battery boiling (1 Viewer)

[david price]

Funny smell in van today and after searching found it was coming from one of the hab batteries.
It was very hot and liquid inside was boiling.I topped it up a couple of days ago when it was pretty dry.
Does this mean new battery required?
dave

 

[hilldweller]

Funny smell in van today and after searching found it was coming from one of the hab batteries.
It was very hot and liquid inside was boiling.I topped it up a couple of days ago when it was pretty dry.
Does this mean new battery required?
dave

More likely a new charger - you need to measure the voltage. FAST.

 

[Nexus]

David,

If the smell is a bit like a catalytic converter or acidic and the liquid is boiling then I suggest you look at the regulator urgently. It is over charging and is going to ruin your battery if it has not done so already. Be careful, you are dealing with a solution of sulphuric acid.

BrianG

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[tofo]

i have had the same in the works van
ended up new battery that cured it
what you smell is a highly flammable gas
and i believe hydrochloride gas
i suppose somone will correct me
it still isnt a nice smell though

 

[peter marshall]

Hi David
I had the same over in France last year, boiled its head off and stunk the van out, I had 2 batts in tandem so just disconnected it and replaced it on the return to uk, no further troubles after that so charger etc must have been ok, I was hooked up on a camp site the only other thing I was doing was charging a 12v batt charger engine starter, I always wondered if that was anything to do with it but as I don't know much about these things I can't say. Did you have anything else going on ?. Pete

 

[American Dream]

i have had the same in the works van
ended up new battery that cured it
what you smell is a highly flammable gas
and i believe hydrochloride gas
i suppose somone will correct me
it still isnt a nice smell though

A new battery WOULD cure it for a while but the advice is right.

Check the charger/charging voltage before you end up with another scrap battery.

Better safe than sorry.That gas is quite intoxicating and possibly explosive in a confined space....Like when you're asleep in the van.

Don't want to scare you but best get it checked out.

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[peter marshall]

Hi I agree with your advice but it was over 18 months ago I had my trouble, I don't have the van now so I can't check. I traded in so I hope it ok but after 18 months id had no further troubles. pete

 

[pappajohn]

if its only one battery then that battery has a very high internal resistance and is knackered.

easiest way to describe the smell is rotton eggs.....thats the sulphuric acid overheating and releasing sulpher gas.

 

[American Dream]

Hi John..

Still better replaced than gassing ......

I agree it's not a pleasant smell.

Woke to it once and it was a combination of battery and charger..

For safety replace battery and monitor charge volts/amps especially if on EHU with the charger replenishing batteries overnight.:thumb:

Battery was hot and cells had no electrolyte left.....

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[pappajohn]

Hi John..

Still better replaced than gassing ......

I agree it's not a pleasant smell.

Woke to it once and it was a combination of battery and charger..

For safety replace battery and monitor charge volts/amps especially if on EHU with the charger replenishing batteries overnight.:thumb:

Battery was hot and cells had no electrolyte left.....

did someone mention......gassing!!!!

 

[American Dream]

did someone mention......gassing!!!!

Shhhhhhhhhh I smell a Rat Or........oh:

Smells worse than a night out with a vindaloo.....

 

[pappajohn]

i once melted a battery.......6v bike battery on a 12v charger at 15amps
forgot to switch to 6v. oh:
only took a couple of hours to reduce it to a plastic blob.

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[david price]

Hi all,thankyou for the replies.
I have two batteries in tandam and only the one getting hot.I shall be checking after work.
dave

 

[pudseykeith]

Hi Dave.
Get the area where the batteries are WELL ventalated. Don't use an electric driven blower. The smell is gas, and highly explosive. The fumes and liquid coming from the battery is very corrosive and will start to corrode anything they come into contact with. Disconnect the 'earth lead' first, and get that battery out of your rig. If there are signs of corrosion, wash it down with hot water and dry well. Coat affected areas with vaserline. Wash any material affected. Be very careful, batteries can and do explode. You need a new battery. If Geo responds to your post, follow his instruction.

Pudseykeith :thumb:

 

[david price]

Hi all ,just checked batteries.Without charger on 12.7 volt,put charger on and it goes quite quickly to 13.8volt.
The charger is a nordelettronica model no ne143mh.Will leave on for a while and keep checking the battery that got hot.
dave

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[david price]

One battery still getting hot so have removed,other one reading 14.3 under charge so looks like batterie kaput.Will keep eye on it but charger seems ok.
Dave

 

[hilldweller]

One battery still getting hot so have removed,other one reading 14.3 under charge so looks like batterie kaput.Will keep eye on it but charger seems ok.
Dave

You've convinced me.

 

[Geo]

I will be convinced, when the chargers output has been proved within tolerance
dont ignore advise to check it, as the remaining "good battery" may just be tollerating(for now) an over charge fault as has been suggested :thumb:
Geo

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