Farhanbilal415, whiteangle, Khurrammoon
Usually once I prepare the electrolyte then I separately mark the bottles with 1400 gravity, 1300 gravity, 1250 gravity and bottles with pure distilled water. then later once need arises then I go for final mixing and either aim of 1270 to 1250 gravity and at this point I don’t expect any exothermic reaction to take place. So in simple words don’t expect electrolyte to generate any heat during final mixing at this point. Final mixing is done on big plastic bucket which is enough to fill two 200AH batteries. Gravity is measured using hydrometer and adjusted for some plus minuses using the above bottles and brand new batteries are filled with new electrolyte and batteries are put back onto charging.
Hydrometer will indicate the correct gravity after 2 weeks of charging and discharging since this will give ample time for electrolyte to mix properly and show correct readings. If gravity is registered less then we have a bottle with 1400 gravity and some of the electrolyte can be taken out and gravity can be readjusted and vice versa if gravity is registered more than intended aim then take out some electrolyte and put some distilled water inside the batteries.
Initially once you are done with the adjustments then later drop in hydrometer readings from initial set value is a reference that something is not going well. Check the charging rate as either it can be very low or batteries are not being charged till proper level before the charging should actually stop(Remember Magical figure of 14 Volts)
No we don’t have to refill the batteries every time with electrolyte as its distilled water which evaporates not the Sulfuric acid within the electrolyte. Sulfuric Acid does evaporates but at extremely small pace so consider it as nil.
P.S: if you feel that topping up with distilled water reduces the gravity then take the measurements before putting the distilled water and after putting it. Basically Acid is heavy so goes into the bottom whereas distilled water is light so stays on the top. Some cycles of charging and discharging with uniformly mix the electrolyte before you would be able to see the correct measurement.
