Battery egg smell

[rockape]

I have 3 x110amp batteries banked up , I used the MH 5 weeks ago and there was no smell then.

Since then I have noticed a distinct egg smell. 1 of the batteries is 3 years old which is the standard fit from Autotrail , the other 2 are additions which are approx. 8 years old .

All of the batteries show full charge and are sealed unit.

I am at an impass as to know what the problem could be.


As im away in 2 weeks time I need to resolve the problem.

My guess is that its the 2 older batteries, short of taking them out im not sure what to do,

 

[harrow]

Yes a battery has gone bad, if you can separate them to see which one it is, I guess the tops are sealed ?

 

[QFour]

Definitely a dud battery. Question is which one. We had it on a boat many years ago only didn’t realise what it was. The skipper finished up loosing his voice as he was sleeping over the batteries. When we eventually realised what was happening we investigated and the duff battery was very hot. They finished up replacing both of them.

Perhaps the way forward is a couple of new batteries.

 

[malagaoth]

Perhaps the way forward is a couple of new batteries.

the way forward is to take the batteries - all of them - and have them tested most battery specialists will do it for free in the hope that if they are dead you will buy replacements there

 

[rockape]

Found , I believe, is the duff battery,. Of the 6 cells , 2 on the positive side are nearly dry and the battery was warm on the same side.

Is it possible to replenish with distilled water and recharge or is it a no hoper?


Thanks for all your replies.

 

[witzend]

Definitely a dud battery. Question is which one. Perhaps the way forward is a couple of new batteries.

I'd replace all 3 as much better for them to be matched. Scrap battery's fetch a good price at scrap merchants

 

[harrow]

Found , I believe, is the duff battery,. Of the 6 cells , 2 on the positive side are nearly dry and the battery was warm on the same side.

Is it possible to replenish with distilled water and recharge or is it a no hoper?


Thanks for all your replies.

Not really, it boiled for some reason.

 

[malagaoth]

Scrap battery's fetch a good price at scrap merchants

In the spring I weighed in two batteries at the scrap yard - I got about £25 for the pair the replacements cost about £300 - so not such a good price.
Yes matched batteries are better but there is little point in scrapping two perfectly good batteries just so that you can get three matching ones

 

[rockape]

Was the dud the original, or one of the pair?
You MUST disconnect the faulty battery, but I'd run with just the other two for a while, to determine whether they are OK.
No point in replacing them if they're ok at present.

This battery was one of a pair, approx. 8 years old

 

[malagaoth]

at 8 years old you have probably had your value out of it and in all probability the other one wont be far behind it

 

[ChrisInNotts]

I would suggest checking the charge voltage to the battery bank. The smell is hydrogen sulphide which is produced when batteries are over-charged. The gas is very nasty and toxic. The fact you have cells that have boiled dry is an additional warning sign. Of course, it is most likely to just be a failed battery but costs nothing to double check.

Keith

 

[campervanannie]

Mmmm this is interesting because I occasionally get an eggy smell when I start the van and after the first mile it disappears so does that mean my van battery is duff.

 

[QFour]

Mmmm this is interesting because I occasionally get an eggy smell when I start the van and after the first mile it disappears so does that mean my van battery is duff.

Could be the drains or you have left some eggs in a cupboard.

 

[Wully]

Mmmm this is interesting because I occasionally get an eggy smell when I start the van and after the first mile it disappears so does that mean my van battery is duff.

Probably you’re catalytic converter on you’re exhaust system they sometimes smell until engine heats up a bit if it is shouldn’t mean there’s anything wrong.

 

[Lee]

I would suggest that you need to check the battery charger as well as it could be over charging the batteries.
If you have a standard charger and have left it on for a long period of time this could also have caused the problem.

 

[rockape]

Could be the drains or you have left some eggs in a cupboard.

All checked and all good

 

[maingate]

How old is your engine battery?

If possible ditch it, put the 4 year old one in its place (if possible) and buy 3 nice new ones ready for the cold weather.

 

[guerdeval]

This is dangerous, it can explode, it happened to me some years ago and it turned out it was due to over-charging, I know someone quite well who has a very large scar on his face due to a battery exploding.

 

[malagaoth]

How old is your engine battery?

If possible ditch it, put the 4 year old one in its place (if possible) and buy 3 nice new ones ready for the cold weather.

a proper leisure battery will not appreciate being asked to supply the loads needed to crank a cold 2L diesel engine!

Of course He may have one of those 'dual purpose' batteries which are basically a starter battery rebadged as a leisure battery and really do neither job particularly well.

 

[trevskoda]

I would replace all the batterys and take readings to make sure ether the alt or on board charger is putting out the correct voltage,also make sure your onboard charger is a smart unit and not a old time constant output unit which will boil batterys.