Our Batteries STINK!

[demonboy]

After a jolly good sail the other day, with the boat heeling over both port and starboard, we anchored up and settled down to a beer or two. It was then that we noticed a rancid smell that has taken us 24 hours to identify as the batteries.

Upon inspection the batteries had leaked their contents through the little hole in the caps. Now I may have over-filled the batteries a few weeks ago and I suppose some leakage is to be expected, but this sulphuric smell......

1) Is it normal?
2) Is it dangerous?
3) How do I avoid it in future?

We've aired the boat, not turned on the stove and pumped for ages on the bilge pump.

Any help to put our minds at rest would be very much appreciated!

PS: They are functioning fine and holding their charge, apart from an odd 'Error Relay' message on our battery monitor, but I think that's another matter.

 

[CPD]

I think my first priority would be to thoroughly clean out whatever has become of the leaking fluid. I can just imagine battery acid mixing with GRP, thinning hull, smell, glug, glug, you get what I mean !

 

[2Tizwoz]

It is quite normal that when you overfill your batteries and then tip them on their side the acid will come out and create an unpleasant odour. The acid will react with the metals which it comes into contact with causing corrosion. It will stain clothing to some degree and create holes which may not improve the wearer's appearance. The wearer may also feel some discomfort as the acid reacts with tissue which will discolour and weaken. This will have a variety of physiological effects depending upon which tissue the acid comes into contact with.

All of the above is quite normal.

The effect on the boat will of course depend upon the materials of which it is constructed and how quickly the acid is diluted with water and removed.

 

[shmoo]

Battery acid and sea water will release chlorine. Poisonous in high concentration but too unplesent to stay in for long enough to do you much harm in practice. Hydrolyses to hydorchloric acid after a time. Washing soda will nutralize the acid if is still about.
(end of 40 year old O level chemistry)

Wash surronding fabic and wood, anything that the acid or released cholrine may come in contact with in washing soda. Otherwise the acid never really goes away and holes will develop in time.

Diluting isn't good enough. In time the water will evaporate but the acid won't and you will have strong acid again. Use washing soda.

 

[Guest]

I would also before you do as Shmoo suggests ... very good reply ....

I would get a hydrometer tester and use the dropper tube to extract the excess water from the cells ... otherwise any work you do will be negated by next sail where more acid gets spilled.

 

[Boatman]

Agree with Schmoo GET RID OF IT QUICK...... the long term damage could be a sunk boat (Holes.............)

Get cleaning

 

[Bilgediver]

Reminds me of the time I was walking below decks on one of our ships and could see the sky where I should not....Going on deck I experienced that itchy feel and sure enough right over the hole was a leaking carbouy of sulphuric acid in our deck cargo. That was 1 " grade E steel after 10 days /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


John

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
Battery acid and sea water will release chlorine

[/ QUOTE ] No it wont. It needs an oxidising agent to produce chlorine from a chloride. Typical lab prep is hydrochloric acid and potassium permanganate.

Hydrogen choride may well be produced though.

I suggest you move on to A level chemistry!

Agreed though that spilt acid should be neutralised with washing soda. It wont attack fibre glass but will natural fibre fabrics, wood, paper etc if allowed to concentrate on them. Hydrogen chloride if released from a mixture with seawater will cause surface corrosion of metals, especially any iron or steel, around

In the absence of washing soda (or bicarbonate of soda) dilute and flush out several times with copious quantities of water. Sea water has a natural alkalinity and sufficient will neutralise small quantities of acid.

I tipped a battery over 29 years ago and flushed the acid out with seawater, but did latter rinse again with some washing soda. Boat still afloat.


BTW the Ocupational exposure limit (8hr TWA) for chlorine is only 1 part per million. 1000ppm is likely to prove fatal after a couple of deep breaths and half that within a few minutes. Dangerous therefore in quite low concentrations.

 

[shmoo]

[ QUOTE ]

No it wont. It needs an oxidising agent to produce chlorine from a chloride. Typical lab prep is hydrochloric acid and potassium permanganate.

Hydrogen choride may well be produced though.

I suggest you move on to A level chemistry!


[/ QUOTE ]

I stand corrected. One (edit: or two, should it be) of the great strengths of these forums is the sensitivity and the speed of the many B/S detectors.

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

No it wont. It needs an oxidising agent to produce chlorine from a chloride. Typical lab prep is hydrochloric acid and potassium permanganate.

Hydrogen choride may well be produced though.

I suggest you move on to A level chemistry!


[/ QUOTE ]

I stand corrected. One (edit: or two, should it be) of the great strengths of these forums is the sensitivity and the speed of the many B/S detectors.

[/ QUOTE ]

Everyone knew what you meant though ....

 

[Jonny_H]

We had a simalar problem - I had to replace the base of the battery box (which stank of acid - vinegary smell) and now need a new pair of jeans and a jumper (SWMBO did tell me not to wear my Sunday best but who listens!)

Jonny

 

[demonboy]

Hi chaps,

Sorry I was offline as soon as I posted the question. Thank you all for your responses. I'm on the case!