Battery steaming like a teapot

[reed1v]

There She Blows. Exploding batteries not good. A gallon of water? Really? Distilled or just junk from the hose? In any event its shorted and needs to be disposed of. Crappy water has lots of minerals that can quickly short out you plates.

[delmarrey]

Boom!
Agreed! Boiling batteries are dangerous. That's why overboard vents are required in battery compartments. The fumes are explosive.

Just replace it! Once the acid has boiled out, just water will not replace it. After the replacement monitor the new battery to make sure there is not a chairing problem.

[Aquadome]

GET IT OFF THE BOAT NOW

[ramblinrod]

Step 1.shut off the charger.
Step2. Since you had to ask the question, you obviously aren't familiar with batteries and their safe handling.

Call a certified marine electrical technician to evaluate your remaining batteries and charger.

In all likelihood it will be advisable to replace all batteries at once and possibly upgrade the charger.

[boeing1]

due to the amount of water you said you put in the battery, I would as suggested prev. remove, and if if is a part of a bank also remove other battery, also check operation of your battery charger.. due to older type of charger would not suggest leave charger on 24/7, I seen too many batteries cooked.

[rbrentp]

Have a similar issue.....maybe a new thread? This is very close. Had a pair of 6V in series for twelve for last 18 months. Finally got the 400 watts of solar tied into the Prostar 30 Mornigstar controller.

Everything was fine for a week. Checked on boat and both batteries were hot and took close to gallon each (3/4 a allowing for spillage with the distilled water.).

Two days later...same thing. Disconnected solar and the shore power charger still had them hot. Shut off shore and the solar seems to keep them up and fine. Used them to start engines after a while of charging. Disconnected them and read 6.54 V on one and 6.34 on the other. Left them disconnected for two hours and checked charge....no difference. HAve been on solar for two days and no issues so far.

BAtteries? COntroller? Charger? I am guessing controller and charger may be in league here.

[kish]

Originally Posted by Myknjul

Serviced my batteries this am and one was extremely dry. It took over a gallon of water. This evening we went out to dinner. When we came him the smell of acid was overpowering. I opened up the compartment and found that battery steaming like a teapot. Is the battery shot? Is it getting cooked by the charger? The rest of the house batteries are fine.

A gallon of water!
Battery is shot, potentially destructive and is non recoverable.
Isolate and remove.
There is a danger of battery case rupture and consequent acid leakage. If there is any sign of acid leakage then use Sodium Bicarbonate {Baking Soda} to neutralise spillage.

Presence of "steam" indicates a corrosive vapour was being emitted.
Remove battery from boat immediately and clean vicinity with bicarbonate..

Battery temperature monitors are available with high end chargers, but are of limited use as the monitoring point is probably located on the battery that has not failed.

[bsurvey]

you were making hydrogen gas and could have blown yourself up.

battery has to go

its no good

[Myknjul]

Thanks all for the good info. Battery exchanged and performing nicely.

[savoir]

Did the charger switch to float mode all by itself ?

[Zil]

You may find the new battery reduces it self to the level of the other batteries in the bank. Keep an eye on your charging voltage until you are sure the charger is not over cooking. It may just be you allowed the acid level to get below the plates.

[Brighteyes]

Had the same problem. The battery is shot, get it off soonest. Then get an electrician to check the charging circuit.