Am I Killing My Batteries?

seadaddler · Dec 8, 2015

Are they boiling or is there any gas smell and if so you may have a problem
for sure.
When my 4 D's went bad they were constantly charging and giving off gas smells,
but wait and see what the battery experts say here and what help they offer.
Nick

JohnShannon · Dec 8, 2015

I think that might be some kind of equalization phase. Might want to read the manual.
Here is what Trojan battery has to say

http://www.trojanbattery.com/BatteryMaintenance/Equalizing.aspx

They suggest initiating and terminating equalization based on cell level specific gravity. That is more than a "smart" or even a "freaking genius" charger can do. That said it may not be quite as bad as it looks at first as it represents a phase of normal operation.

As always hope that MS weighs in, and then ignore anything I said that contradicts.

kloudie1 · Dec 8, 2015

IF the new battery is a Victron Gel, AGM, or LiPo , it shouldn't be combined with lead acid (golf cart) batteries on the same charger unless you can set each bank to a specific type battery on the charger. I am not familiar with the Trueccharge II, but your owner's literature for that charger will show whether it can be set so that the lead acid batteries are charged to a different charging profile than the Victron.

Maine Sail · Dec 8, 2015

Ron,

We need more information?

What are the charger settings?
Any other charge sources?
Is there a temp sensor connected?
What are the battery temps when you see this happening?
What does the battery monitor show in historical data for max voltages?
Ideally your charger would stay in float when you are not there except if it occasionally reverts to absorption charging.
Make sure it is NOT set to Lead Calcium!!

sailaway78 · Dec 8, 2015

I am in agreement with kloudie. You cannot mix the battery types, as the charge voltage is different. I have 4 6v golf carts as a house bank, and a single group 31 as start. A guest charger that stays on when ever I have shore power, which is pretty constant. No problems.

rpwillia · Dec 8, 2015

So did you mean to write you have a Victron Battery Monitor?

sailaway78 · Dec 8, 2015

Please accept my apology. I misunderstood the original post.

BillBay36 · Dec 9, 2015

Check for the right set point. We had a Xantrax charger fail berserk and kill our entire set of batteries. It was charging at more than sixteen volts and it also damaged the interior of the boat from the acid. We did not use another Xantrax my bride made that clear.

sailaway78 · Dec 9, 2015

I have a Guest charger that has been on the boat, and doing fine for over 5 years now. Absolutely no problems.

Captn Scotty · Dec 9, 2015

I have an old Jefferson 155, who knows what that vintage is, and I'm very impressed with how well it's worked over the last four years.

Captn Scotty · Dec 9, 2015

On one of the boats I worked on there was a Xantrax, and it was terrible. When it burst into flames it was replaced with a Magna Sine 2500, and that thing has worked like a dream for six years now.

kloudie1 · Dec 11, 2015

Ahh haa.. adding that one clarifying word, Monitor, makes a difference.. Carry On, Lad.

mitiempo · Jan 4, 2016

The Xantrex temperature sensor should negate any cold/warm setting.

Mark Maulden · Jan 4, 2016

My Xanterx true charge 60 has been working fine for four yrs. only complaint is the wire connnections are puny....

mitiempo · Jan 5, 2016

Mark Maulden said:
My Xantrex true charge 60 has been working fine for four yrs. only complaint is the wire connections are puny....

You could install larger wires.

Maine Sail · Jan 5, 2016

RonRelyea said:
answers to MaineSail's questions ... I don't know if these were viewable in my previous reply:

- Xantrex TrueCharge II is set for 3 Stage / Flooded / Warm
- No other charging sources - this happens only from shore power to charger
- Temp sensor is now installed
- battery is probably in the 40 to 50 degreee fahrenheit range ---- (maybe this is the problem since the Xantrex is set to "WARM" ????)
- H8 (maximum battery voltage) now shows shows 14.95
- charger is set to lead acid

You can unplug the temp sensor. It is boosting voltages because it is cold.. Once you plug in the temp sensor the cool, warm, hot buttons no longer do anything and the temp sensor takes over..