Checking Battery Acid Level

[whichway]

Hi

I have two batteries that are increadibly difficult to get out and have a live bait tank above them (Thank you Haines Hunter).

It is very difficult to check the acid level in the batteries because I can't get my head in there to see and it is a bit dark to use a mirror. I got to thinking that I might be able to use a lenght of litmus paper or similar. If I measured how far from the top of the litmus paper to where the acid got to, then I would get an idea of where the acid was up to, but I don't have any litmus paper.

Any ideas

Whichway

[cormorant]

Same issue for me on 2 of the batteries and a pain with new battery cases being so thick and dark coloured. Prevoiusly with lighter coloured cases we just used a very bright light and before fitting the battery marked the case with the correct level. Could see the level in each cell just by using light and not moving them.

Now with new batteries I pull the caps off each cell and I have a old hydrometer and have put a longer tube on it. The tube has a stopper on it so it only goes into the cell to the correct level. I then just use a chemist / lab squeeze squirt bottle with a long tube in it to fill the cells with the distilled water while pumping the hydrometer bulb. As soon as it starts sucking and blowing distilled water I know the level is right.

Next boat will have longer leads and slide in and out battery racks cause it sh!ts me.

[Apollo]

Whichway

Visit one of the electric golf cart specialists and talk to them. There is a system setup for the electric carts that make to checking and maintenance of batteries extremely easy by linking all the cells together with a single tube. The aim is to allow the levels to be maintained without individually checking the batteries. Too many rums have passed through me to remember exactly how it works, but you might be able to troll through the internet to find some more details.

cheers
Steve

[frank100]

Whichway,
I have the same prob. I use an inspection mirror (30mmm round on an extendable rod) with a torch.
It is a pain !

If you find a better way let me know.

Frank

[finga]

How would the Ph. test sticks they use for the pools work?
They're just like litmus paper but in convenient paper sticks.

[Noelm]

why do you need to know the Ph with Litmus Paper? don't you just want to check the Electrolyte level? any sort of paper/dipstick will do that, if you need to check the Ph, then you must be suspecting the Battery is dickey, in which case, you need to remove it anyway (maybe) to fully clean and inspect terminals and so on. I might also add that Litmus Paper will not actualy check Ph (kind of) it will only indicate Acid or Alkaline not the "strength"