Sams Club 6v Batteries Leaking?

[Bowedtoothdoc]

I came across a thread last night about someone's batteries using excess fluid and Maine Sail mentioned Hydrocaps? I was unable to locate the thread again today, but my house banks consist of six golf cart batteries which can be purchased at Sams Club. Almost every time I open up the compartment to check them I can find fluid on top of the batteries and very often they are low on fluid. My opinion is that the mechanism to seal off the cells is a poor design.
It is a one piece unit that seals off the three cells all together with a twist of two bars. I am wondering if anyone else has these batteries or this particular problem. Also what are Hydrocaps? Can the sealing mechanism on these batteries be replaced with individual caps? If so where can I get them? Also how do I check the electrolyte levels. I have a bulb tester from an auto parts store, but not sure how accurate that is.
Thanks

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Re: Sams Club 6v Batteries Leaking H20?

Before you start looking for a problem that doesn't exist, have you checked the charge rate and voltage from your battery charger - it sounds like you are cooking the batteries

 

[Bowedtoothdoc]

Re: Sams Club 6v Batteries Leaking H20?

Thanks Don,
I have a fairly new, properly set up Magnum Charger/Inverter. It is programmed for the size of the banks with a 2 hour absorb charge time.

 

[Maine Sail]

I came across a thread last night about someone's batteries using excess fluid and Maine Sail mentioned Hydrocaps? I was unable to locate the thread again today, but my house banks consist of six golf cart batteries which can be purchased at Sams Club. Almost every time I open up the compartment to check them I can find fluid on top of the batteries and very often they are low on fluid. My opinion is that the mechanism to seal off the cells is a poor design.
It is a one piece unit that seals off the three cells all together with a twist of two bars. I am wondering if anyone else has these batteries or this particular problem. Also what are Hydrocaps? Can the sealing mechanism on these batteries be replaced with individual caps? If so where can I get them? Also how do I check the electrolyte levels. I have a bulb tester from an auto parts store, but not sure how accurate that is.
Thanks

How are they oriented in the vessel? The cells should run port to starboard or the + & - posts should be located port to starboard. Installing them the wrong way can cause acid to spill out when heeled and also allow the plates to expose which can shorten battery life.....

The EZ Red is about the best of the "cheap" hydrometers but some just don't work at all. For the price you just throw them out and buy another.

This is a Port/Starboard orientation:

Installing them with the + & - posts facing bow & stern can cause them to spill and expose the plates...

Also keep in mind that EVERY TIME you open the battery you expose it to potential contamination. I have also seen owners who simply toss the hydrometer in a filthy drawer then stick it into the battery without even thinking. After each use the hydrometer should be fully rinsed with DISTILLED WATER and stored in a fresh clean Zip-Lock bag or clean Tupperware.

Even a small bit of metals or the wrong water used to top off the batts can poison the neg plate and cause gassing to begin as low as 2.2V per cell or roughly 13.2V. A healthy battery should not begin gassing until 14.4V+..

Checking the SG more than once or twice per year for a coastal cruiser is MORE than enough. The open circuit resting voltage will tell you the same SOC as the SG reading does. The only thing it won't tell you is how balanced the cells are. You can't have an open circuit voltage without also having a healthy SG.. So no need to dig into the batts with a hydrometer unless necessary for checking cell balance.

Hydrocaps just prevent excessive water loss but don't really create a better "seal". Also on 6V batts the water level should be about 1/8"+ below the bottom or most inner lip of the fill well. It should NOT be touching the plastic of the well....

Here's that same battery in a bow/stern configuration. notice the EXPOSED plates.... This is BAD when loads or charging are applied....!!!!

 

[kloudie1]

Another option .. the Quick Fill folks have remote watering kits for 6V or 12V batteries.. makes the job of re-filling fast and easy. I installed a 2-12V kit 6 years ago and have been very happy with the results.. doesn't address the issue of why your vents are leaking, but the valve caps on the 12 V ones don't leak. This set-up is especially fine on the 34 where the batteries are in "the pit"

 

[monkeybars]

Thanks Don,
I have a fairly new, properly set up Magnum Charger/Inverter. It is programmed for the size of the banks with a 2 hour absorb charge time.

Back to what don was telling you, you may have new parts, but that doesn't mean they are working properly or a connected correctly.You need to check and confirm your charging voltages with a multimeter, it sure sounds like boiling batteries to me. Did this problem start after you added the new parts to your system???

 

[Bowedtoothdoc]

Back to what don was telling you, you may have new parts, but that doesn't mean they are working properly or a connected correctly.You need to check and confirm your charging voltages with a multimeter, it sure sounds like boiling batteries to me. Did this problem start after you added the new parts to your system???

Don,
Yes, the fluid was leaking with the old charger as well. The batteries are mounted with the posts lined up bow to stern, which you all are saying is not good. They are really packed tight in the compartment and I am doubtful that they would fit in any other way, but will look into.
For what it's worth the 6 volt Energizer batteries have one post on one side and the other on the opposite/diagonal corner and the three fill holes run down the center of the battery. I have probably been guilty of overfilling them at times, but still do not understand how fluid could be leaking out unless the cap/seals are at fault. I will try to post a pic of the setup.

 

[Bowedtoothdoc]

Here is a photo from the original boat listing from last year...
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...ack=boatDetail.jsp&boat_id=2365411&noOfPic=24
my browser won't let me copy and past it. You can see that the cap mechanisms are one unit per battery. I think I may want to try the hydrocaps if they are not too pricey. Where can I get them?

 

[Benny17441]

How old are the batteries? Why was the previous charger replaced? To what fill line or level are the batteries being filled? They are likely overgassing but it could be a condition of the batteries themselves and not necessarily your new charger setup. It may very well be a function of a faulty previous charger if that was the case seeing that they were leaking before as well. Battery caps need to allow the cells to breathe so it is unlikely you will find some that will effectively prevent any leaking.

 

[Bowedtoothdoc]

How old are the batteries? Why was the previous charger replaced? To what fill line or level are the batteries being filled? They are likely overgassing but it could be a condition of the batteries themselves and not necessarily your new charger setup. It may very well be a function of a faulty previous charger if that was the case seeing that they were leaking before as well. Battery caps need to allow the cells to breathe so it is unlikely you will find some that will effectively prevent any leaking.

Batteries are from 2008.
Original to the boat Freedom/Heart 2000 charger suddenly failed (would no longer charge or pass through AC) and I did not think it was worth it to get shipped and repaired.
I am filling to 1/4 to 1/2 inch above the plates, don't see any fill lines on the batteries.
Possibly I am overfilling?

 

[Witzend]

The guy at my local battery shop indicated that if the vents in the caps were partial clogged the cell would build up pressure. When the pressure over comes the blockage it spits out the vent hole. Not sure I buy this theory, more likely they are getting cooked.

 

[monkeybars]

Only way to exclude most likely cause boiling-overcharge is to monitor charging voltage.otherwise your just guessing.

 

[Maine Sail]

Only way to exclude most likely cause boiling-overcharge is to monitor charging voltage.otherwise your just guessing.

Also if the batteries have become contaminated and the neg plate poisoned by minerals the gassing can begin as low as 13.2V or 2.2V per cell. With 2008 batteries this may be part of the problem. Could be contamination from non-distilled water, dirty hydrometer or crap falling into the cells when the caps were removed.

I have seen a number of cases of contaminated batteries that began gassing in the low 13's.... When that happens, not much you can do. A healthy battery should not begin gassing until you get over 14.2V but more usually 14.4V...

I had one customer fill 8 month old batteries with well water from his house, water is water, right??? They were gassing at just over 13V like they were being equalized !!!! He destroyed them trying to help them......

 

[Witzend]

Mine are now gassing at 13.4, but they are now 8yrs old, and probably need replacing. I figure I extended their life a year or so by adding a solar charge system and maintaining the water level. Probably go with the 6v bats. Easier to move.