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08-18-2021, 05:42 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas 24.1
State: Tennessee
Posts: 4
THOR #4479
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Just some info for anyone who might recognize the same problem
This past weekend our CO detector went off in the middle of the night. I got up and went outside and shut off the propane, opened all the windows and reset the detector. When I thought it might be safe we went back to bed. Shortly it went off again. After researching the problem on the internet, it led me to the smell we had been getting for the last two days (sulphur). Apparently the batteries were overcharging, boiling and creating sulphur smell. I was able to get through to someone at Thor and they told me to simply use the battery storage switch to keep electricity from getting to the batteries until I could get home and get it checked out. One RV repair person told me I needed new batteries. That the sulphur smell meant they were warped inside and no good. (Even though gauge showed full power and everything was running properly).
If anyone else has had a similar experience, I would appreciate your input. I realize I probably will have to replace batteries, but not until I find out if whatever charges the batteries is at fault.
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08-18-2021, 05:50 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,117
THOR #7035
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Battery status - TBD
Converter status - obviously bad.
Replace the converter and have the batteries load tested. If they didn't overheat and warp the plates or boil dry they should be OK until they are really bad. Their lives may have been shortened.
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Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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08-18-2021, 06:11 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: A.C.E. 27.2
State: Indiana
Posts: 1,842
THOR #14698
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 16ACE27
Battery status - TBD
Converter status - obviously bad.
Replace the converter and have the batteries load tested. If they didn't overheat and warp the plates or boil dry they should be OK until they are really bad. Their lives may have been shortened.
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Yep what he said. The converter never dropped back to float so it boiled the water in the batteries. When batteries charge they produce hydrogen sulfide, the rotten egg smell is produced by the sulfur. The hydrogen produced by the charging batteries can be explosive (1st hand knowledge) Glad your detector did it's job
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2018 ACE 27.2
Toad 2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain Towbar
Roadmaster Invisibrake
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08-18-2021, 08:47 PM
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#4
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas 24.1
State: Tennessee
Posts: 4
THOR #4479
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Thanks
Thanks to those who took time to reply. When you go to the shop it is helpful to show knowledge. Less likely to be talked into buying something you don’t need.
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08-18-2021, 09:22 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1
State: Connecticut
Posts: 1,772
THOR #20289
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Here is a quick check to see if your converter is switching to float after fully charging the batteries. Measure the battery voltage. It should be somewhere near 13.6 volts. Anything above 14.0 is a good indication it is stuck in absorption mode and as noted above and is boiling (well disassociating) water.
David
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08-18-2021, 10:02 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Citation
State: Texas
Posts: 920
THOR #8139
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidEM
Here is a quick check to see if your converter is switching to float after fully charging the batteries. Measure the battery voltage. It should be somewhere near 13.6 volts. Anything above 14.0 is a good indication it is stuck in absorption mode and as noted above and is boiling (well disassociating) water.
David
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If you don't have a volt meter they are cheap at Walmart.
Time for a question.
Have you ever checked the water level in the batteries? They will need a lot.
If you haven't then give them time to calm down before checking/filling with distilled water,
then take a look at your cables, they will need cleaning.
BUT THE MAIN THING is be careful, that sulfur smell is very explosive
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08-18-2021, 10:14 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,117
THOR #7035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by abjbrtd
If you don't have a volt meter they are cheap at Walmart.
Time for a question.
Have you ever checked the water level in the batteries? They will need a lot.
If you haven't then give them time to calm down before checking/filling with distilled water,
then take a look at your cables, they will need cleaning.
BUT THE MAIN THING is be careful, that sulfur smell is very explosive
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Not to mention the pure hydrogen that is created.
__________________
Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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08-19-2021, 12:18 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Omni XG32 GONE for good
State: Alabama
Posts: 1,750
THOR #22586
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On my previous motorhome with 3 gp29 house batteries, one had an internal failure and that strong sulphur smell. The inverter/charger was good, battery was bad, overheated badly but didn't warp or explode. Pulled it offline and all good till I replaced it later in the year after the long trip.
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2022 Renegade Valencia 35MB
2021 Jeep Gladiator
2019 Harley Davidson FLHTC
2012 PT Crusader 355BHQ
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08-26-2021, 02:05 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Thor Tuscany 36 MQ
State: Indiana
Posts: 936
THOR #6280
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If your rig is under warranty you should make them replace all the coach batteries. If you smelled sulfur there was some type of damage even if slight. If not still in warranty do what everyone else said, test them thoroughly and after addressing the reason behind the issue reuse them.
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Bill & Martha more than 46 years.
Traveling with Shih Tzu's Baily, Bella and Maltese Buster. Towing, Golf Cart, Harley or Polaris RZR. 3 of our darling Shih Tzu's passed away recently and I just can't take them off of here. RIP Baxter, Baili & sweet sweet Bella. Buster is our little rock.
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08-26-2021, 02:15 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Sunstar 29VE Winnebago
State: Texas
Posts: 5,584
THOR #13058
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Wow yet another reason why I am glad I dumped my factory under warranty FLA batteries for AGM. I get it may actually be the Converter, but I don't need the hazardous possibility of trying to put water in some $100 battery that could potentially explode, the sulfating and corrosion on concrete was bad enough.
Very good post by the OP
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2019 Sunstar 29ve; Toad Lincoln Navigator; RVi Brake 3 & Command Center; Roadmaster Nighthawk Tow bar & Baseplate; Sumo Springs; Safe T Plus; Onan EC-30 AGS; Vmax 250ah AGM; T-Mobile Internet; H/W Heater / Chassis Disconnect Switches; Southwire Surge Guard 44270 & 34951 w/Monitor 40301; Jet Flo Macerator; Alpine SPE500 Speakers; Visio M21D-H8R
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08-26-2021, 02:26 AM
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#11
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,117
THOR #7035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dkoldman
Wow yet another reason why I am glad I dumped my factory under warranty FLA batteries for AGM. I get it may actually be the Converter, but I don't need the hazardous possibility of trying to put water in some $100 battery that could potentially explode, the sulfating and corrosion on concrete was bad enough.
Very good post by the OP
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What do you think will happen to overcharged AGM batteries? It's still a lead acid battery.
__________________
Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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08-26-2021, 02:42 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Sunstar 29VE Winnebago
State: Texas
Posts: 5,584
THOR #13058
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 16ACE27
What do you think will happen to overcharged AGM batteries? It's still a lead acid battery.
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I get if the Converter is bad, but my point is …. there is nothing for me to fool with with water etc. that may explode. What if I don't know they are being overcharged and I feel like it is pretty day to check water; and it explodes on me or something? My FLA were certainly sulfating before and I have same converter and the AGM still look brand new.
If you ask me, unless you are a mechanic or battery guru, do yourself a favor and buy out of the FLA batteries that require water, you don't have to get AGMs, but Maintenance Free ought to be a Industry Standard.
__________________
2019 Sunstar 29ve; Toad Lincoln Navigator; RVi Brake 3 & Command Center; Roadmaster Nighthawk Tow bar & Baseplate; Sumo Springs; Safe T Plus; Onan EC-30 AGS; Vmax 250ah AGM; T-Mobile Internet; H/W Heater / Chassis Disconnect Switches; Southwire Surge Guard 44270 & 34951 w/Monitor 40301; Jet Flo Macerator; Alpine SPE500 Speakers; Visio M21D-H8R
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08-26-2021, 03:04 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 25.6
State: Texas
Posts: 103
THOR #19026
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Find someone that knows how to test them with a hydrometer. I just now realized that was what was going on setting off my alarm. I had one battery that was cooking all the water out overnight and the other one was bad too. It was also causing the AGS to keep starting the generator.
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10-18-2021, 06:38 PM
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#14
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Wisconsin
Posts: 6
THOR #9135
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I have a 91 Pinnacle. Anyone know where the ac-dc converter is located?
Thanks.
Mark
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