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Topic ClosedSmoking/Stinky battery

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Sheila View Drop Down
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Joined: 15 Apr 2017
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Smoking/Stinky battery
    Posted: 17 Jul 2018 at 9:48pm
2017 RPOD 178 plugged into house current.   After 2 hours battery started to smoke and smell like rotten eggs and dripping liquid.   Was plugged into same receptacle last year with no problem.   Anyone???Dead
Sheila
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jul 2018 at 10:13pm
I had a similar problem last year, at my year 2 of ownership. Just rotten egg smell, not smoking or dripping of liquid but battery did get hot. In my case I neglected to check the battery water often enough, it can dissipate and when low cause these type problems. Looking at top of battery you can see 2 caps that can be pryed off, use only distilled water and fill just until you can't see a space at the bottom of the tube. In my case, the battery was nearly completely dry, and ruined as it sounds like yours is. $100 lesson in my case. Google how to check the battery water.

Please be sure to disconnect from shore power and let the battery cool before you handle it, eye protection and gloves are a good idea also. If the water isn't low you may  have a charger issue. An auto parts store or your rv dealer will likely take the battery when you purchase a new one.

If you are within a year of purchase it may be a warranty item.


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StephenH View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jul 2018 at 9:56am
+1
That is a boiling battery. Disconnect and let it cool, then check the electrolyte level. It is likely low. The battery is probably bad now and will need to be replaced. The fluid dripping is sulfuric acid so you need not just gloves, but acid resistant ones like heavy duty nitrile gloves. Face protection is also advisable as is a way to keep the acid from contacting your skin or clothing. You may have a cracked case which would be the source of the dripping liquid.
StephenH
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jul 2018 at 10:58am
Check your converter output. Sounds like it is high and has cooked you battery. 
Michael
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jul 2018 at 12:01pm
If the electrolyte level was already low and the converter was reading the charge as low, it could have put the converter into bulk charge mode. Was the bad battery the cause of the overcharging or the overcharging the cause of the bad battery? My suspicion is the battery.
StephenH
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mcarter View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jul 2018 at 4:00pm
+1 to SH - a dry battery causes the convertor to charge. Easy to check, disconnect the battery, plug into power without touching battery leads and see what convertor is doing. Not to say it is impossible but converters have tendency to stop charging not go into "BULK". Glad I have a volt gauge.
Mike Carter
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" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Jul 2018 at 7:52am
Be very careful messing with a hot battery.  They give off hydrogen sulfide gas and can be explosive.  Many people have been blinded by battery explosions.  As was pointed out by others, low water/electrolyte can lead to overheating.  Best to turn off all charging power sources before investigating and make sure you have vented the battery very well before doing anything that could cause a spark.  
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Jul 2018 at 8:27am
+1 - Best to never mess with a HOT battery,let it cool.
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Jul 2018 at 8:32am
My experience with boiling batteries was in an M577A2 (Command Tracked vehicle) on the Autobahn in Germany. The voltage regulator went bad and was boiling the batteries. In this situation, it was not the batteries at fault. We had to pull off and get out as the fumes were too much to take. We spent the night in sub-freezing weather in a rest area until the mechanics could get the part needed and effect the repair to get us back on the road to our intended exercise location.

One spark and they could have exploded. Thankfully, that did not happen. I agree with letting the battery cool down. Keep clear of it until it does.
StephenH
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