Arrived at our boat last Friday to find it filled with a horrible stench of rotten eggs. Furthermore, every white AC power cord in the boat was now brown. I subsequently found both group 31 batteries had no capacity, and the onboard Guest charger (Model 2615 i think) was hot. My deduction: The charger, hardwired and on all the time when the boat is on shorepower, failed to step down to maintenance level as appropriate. It subsequently cooked the batteries causing them to release some kind of sulfuric gas. Anyone else experience this? Is the brown cords evidence of other more serious damage or corrosion? I'm no electrical engineer or chemist and I find very little in the archives.
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Kobi Maru
sounds serious
The brown you see on all of your white electrical cords could be a sign of a real and dangerous problem. It sounds like a short circuit problem of some type. The electrical conductors are only rated to carry a specified amount of current. If this is exceeded for a period of time, the conductors (electrical cords) overheat and burn. If this is what happened to your electrical cords, then the protection devices (circuit breakers) failed to interrupt the fault. This is how many electrical fires are started. I'd suggest having a reputable electrician who is familiar with boats check out your entire system. Make sure to provide him with your electrical circuit diagrams... this will save alot of his time. Good luck.
The brown you see on all of your white electrical cords could be a sign of a real and dangerous problem. It sounds like a short circuit problem of some type. The electrical conductors are only rated to carry a specified amount of current. If this is exceeded for a period of time, the conductors (electrical cords) overheat and burn. If this is what happened to your electrical cords, then the protection devices (circuit breakers) failed to interrupt the fault. This is how many electrical fires are started. I'd suggest having a reputable electrician who is familiar with boats check out your entire system. Make sure to provide him with your electrical circuit diagrams... this will save alot of his time. Good luck.
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Scott
cooked batteries not cords
Just to clarify. the white cords on the boat were all turned brown by their exposure to the fumes (I deduce), not because they were overloaded. I know this because most were not even plugged in to any receptacle...
Just to clarify. the white cords on the boat were all turned brown by their exposure to the fumes (I deduce), not because they were overloaded. I know this because most were not even plugged in to any receptacle...
Superior Scott!
Scott: If you check the archives you should find many posts on this exact subject. I do not know if Guest has done anything about these chargers but my suggestion is to get it replaced under warranty (if possible) and sell it as a new unit. If it is NOT under warranty, junk it with the batteries. Then go get yourself a quality 3 or 4 stage smart charger. Pro-Mariner or Xantrex (Statpower) make very good units.
Scott: If you check the archives you should find many posts on this exact subject. I do not know if Guest has done anything about these chargers but my suggestion is to get it replaced under warranty (if possible) and sell it as a new unit. If it is NOT under warranty, junk it with the batteries. Then go get yourself a quality 3 or 4 stage smart charger. Pro-Mariner or Xantrex (Statpower) make very good units.
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Paul Akers
Happened to me...
...a few years ago. The vapors/fumes diacolored all the white wires and the red ones. Any brass/copper metals were also discolored. One of the batteries burst and spilled the acid into the bilge. What a mess! The charger wasn't smart enough to reduce to trickle (or forgot?). After cleaning the mess anf getting new batteries, got a DYTEK smart charger and all has been fine. The discoloration didn't affect the operration of the wires because they were not burned. Only the insulation discolored. If you have any more questions, contact me thru the Owners' Directory.
...a few years ago. The vapors/fumes diacolored all the white wires and the red ones. Any brass/copper metals were also discolored. One of the batteries burst and spilled the acid into the bilge. What a mess! The charger wasn't smart enough to reduce to trickle (or forgot?). After cleaning the mess anf getting new batteries, got a DYTEK smart charger and all has been fine. The discoloration didn't affect the operration of the wires because they were not burned. Only the insulation discolored. If you have any more questions, contact me thru the Owners' Directory.
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Scott
Are the fumes harmful?
Thanks for verifying my deductions. Are the fumes harmful to breathe? Besides discoloring certain plastic, is there likely to be any hidden corrosive damage I should look for due to the nature of the gasses? I'm focusing on a Truecharge 20+ to replace the old Guest 2615...may call Guest to discuss replacement, but the unit is obviously several years old... Thanks again. This site is once again, a great reference.
Thanks for verifying my deductions. Are the fumes harmful to breathe? Besides discoloring certain plastic, is there likely to be any hidden corrosive damage I should look for due to the nature of the gasses? I'm focusing on a Truecharge 20+ to replace the old Guest 2615...may call Guest to discuss replacement, but the unit is obviously several years old... Thanks again. This site is once again, a great reference.
Yes!!!!!
Scott: Battery acid can do the same thing to your lungs and respitory system that it does to those wires and metal fittings. You may want to wash the compartment down with a baking soda wash to neutralize any acidic remains. You should be able to rinse this area down with fresh water once it is neutralized and let the bilge pump, pump it overboard. The Statpower units are nice. They are compact and make no noise. They also have a remote panel that will allow you to display the charging parameters.
Scott: Battery acid can do the same thing to your lungs and respitory system that it does to those wires and metal fittings. You may want to wash the compartment down with a baking soda wash to neutralize any acidic remains. You should be able to rinse this area down with fresh water once it is neutralized and let the bilge pump, pump it overboard. The Statpower units are nice. They are compact and make no noise. They also have a remote panel that will allow you to display the charging parameters.
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Paul Akers
Absolutely!
I ran a window fan over the foward hatch to draw out the fumes. Then used baking soda mixed w/water to flood the bilge and neutralize anthing that was there.
I ran a window fan over the foward hatch to draw out the fumes. Then used baking soda mixed w/water to flood the bilge and neutralize anthing that was there.
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Scott
fumes only, no non-vapor substance
Another point of clarification. No acid or other (non-vapor) substance leaked out of the batteries. The compartment including trays that the batteries sit in is dry and clean. The window fan is a good idea.
Another point of clarification. No acid or other (non-vapor) substance leaked out of the batteries. The compartment including trays that the batteries sit in is dry and clean. The window fan is a good idea.
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