Can You Use Reverse Osmosis Water in Inverter Battery?
As the power landscape in India evolves, many households rely on inverters to keep the lights on during frequent power outages.
A common query that arises is whether Reverse Osmosis (RO) water can be used in inverter batteries.
Let’s untangle this question for a clearer understanding.
Understanding Inverter Batteries
Most inverter batteries used in India are Lead-Acid batteries. These batteries function through chemical reactions, and the water used in them plays a pivotal role.
Lead and sulfuric acid are the main components of all lead-acid batteries. The sulfuric acid is in diluted form with a typical water: acid ratio of 3:1.
Over time, due to heat and continuous chemical reactions, the water inside the battery dries up. For the battery’s proper functioning and long life, you must top it up with water whenever the water level falls below the minimum level.
This water has to be in its purest form with no dissolved solids (nearly zero TDS level).
RO Water and its Characteristics
Reverse Osmosis is the most popular water purification method in India, ensuring clean and safe drinking water by filtering out impurities and contaminants.
RO membranes used in RO purifiers reduce the TDS level of water by 90-99%. Even the most effective RO membranes will not produce purified water that has a TDS level below 5 ppm.
Depending upon the TDS level of input water, the TDS level of RO water is generally in the range of 50-150 ppm.
This means the RO water still contains dissolved solids.
But can this purified water be used in inverter batteries?
Can You Add RO Water to the Battery?
Some people advise pouring RO water into the battery whenever needed.
However, they do not know that the TDS value of RO water is much higher than battery/distilled water.
Despite its impressive purification capabilities, RO water falls short of meeting the stringent requirements of inverter batteries. The presence of dissolved solids in RO water, even at reduced levels, can lead to detrimental consequences for the battery over time.
Using RO or tap water in the battery reduces the life of your battery significantly.
That’s because the metals and minerals in the RO water not only hamper the chemical reaction inside the battery but also get deposited on the lead plates. This reduces the life and efficiency of the battery. Such a battery takes longer to charge, resulting in electricity wastage.
If you want your inverter’s battery to last longer distilled water is best to put in the inverter battery.
What is Distilled Water?
To make distilled water, first ordinary water is heated and converted into steam. This steam is collected and cooled to make distilled water.
Distilled water is the purest form of water as it doesn’t contain any kind of suspended or dissolved impurities.
That is why the TDS of distilled water is in the range of 0-0.5 ppm.
This water does not affect the chemical reaction inside the inverter battery and is therefore the best.
Conclusion
In the quest for an uninterrupted power supply, the water you choose for your inverter batteries becomes a critical factor in determining their longevity and efficiency. While Reverse Osmosis (RO) water has become synonymous with purity in our households, it is not the ideal companion for inverter batteries.
With a TDS level close to zero, distilled water is the purest form, ensuring it doesn’t disrupt the essential chemical processes unfolding within the battery.
