battery

[gminkovsky]

My batteries are 9 years old. The other day I was barely able to start the engine. Charge controller was showing 12.7 volts, full charge and trickle charging from the solar panel at .3 amp.

So I figured that I need to add distilled water. Opened the batteries compartment and I could hear hissing sounds from battery #2. Checked water level: battery #1 is full, battery #2 is low - very low so the elements are above water. I added water and could still hear hissing boiling sounds coming from battery #2.

Both batteries are connected in parallel without any switches. I filled both batteries with distilled water in May.

Any ideas what this means? Is battery #2 dead? Are both dead? What makes 1 battery run out of water while the other is full?

Thanks,
George

[Ipe Piccardt Brouwer]

The boiling battery probably has a short in one cell, effectively turning it into a 10 volt battery which is being overcharged, hence the gassing.
Replace them both.

[tpaliwoda]

George:
You made it nine years on a set on batteries! That is great. I am usually replacing the wet cell every three to four seasons and the gel cell in about six. I tried one of those Optima batteries last season as the starting battery.

Have areal nice solar charge controller that will charge the battery that needs it the most.


I think you are ahead of the battery game.

Ted

[gminkovsky]

Thanks Ipe and Ted. I am now figuring out the best new batteries that will fit in my battery compartment.