Warm Battery

[Whirnot]

I just got my Vegas out and plugged it in, in preparation for a trip.
I checked the battery water and everything was fine.
A while later my wife complained about a smell. It was the hydrogen smell from charging.
On inspection, one battery is running much warmer than the other. The coach was plugged in prior, while in storage. All connections are tight.
Any ideas?

[16ACE27]

Disconnect the batteries.
Test each battery independent of the other.
One of the batteries has a cell problem.

[coachray]

I've not experienced that, but maybe someone else will have some thoughts. I would be concerned because if you're on a week long camp you'll probably be plugged in to shoreline power. If there aren't any answers before you leave, you might want to replace that battery and keep an eye on it. Hope it works out.

[Whirnot]

Makes sense, logic says it's the one heating up.
Probably just replace them both. OEM 4 years old.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Whirnot

Makes sense, logic says it's the one heating up.
Probably just replace them both. OEM 4 years old.

That may be the path of least resistance, and quickest resolution.

[Whirnot]

That a pun?

[DavidEM]

Yes, lead sulfate has settled out on the bottom and has shorted the plates. That is what sometimes happens with non true deep cycle batteries. Replace with AGMs (kind of expensive) or better with golf cart batteries wired in series if you have room.

David

[abjbrtd]

Your battery is outgassing, your wife smells it and your alarm doesn't .
Time to check/ replace your alarm.

[lwmcguire]

The out gassing from the batteries is not only corrosive but very flammable

Be careful when close to them

And as others noted, replace them

[ducksface]

Mine did the same. Overheat and off gas.
Had to replace both of them in the road at 106° laying in the sand on my back cutting off the retainer straps. The loveliest part is I have my ac wired through the inverter. No batteries, no ac, even in shore power. It was miserable.

Buy new batteries now and fix it at home not in some jerkwater town along the road.
And that front most positive post is stupid close to the metal lid/step.
Put something over it, a sheet of nonconductive something.
And if you don't hit a wrench on that step and terminal and spark it a few times you're better than I.

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by lwmcguire

The out gassing from the batteries is not only corrosive but very flammable

Be careful when close to them

And as others noted, replace them

Happened to me with my new coach. First trip and one of mine had a thermal runaway event. Turns out my coach had sat on the dealers lot for most of a year and p, of course the batteries were badly neglected. They got us out the door and I replaced them on the road. Dealer and Interstate both refused to pay for them but the coach maker (SOB) reimbursed us. The Ford battery didn’t last much longer. Oh well. At least I now have nice new ones all around.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Whirnot

That a pun?

Not intentional, but pretty good though.

[Whirnot]

Just unhook the negative first and rehook last

[BASSMAN]

The gas coming off the batteries will explode if there is a spark, usually the water level will be down because of the internal short, safe way to avoid it to fill the battery clear full with water and allow the gas to dissipate before you disconnect, wear gloves and a face shield for added safety, battery acid can blind you.

[paulwadley]

Usually if one battery is bad, time to replace both of them. If you don't, the new battery will be pulled down to the level of the other battery in no time and you are back in that same spot again. I just bought a battery water hydration system that will allow me to fill both batteries without removing the caps and by just using one water line connected to both batteries.

Paul

[MLP]

Wow. Isn't this post timely. I left four led lights on over night while not plugged in. House batteries drained down to 11.5V with one light on for ten hours. Looks like a new set of four batteries for me when I get back from this trip in two days. I checked and they are seven years old. Over due by two years.

[CHRIS1u]

Originally Posted by BASSMAN

The gas coming off the batteries will explode if there is a spark, usually the water level will be down because of the internal short, safe way to avoid it to fill the battery clear full with water and allow the gas to dissipate before you disconnect, wear gloves and a face shield for added safety, battery acid can blind you.

The charging current is electrolyzing the battery water...water will break down into hydrogen and oxygen, and the two together are very explosive. Be careful. If you check the electrolyte in the battery cells (I'm assuming a flooded type battery) you will find the level is down for one or more cells.