We have a Hunter 44 2006 and replaced our house batteries 3 years ago. We returned a few weeks ago to find one boiling over and cannot understand why. No draw on the batteries; plugged into shore power to maintain a charge. 7 days of motoring / 1 of sailing and a second one boiled over. We quickly replaced it. Now we are concerned about the third one in the rotation although after 8 days it did not show signs of failure. Can anyone help me understand why the batteries are boiling over? Is this indicative of a faulty regulator? We are assuming they are overcharging but not sure why. They are well maintained and water checked often (led acid, deep cell). Thanks for any assistance.
House Batteries Boiling Over
- Thread starter Big Red
- Start date
Xantrex, I believe.....inverter / charger. I don't recall the model, all manuals are on board the boat. Do you think the third battery in the rotation is at risk?
"7 days of motoring" ... Your batteries are also charged by your engine... possibly, the charger circuit has failed and does not stop charging when the batteries are fully charged. You might consider installing a Balmar voltage regulator.
Yep, sadly the weather didn't cooperate off-shore and we were on a schedule. But, we had one fantastic day of sailing off shore before a strong front came in with dangerous winds and seas. Fortunately, we could continue our cruise north along the ICW. Yes, know they charge when the engine is running. It was just odd and worrisome to return to her in the marina to prepare for our journey (4 weeks in between visits) to find one battery boiling. Now I'm worried about the third one in the rotation.
Thank you. Do you think our third battery in the rotation is at risk? We are plugged into shore power to maintain a charge (bilge pump operation) but no draw on the batteries, all breakers are off. House bank turned off. When we left, the battery was cold and showed no sign of damage.
If this one was on the same charger, what do YOU think?
I must excuse myself here, but you have a 44 foot boat and you seem clueless about electrical systems?!!!?
Perhaps I am missing something, and if so, I apologize.
A lot of boat owners can sail, very few can do any actual work, that would scare the crap out of me!
Your charger has a manual function which puts it in equalization mode, are you certain that you did not enter that mode? If the charger is like the one in the 41 it would be a 100 amp charger (Freedom 20). the charger will come out of the equalization mode either by cycling power to the charger or by changing modes back to normal (float or acceptance charge modes). Here is a link to the manual you might want to take a ponder at it, the temperature probe connection in this manual indicated that it should be on the positive terminal, this is incorrect, it should be in direct contact with the negative terminal of the battery with the highest potential to get the warmest.
http://www.xantrex.com/documents/Discontinued-Products/FreedomMarineOwnersManual.pdf
Manual for remote
https://www.altestore.com/static/datafiles/Others/Freedom_Remote_Owners_Guide.pdf
http://www.xantrex.com/documents/Discontinued-Products/FreedomMarineOwnersManual.pdf
Manual for remote
https://www.altestore.com/static/datafiles/Others/Freedom_Remote_Owners_Guide.pdf
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Thank you to those replying with guidance and validation of what we suspected. This is my first time on the forum and as a widow whose husband knew this stuff, it's my goal to continue sailing and learning just like each electrical novice. I can single-handily rig this boat, sail it and dock it without fear. I'd take on any other sailor attempting to handle a boat, alone, this size.
Thank you, Day Dreamer. Will double check this and replace / repair what's needed. I'm so grateful for the quick responses.
Oh, did I mention, I can and have replaced the pumps (even the macerator), hoses, faucets, port lights, gaskets, propane tanks, can change the oil in the Yanmar and Panda genset; can change the impellers and fuel filters, and have learned to install new lights......yes, wires included...etc. etc. etc. If you're not learning, you're not living.
I've read over the replies from a lot of the others, and they are suggesting that to check the charger, but I don't see where anyone really specifically suggested that you check the battery voltage, and what it should be. Also, the battery going bad may depend on if you have a battery switch, an A/B/C/All to allow different batteries to be in use. That could make different batteries go bad, especially if using the charger off the engine.
I noticed that someone referenced the manual for your charger. The question I would have, is if the temperature sensors from the charger are actually installed on the batteries. Anytime the batteries are changed, the temperature sensors should be reinstalled on the battery. Including the seasonally if they're pulled out during the winter and put back in the summer.
The other thing that you would want to do is to check the voltage across Each battery under different conditions. With the engine running and the Charger off, use a digital voltmeter, available at many electronics houses, inexpensive ones at Harbor freight, RadioShack, or hardware stores. You need to set the voltmeter to about the 20 V scale, and measure the voltage across each battery ( red to the plus, black to the minus to Posts), especially on the battery that is switched in (a/b/c). The engine alternator charging system should show about 14.2 V to the battery that is being charged, engine running. And that should never go above that!
When your shore charger is hooked up the voltage may go up to about The same 14.2 level, but often times the Chargers will back off to about 13.2 V, just to maintain the trickle charger part of the trip should be to measure the voltage at different times to make sure that the voltage does not go over there, or stay real high for a long period of time.
Mike
I noticed that someone referenced the manual for your charger. The question I would have, is if the temperature sensors from the charger are actually installed on the batteries. Anytime the batteries are changed, the temperature sensors should be reinstalled on the battery. Including the seasonally if they're pulled out during the winter and put back in the summer.
The other thing that you would want to do is to check the voltage across Each battery under different conditions. With the engine running and the Charger off, use a digital voltmeter, available at many electronics houses, inexpensive ones at Harbor freight, RadioShack, or hardware stores. You need to set the voltmeter to about the 20 V scale, and measure the voltage across each battery ( red to the plus, black to the minus to Posts), especially on the battery that is switched in (a/b/c). The engine alternator charging system should show about 14.2 V to the battery that is being charged, engine running. And that should never go above that!
When your shore charger is hooked up the voltage may go up to about The same 14.2 level, but often times the Chargers will back off to about 13.2 V, just to maintain the trickle charger part of the trip should be to measure the voltage at different times to make sure that the voltage does not go over there, or stay real high for a long period of time.
Mike
Excellent suggestions. A fellow cruiser told me I'd get a lot of guidance and help from the forum. Thank you.
Thanks. We are south and have an electrician lined up. Once I realized from the multitude of knowledgeable responses that there is not a clear, single point of malfunction or cause, determined the best course of direction is to hire an electrician to pinpoint it and resolve. However, all of the very helpful recommendations are appreciated.
Are you sure your inverter charger is set for wet cell batteries and check the manual how to do this and to equalize is not that easy to do by mistake.
I had batteries boiling over when they were going bad and so they were not holding a charge and constantly sensing to be charged or over charged.
Nick
I had batteries boiling over when they were going bad and so they were not holding a charge and constantly sensing to be charged or over charged.
Nick