Leisure Battery Issue

[AG 2602]

Hi all picked the van up today to go away for the weekend and noticed leisure battery showing 12.7v normally it shows full charge. Drove to campsite and leisure batteries flashing on 11v.
Luckily we are on EHU so plugged in batteries showing 12.5 and within 10 mins shows full charge.

Van is. Pilote G740 2 x leisure batteries battery master and solar. Went away a couple of weeks ago no EHU did four days no problem.

Any thoughts on what this might be?
Won’t be looking at it until I get back on Monday because it’s too hot and I’ve got a beer on the go!

As always thanks in advance

 

[DavidG58]

I would have expected the batteries to show charging voltage immediately when hooked up

How many leisure batteries do you have ?

You might get lucky if more than one, typically one might fail but effectively drags both or all down with it until disconnected

Bit of luck being on hookup though

Enjoy your beer

 

[AG 2602]

Thanks we have two batteries
When we had the battery master fitted around four months ago by an electrical engineer (he also did other work) he seemed to think that the leisure batteries were in pretty good nick!

Thanks again
The fridge is working and the beers are very cold

 

[Lenny HB]

Luckily we are on EHU so plugged in batteries showing 12.5 and within 10 mins shows full charge.

If its getting back to a full charge the voltage should rise to 14.4 v then hold at that voltage for an hour for standard wet cells or several hours for gel then drop to a float charge of around 13.8v.

Sounds like one of our batteries has probably had it, check to see if it is getting hot on charge. If it is disconnect immediately as there could be a risk of explosion, sulfuric acid everywhere is not much fun.

 

[AG 2602]

If its getting back to a full charge the voltage should rise to 14.4 v then hold at that voltage for an hour for standard wet cells or several hours for gel then drop to a float charge of around 13.8v.

Sounds like one of our batteries has probably had it, check to see if it is getting hot on charge. If it is disconnect immediately as there could be a risk of explosion, sulfuric acid everywhere is not much fun.

Hi Lenny
One battery I would describe as being warm the other is hot!
Can I just unplug the hot one and Carry on Camping?

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[AG 2602]

Hi Lenny
One battery I would describe as being warm the other is hot!
Can I just unplug the hot one and Carry on Camping?

FYI I’ve unplugged EHU

 

[Lenny HB]

Hi Lenny
One battery I would describe as being warm the other is hot!
Can I just unplug the hot one and Carry on Camping?

Yes, they will get a bit warm charging but not hot.
After disconnecting the hot one keep an eye on the temp of the other one it should be OK & monitor the voltage.

 

[Lenny HB]

FYI I’ve unplugged EHU

Very wise until you have disconnected the hot one.

 

[AG 2602]

Thanks Lenny glad you were about!!

The hot one is actually fizzing!!
Needless to say I’ve put my beer down!!

 

[Lenny HB]

Thanks Lenny glad you were about!!

The hot one is actually fizzing!!
Needless to say I’ve put my beer down!!

That could have been really nasty.

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[AG 2602]

Phew!
Dodgy battery disconnected plugged back into EHU all seems fine!

Thanks Lenny much appreciated.

Do you know if I now need to replace both batteries? Thanks

 

[Lenny HB]

If they are standard lead acid and over a year old best to replace both.

 

[AG 2602]

If they are standard lead acid and over a year old best to replace both.

Yes they are five years old so I’ll get a couple sorted for Monday

 

[DavidG58]

If your charger has an option to charge gel batteries I would check the price for them and if in budget buy them. They will still fail eventually but less dramatically

 

[AG 2602]

If your charger has an option to charge gel batteries I would check the price for them and if in budget buy them. They will still fail eventually but less dramatically

yes I’m sure it does and I will be ordering the gel.
Thanks for the advice

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[AG 2602]

Still really hot and bubbling away but I guess it takes time to settle down?

 

[Phill D]

Watch any gassing of from the fizzy battery that will be highly dangerous.
I would be inclined to remove it from the van if it is not too difficult a job.

 

[AG 2602]

Thanks Phil think It will have to cool a bit first.
When you say gassing are we talking smoke or some sort of smell?
Sorry this is not familiar territory for me.

 

[GeoffnDee]

The gassing can be explosive if it gets a flame/spark near it and if your fridge is on gas it would be best to turn it off or on to 230v until the battery can be removed and dont use anything near it with a flame or sparks at the moment.

 

[AG 2602]

The gassing can be explosive if it gets a flame/spark near it and if your fridge is on gas it would be best to turn it off or on to 230v until the battery can be removed and dont use anything near it with a flame or sparks at the moment.

Thanks the van is completely ventilated and fridge is on electric so hopefully should be ok.
Thanks for the heads up

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[Phill D]

Thanks Phil think It will have to cool a bit first.
When you say gassing are we talking smoke or some sort of smell?
Sorry this is not familiar territory for me.

If it’s smoking still I suggest you
I meant smell usually like sulphur smell that is both toxic and explosive

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

I would remove the battery from the van asap,use an old towel or gloves to pick it up,don't open the filler plugs and just put it somewhere safe to vent off. The gases are hydrogen / hydrogen sulphide and are explosive as well as the latter being smelly.
Be careful

 

[AG 2602]

Well this explains a lot we smelt sulphur on the drive down thought it was the drains from sink/shower caused by the hot weather turns out it was the battery!!

The smell has gone now but will remove the battery.

Thanks everyone it goes without saying but if you were all here now I’d get a round in!!

 

[AG 2602]

If I’m moving to gel batteries is it just a case of flicking the switch to gel and dropping in the new batteries or is there more that needs to be done? Basically do i need to get them fitted? I currently have 2 x batteries in the photo. Any recommendations for middle of the road replacements? Thanks

 

[pappajohn]

Still really hot and bubbling away but I guess it takes time to settle down?

Sounds like an internal short circuit to me.
It shouldn't take an hour and half to cool and stop gassing.

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[AG 2602]

Sounds like an internal short circuit to me.
It shouldn't take an hour and half to cool and stop gassing.

Mmm I wouldn’t know but it’s out now and won’t be going back in. Batteries are 5 years old I’ll get someone out to fit the new ones and check for short circuit.
Thanks for the advice

 

[Phill D]

Mmm I wouldn’t know but it’s out now and won’t be going back in. Batteries are 5 years old I’ll get someone out to fit the new ones and check for short circuit.
Thanks for the advice

Short circuit is likely inside the battery
On the change to gel just flick the charger over to the gel setting

 

[AG 2602]

Short circuit is likely inside the battery
On the change to gel just flick the charger over to the gel setting

Now I understand thanks!!

Everyday’s a school day!

 

[AG 2602]

Hi

Looking at ordering two of the below as replacements. They are a similar size so I know they will fit.
So all I need to do is flick the switch on the charger to gel and and connect.
Will anything need altering as far as solar is concerned? Thanks

 

[Phill D]

The solar controller is likely to have a gel setting also flick that onto play job done

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