Battery smoking and smelling rotten eggs

[jscraig]

Can anyone tell me what going on with my battery. It won't hold a charge. It's smoking, I hear it hissing and I smell rotten eggs. It's not even a year old yet. I let it in my camper over winter, and kept it plugged into my electricity. I'm sure I've ruined it, but thought I would ask the experts first.

[rana]

What type of battery and, if applicable, when was the last time you checked the water levels, and how often were you checking them during winter?

[rana]

I'm going to assume they are wet cells and the water has been cooked off so, unfortunately, it's toast. Wet cells require regular maintenance. After you replace your current battery, visit the manufacturers website to read through their recommended maintenance schedules and procedures.

I don't know what you were using to charge your batteries, but you might also want to look into upgrading your rigs converter/charger to help prevent this from happening again.

Progressive Dynamics has a very nice lineup of equipment that should fit your needs.

[jscraig]

Interstate brand. I checked once a month. Couple times, water level was low.

[jscraig]

Thanks. I'll look into that company.

[rana]

What are the levels like now (if its cooled off enough to look). Which converter does your Roo have?

[jscraig]

Do I even need a battery? If I'm hooked to 30 amp? Going on vacation about 10 hr one way. Would rather put battery on hold for a month or so if possible.

[B and B]

You require the battery by law to stop the trailer. Breakaway switch. It sounds a lot like over charging. I would top off the cells, when you get to your destination use the battery disconnect switch to disconnect the battery. BTW the gas is explosive, don't smoke around a gassing battery.

[conceptumator]

Check for overcharging, definitely, but I had a similar issue with two Interstate batteries and it didn't have anything at all to do with overcharging, just bad batteries. Not sure what causes it. Mine weren't boiling or overheating, just lost all their water and died. Never could figure out why one of the pair dried out and the other was just fine.

[jscraig]

I disconnected the battery last night. Never seen one smoke before. So the battery controls a break away switch? That's nothing to do with the trailer brakes that controlled by the trailer brake box in the cab of truck is it? will they still work without a battery connected? Sorry for so many questions just not sure on this. I have very little knowledge of how this works. What do you think was causing the hissing sound?

[conceptumator]

The box in your cab controls the amount the brakes are applied, proportional to what you are applying and the setting you have on the controller. The breakaway device has to have it's own battery that will activate the brakes if everything else disconnects from the tow vehicle.

[TURBS]

You have to have a battery.

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded
2011 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "11 nights"

[Cowracer]

The thing that usually makes a battery hiss and smoke like that is a over-voltage on the charging system. If you have a volt meter, check the battery voltage when plugged into the shoreline. Your current battery is toast, but you want to make sure your new one doesn't get fried too.

Tim

[TURBS]

Most likely another junk wfco converter.
Progressive dynamics should be your first purchase with a new battery.

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded
2011 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "11 nights"

[jscraig]

Thank you guys.

[mike.t]

Disconnect the battery if you are going to store the RV. A few day's before your going to use it connect it and let it charge back up. Always check the water. And don't read to much in to most "Maintenance free batteries" you can still put water in most.

[camaraderie]

It could easily be a short in the battery...instead of a blown converter. I'd hook up a new batt and take voltage readings at the terminals:
1. Before installing
2. 5-10 min after installing AND plugged into 30amp.
3. 4-5 hours after installing.

Your readings should be
1. 12.6-.7 Volts.
2. 14+ volts...not more than 14.6 or disconnect immediately. You have a converter problem.
3. Between 13.2 and 13.6V ...if higher...get a new converter.

If all the readings are in range, problem solved..keep the water up and don't run em down past 50% discharge. Good luck.

[labarn]

Please do not use that battery. Be safe.


labarn

[Tom48]

Some trailers seem to come with a ONE SIZE FITS ALL "CHEAP" converter charger. Upgrading is never bad but at least during storage pull the battery terminal off and put a GOOD HIGH END battery maintainer on it. The best Converter Chargers top the battery 80 % at a higher voltage then drop down a few tenths of a volt to top the batterys off and finally go to a trickle charge or maintainer voltage that should not BOIL the batteries. Then the really good ones have a cycle that periodically soups up the voltage and knocks the sulfur build up off the plates without BOILING them and that evidently helps them last a lot longer

[mike.t]

Tom. So you don't recommend disconnecting the battery during storage? Just asking. How about mineral oil in the battery to help stop evaporation?