Strong smell from batteries

leaf
leaf Solar Expert Posts: 37 ✭✭✭
in Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems #1
I just bought 2 Crown 6V deep cycle batteries to run in a 12V motorhome system. They're currently sitting inside a locker and haven't been hooked up yet. I notice every time I open the locker that there is a strong smell, I assume of battery acid. Is that normal? It's bad enough that I don't think I will be able to use them. I've never had solar batteries smell before.
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  • waynefromnscanada
    waynefromnscanada Solar Expert Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Strong smell from batteries

    Assuming these are flooded batteries, had been freshly filled with acid before they were put in the locker, what you're smelling may be quite normal, especially if the locker is small. Again assuming they are flooded batteries, it's likely something you'd have to put up with inside your motorhome from time to time, especially when the batteries are going through an EQ cycle.
    The solution would be to locate the batteries in a compartment sealed from the lived in area, and well vented to the outside. Or, get rid of the flooded batteries altogether and go instead with AGM batteries which don't normally vent gases or fumes, are great batteries, require no watering, can be located inside a living area, but will not tolerate abuse, especially overcharging, can cost double that of flooded types, and may not last quite as long.
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  • Blackcherry04
    Blackcherry04 Solar Expert Posts: 2,490 ✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: Strong smell from batteries

    I have the same issue on Boats in a sealed Locker. The best way is to figure a way to create a passive venting system, air in at the bottom, out at the top. I sometimes install 2-3" 12V computer type muffin fan. The question is always how to control it. If you wire it direct to the 12 V system with a constant draw the charger / power supply will always be trying to put back what it's using. Overtime a PWM can be overcharging your battery without you even realizing it and it add's to the problem. The other options are a current / voltage switch, recycle timer of some sort. The other option is to leave the door cracked when not in use and turn the fan on when your using it and put the fan on a switch.
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  • icarus
    icarus Solar Expert Posts: 5,436 ✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: Strong smell from batteries

    Zepher fan, and voltage controller:

    http://www.solarseller.com/battery_box_power_vent_by_zephyr_industries.htm

    On at gassing voltage off when the charging stops. works great, easy to vent outside.

    Tony
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