is what they wrote down). I was thinking they perhaps mean "distilled" water? I know there is "deionized" water too. Can anyone please confirm that distilled water is suitable for RV batteries?
(2) How often should I check the water? Many materials say monthly, but others just say once or twice a year. I carefully opened the two caps on top of my batteries, which exposed three round ports each. I can see the water level about an inch down. Is this low? High? How do I know when to fill more water and how high do I fill it?
Thanks in advance! This is such an awesome site for newbies like us.
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12-31-2018, 10:15 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Beaver Dam
Posts: 895
Wisconsin
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Distilled or Deionized
Denatured usually refers to putting a poisonous chemical in with ethyl alcohol so people won't drink it. There is no alcohol tax on denatured alcohol.
Water level should match the well defined ring you can see in the cell. The ring is usually more visible when the water is low.
The battery consumes water when it is charging. Faster charging or over charging uses more water so time is just a rule of thumb.
If use of the battery is consistent over time, you can decrease frequency of checking the water when no water has been consumed. High temperatures also increases water consumption.
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Paul Bristol
Dutchman Kodiak Cub KD176RD 2018
Nissan Pathfinder 2015
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12-31-2018, 10:23 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: West Jordan
Posts: 233
Utah
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Thanks Paul. Was just confused as to why the RV dealer would refer me to purchase "denatured water".
Also, I attached a photo of my battery water ports. I do not see any clear "ring".
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01-01-2019, 10:44 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Roselle
Posts: 1,292
Illinois
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If you look down the hole closely with a flashlight, you should be able to see a tiny lip around the inner edge of the hole. Fill to that line. If you can't see it, it's either filled to that level or slightly overfilled. If you're not sure, find an old battery and look at it or go to an auto parts store.
Rusty
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2015 Black F-350 Platinum Diesel Dually Crew Cab
2019 Riverstone Legacy 38MB (Full Paint/All Options)
2015 Voltage 3990 (Full Paint, All Options) Sold 6/18
2005 Harley Ultra Classic w/too many miles
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01-02-2019, 10:04 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
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They also make a handy dandy battery filler bottle with auto shut-off. I have a couple of these that I use.
And you want distilled water. Never heard of denatured water.
Aaron
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There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
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01-02-2019, 12:29 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,066
Florida
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wahoonc
They also make a handy dandy battery filler bottle with auto shut-off. I have a couple of these that I use.
And you want distilled water. Never heard of denatured water.
Aaron
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This is a great product especially if you can’t see the “rings” and want to make life easier. And it is distilled not denatured.
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01-02-2019, 09:28 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Milwaukie/Oak Grove
Posts: 84
Oregon
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I just clicked on this thread and don't know whether to laugh out loud or cry. The agent who wrote this down for you surely never had a chemistry class, and hopefully did not intend to mean denatured alcohol (which as stated above, is poisonous if consumed). I'm curious what would happen to a battery if in fact it was replenished with alcohol rather than distilled water.
So the answer is, distilled water please. Or next time, use sealed AGM batteries, then you need not worry about it.
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01-03-2019, 04:30 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Jellystone
Posts: 489
Wyoming
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The original post clearly states denatured water, not alcohol.
I'm sure the salesman meant distilled water.
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01-03-2019, 03:00 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sparta
Posts: 1,726
Tennessee
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Denatured water sounds delicious.
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2014 Aerolite 213 RBSL
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
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01-03-2019, 04:53 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,066
Florida
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I am not sure there is any such thing as denatured water.
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01-03-2019, 09:34 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sparta
Posts: 1,726
Tennessee
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Quote:
Originally Posted by franktafl
I am not sure there is any such thing as denatured water.
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Sure there is, you filter water and take the nature out of it, denatured water.
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2014 Aerolite 213 RBSL
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
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01-04-2019, 01:45 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,066
Florida
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wildwest450
Sure there is, you filter water and take the nature out of it, denatured water.
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U crack me up!
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01-04-2019, 08:14 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Aiken
Posts: 702
South Carolina
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Its all about taxes
Definition of denatured alcohol
ethyl alcohol made unfit for drinking but still suitable for industrial or domestic purposes and freed from internal revenue tax in many countries (such as the U.S.): such as
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01-09-2019, 08:59 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Newport
Posts: 16
Washington
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Denatured Vs. Distilled Water For Battery
The dealer probably meant Deionized water not Denatured.
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01-09-2019, 11:16 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Capron
Posts: 413
Illinois
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If you drank from my well, you would think it was denatured. LOL Distailled water is from steam that is condensed back into water to remove minerals, and is what to use, not deionized, which is passed through a filter and/or current, but still contains minerals. Minerals can clog up the lead plates and kill the battery over time.
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01-10-2019, 01:18 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,066
Florida
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nothing worse than a plugged up battery.
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01-10-2019, 03:51 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: West Jordan
Posts: 233
Utah
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Thanks everyone!!!!
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