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  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Canton, GA
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    378

    Sulfur smell after filling battery?

    Just filled up one of my trolling motor batteries...thinking I waited to long to check it.

    Now that I’ve filled it up and it’s charging...it smells like sulfur.

    Is it toast?
    David
    2014 Ranger Z521C
    Fishing Lanier, Hartwell, Tennessee River & Coosa River


  2. Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Texarkana
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    18,963
    #2
    It's toast. Get rid of it quick. That smell is a very explosive Hydrogen.
    John
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  3. Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    CDA, Idaho
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    2,773
    #3
    What ^ he said. Open the garage door asap and vent it. Unplug charger at the wall, not at the boat. Gonna need a new battery/‘s.
    96 Viper Coral202 225 Opti serial#1B011431

  4. Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Canton, GA
    Posts
    378
    #4
    Thanks, guys! I figured the answer was that it’s toast but didn’t think about it being explosive gas. Just took it out of the boat. Garage is open. Headed to Walmart for a new one.
    David
    2014 Ranger Z521C
    Fishing Lanier, Hartwell, Tennessee River & Coosa River


  5. Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Canton, GA
    Posts
    378
    #5
    Just curious, What’s the cause of this?

    I hadn’t smelled that before with this battery. Noticed my trolling motor was dying sooner than normal and decided to check the water in them. Noticed this one battery that was real low and right after I filled it up with distilled water, I put the charger back on it. Came out about 5 mins later and noticed that smell.

    Don’t know a lot about the science behind a battery but heard that if the lead is exposed for too long it sulfates. Was the core sulfated and the charger was burning it off that created the smell?
    David
    2014 Ranger Z521C
    Fishing Lanier, Hartwell, Tennessee River & Coosa River


  6. Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    lexington nc
    Posts
    1,166
    #6
    Over charging,no water.Most likely over charging and burned it up.Can be caused by bad charger(not tapering amperage down)leaving on charge too long,Too high a charge rate.Several different things.When a battery goes to boiling your killing it with current.

  7. Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Insomnia, near Seaford Delaware
    Posts
    35,518
    #7
    The smell is the sulfuric acid, which makes the water in the battery conduct. When it boils or is heated it releases the stench. When this happens the battery is frequently referred to as "boiling", and at this stage it releases Hydrogen and Oxygen gas, which, when mixed create a very explosive gas.
    Hydrogen by itself is flammable, look up Hindenburg.

  8. Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Blairsville, GA.
    Posts
    5,397
    #8
    I concur with the above posters, very dangerous, get rid of it immediately!