Advice needed Leros - faulty battery

[Irish Rover]

I arrived in Leros Marina yesterday from Ikaria and after docking there was a foul smell in the boat. Last night we went to dinner and when we came back the CO alarm was going off in the starboard cabin. There was nothing on except the fridge and the battery charger. When I went to check the stb battery bank the cover of the box was exceptionally hot and when I opened it there was condensation inside and the batteries were very hot. One of the service batteries on that side had a brown eye and the other 2 had green eyes. The battery bank on the port side was at normal temperature. I turned off the shore power and the smell is gone this morning and my voltage readings on both sides is 10.6v.
So my questions
-am I right in assuming the smell, the CO alarm and the hot battery bank are all related,
- does anyone know a reliable electric guru in Leros who I can call for help,
- does anyone know a chandlers where I can buy a replacement battery,
- will I be ok just replacing the brown eye battery or do I need to replace all 3 in that side.
The faulty battery is an Acdelci 100ah.

 

[Mistroma]

I arrived in Leros Marina yesterday from Ikaria and after docking there was a foul smell in the boat. Last night we went to dinner and when we came back the CO alarm was going off in the starboard cabin. There was nothing on except the fridge and the battery charger. When I went to check the stb battery bank the cover of the box was exceptionally hot and when I opened it there was condensation inside and the batteries were very hot. One of the service batteries on that side had a brown eye and the other 2 had green eyes. The battery bank on the port side was at normal temperature. I turned off the shore power and the smell is gone this morning and my voltage readings on both sides is 10.6v.
So my questions
-am I right in assuming the smell, the CO alarm and the hot battery bank are all related,
- does anyone know a reliable electric guru in Leros who I can call for help,
- does anyone know a chandlers where I can buy a replacement battery,
- will I be ok just replacing the brown eye battery or do I need to replace all 3 in that side.
The faulty battery is an Acdelci 100ah.

I must admit that the signs do indicate an internal short on one battery. It then gets too high a voltage as it isn't a 12V battery at that point (each shorted cell drops battery output). The battery will gas a lot and overheat. You report heat, acidic condensate and CO alarm. CO alarms are sensitive to hydrogen. Everything fits.

Other batteries might be OK if recharged quickly after taking the dud one out of circuit as soon as possible. Likely to be worth replacing all if batteries are all pretty old because they are likely to be sulfated as well. If they are fairly new the failure may be due to a manufacturing defect on one battery.

Unfortunately, I can't help with local electrician in Leros.

 

[sailaboutvic]

I arrived in Leros Marina yesterday from Ikaria and after docking there was a foul smell in the boat. Last night we went to dinner and when we came back the CO alarm was going off in the starboard cabin. There was nothing on except the fridge and the battery charger. When I went to check the stb battery bank the cover of the box was exceptionally hot and when I opened it there was condensation inside and the batteries were very hot. One of the service batteries on that side had a brown eye and the other 2 had green eyes. The battery bank on the port side was at normal temperature. I turned off the shore power and the smell is gone this morning and my voltage readings on both sides is 10.6v.
So my questions
-am I right in assuming the smell, the CO alarm and the hot battery bank are all related,
- does anyone know a reliable electric guru in Leros who I can call for help,
- does anyone know a chandlers where I can buy a replacement battery,
- will I be ok just replacing the brown eye battery or do I need to replace all 3 in that side.
The faulty battery is an Acdelci 100ah.

Vyv will be the man to ask re services , he know Leros well , pm him if he doesn't see your posting , he very helpful

 

[Irish Rover]

I must admit that the signs do indicate an internal short on one battery. It then gets too high a voltage as it isn't a 12V battery at that point (each shorted cell drops battery output). The battery will gas a lot and overheat. You report heat, acidic condensate and CO alarm. CO alarms are sensitive to hydrogen. Everything fits.

Other batteries might be OK if recharged quickly after taking the dud one out of circuit as soon as possible. Likely to be worth replacing all if batteries are all pretty old because they are likely to be sulfated as well. If they are fairly new the failure may be due to a manufacturing defect on one battery.

Unfortunately, I can't help with local electrician in Leros.

thanks for the information. the markings indicate the batteries are 5 years old. Chandlers in the marina quoting €200 for a 100ah battery and I have no idea if this is reasonable or not. I have 2x 100 + 1 x 74 in each bank. Would it damage the new one if I only replace one now if either of the other 2 are faulty as well.

 

[sailaboutvic]

thanks for the information. the markings indicate the batteries are 5 years old. Chandlers in the marina quoting €200 for a 100ah battery and I have no idea if this is reasonable or not. I have 2x 100 + 1 x 74 in each bank. Would it damage the new one if I only replace one now if either of the other 2 are faulty as well.

I agree with #2 , I would disconnect them all and only leave one battery which you think is good to service the house if you have shore power . Check the Voltage on all the over batteries you may find they settle back to over 12v leave for 24 hours and re check , if there isn't and real drop there a good change they ok ,
This I would normally do with fully charge batteries first , but as you not sure what , what's you could do it this way first , then if you find there no drop , fully charge them and do the test again .
As for putting a new battery with old once , most will says it's not a good idea , but I have done this in the pass and managed to go a few more years before replacing them all .
The difference is between losing a few AH and the cost of buying a full set of batteries.
But if the batteries are 5 years old , there coming close to the end of their life's.

 

[macd]

Can't help with sourcing batteries in Leros, Irish Rover, but Vyv Cox probably can and will likely be around shortly.

The foul smell would have been hydrogen sulphide, which can be produced by wild overcharging. The smell itself is a diagnostic that something's seriously wrong, since the batteries are perhaps the most likely source of it on board (unless you've got some rotten eggs tucked away in a locker ).

 

[PaulRainbow]

Disconnect the faulty battery and get it off the boat. Turn the mains charger back on and keep an eye on the remaining batteries, make sure none get hot. If the don't, fit one new battery and leave the mains charger on all day. This evening, turn the mains charger off and disconnect all but the new battery, then turn the charger back on, that'll keep everything running over night. After an hour take voltage readings of all the batteries and write them down, repeat in the morning. If they held their charge overnight they'll likely be OK for a while longer, if not they obviously need changing.

 

[Heckler]

thanks for the information. the markings indicate the batteries are 5 years old. Chandlers in the marina quoting €200 for a 100ah battery and I have no idea if this is reasonable or not. I have 2x 100 + 1 x 74 in each bank. Would it damage the new one if I only replace one now if either of the other 2 are faulty as well.

Bought some 110 amphr ones in Gib last year, £120 each, Platinum make. Just bought one 110 amp hr in Ayamonte, 134 euros

 

[Caladh]

There are several chandlers around in Leros town and I'm sure the office of either of the marinas will direct you. The one in town and somewhere behind the cinema is normally very helpful.

 

[Leonidas]

Battery prices depend on the type. A Victron 110/130AH AGM or Gel will sell at about E200 in Greece. I would expect that normal lead batteries will cost somewhat less. A car electrician with a battery tester should be able to check all the batteries. The question is, what sort of tests have also been done on the battery charger and if the charger has been accidentally set for the wrong type of batteries.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Battery prices depend on the type. A Victron 110/130AH AGM or Gel will sell at about E200 in Greece. I would expect that normal lead batteries will cost somewhat less. A car electrician with a battery tester should be able to check all the batteries. The question is, what sort of tests have also been done on the battery charger and if the charger has been accidentally set for the wrong type of batteries.

It could be the battery charger , but I doubt it , other wise I think there be move then just one battery getting very hot .
IR have you managed to find someone to take a look if not do as Paul and I suggested, I test my batteries in this way every winter and it one not holding , out it goes . Not having any battery testing gear other them my meter I find it works well .

 

[PaulRainbow]

It could be the battery charger , but I doubt it , other wise I think there be move then just one battery getting very hot .
IR have you managed to find someone to take a look if not do as Paul and I suggested, I test my batteries in this way every winter and it one not holding , out it goes . Not having any battery testing gear other them my meter I find it works well .

I agree Vic, a simple volt meter or multimeter is as good a way as any. I've used battery testers before and i don't rate them very highly. About the only thing they are reliable at is finding dead/shorted cells and the volt meter does that just fine. The drop testers are OK if you want to test under heavy discharge, but a moderate load, such as a headlamp bulb or two works just as well. Most times, leaving overnight, as we said, is a good starting point.

 

[Irish Rover]

Thanks for all the advice. The chandlers in the marina didn’t have a battery to suit - the poles were on the wrong side for the cabling in my box. I went into town and found a filling station/marine services place and bought the most suitable battery they had a 90ah Duracell. I brought it back and fitted it and the minute I turned on the charger there was a sizzling sound and the other 100ah was getting hot very fast - another 74ah service battery in the same box and the motor battery seemed fine. I went back and bought a second 90ah and fitted that as well. The charger is running full whack now and all seems fine. One odd thing however- the charger is a 30ah Victron and when I plugged it in the needle is shooting all the way to the right well beyond the 30 mark. Is this normal when the batteries are low? The volt meter in th cockpit is reading 13.10 for the stb bank where I have the trouble and 13.14 for the port bank. I’m very much an ungifted amateur when it comes to technical stuff.

 

[Leonidas]

30V is not normal for 12V system. It should be about 14.4 , max 14.7. I suspect that the charger is set for 24V system in which case 28.8V is normal. I suggest you have the charger checked.

 

[Irish Rover]

30V is not normal for 12V system. It should be about 14.4 , max 14.7. I suspect that the charger is set for 24V system in which case 28.8V is normal. I suggest you have the charger checked.[/QUOTE I think you may have misunderstood something. The charger is 12v 30ah and the batteries are now reading 13.35 both sides and the charger is still going full whack

 

[vyv_cox]

Sorry I missed your request. Best place for batteries is the automotive workshop up the road at the childrens' playground on the prom. Owner is American Greek. Marina chandlery is very expensive.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Don't you have panels ? If so there your 13.3 mine at the moment are showing 13.6 v

 

[Leonidas]

I was referring to the statement:
Quote:
when I plugged it in the needle is shooting all the way to the right well beyond the 30 mark. Is this normal when the batteries are low?
Unquote
I presumed 30 is the Voltage out of the charger

 

[Tiercel]

Kept boay in Lakki for many years up until 2015. I have got 110ah batteries from a tyre/exhaust place in Lakki. There was also a fisherman's chandlery on the left hand side of road from Lakki to Platanos next to a motorbike shop at Platanos end. They did similar batteries at around 120 euros.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thanks for all the advice. The chandlers in the marina didn’t have a battery to suit - the poles were on the wrong side for the cabling in my box. I went into town and found a filling station/marine services place and bought the most suitable battery they had a 90ah Duracell. I brought it back and fitted it and the minute I turned on the charger there was a sizzling sound and the other 100ah was getting hot very fast - another 74ah service battery in the same box and the motor battery seemed fine. I went back and bought a second 90ah and fitted that as well. The charger is running full whack now and all seems fine. One odd thing however- the charger is a 30ah Victron and when I plugged it in the needle is shooting all the way to the right well beyond the 30 mark. Is this normal when the batteries are low? The volt meter in th cockpit is reading 13.10 for the stb bank where I have the trouble and 13.14 for the port bank. I’m very much an ungifted amateur when it comes to technical stuff.

What you are seeing is perfectly normal and correct. The Victron charger will have started in "bulk" mode, it will apply max current to the batteries and the voltage will increase as they become charged. It will then switch to "absorption" mode, constant voltage at decreasing current. The voltage will depend on the type of batteries and the charging profile selected, lead acid batteries should be set to 14.4v.