coffee break Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 This morning I was confronted with a bad smell like the stink in natural gas. I assumed the gas line to the grill was the problem. I moved stuff away from the wall where the gas line runs. This included a lawn tractor (a John Deere), which I moved to the work shop to get it out of the way. Later I went back out to the shop and PU! the smell was there. I removed the battery and isolated it in a tote box. There the smell collected. Another odd thing, the battery was slightly warm. I had the battery on a charger at its lowest setting to maintain charge. What's going on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NVP66S Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 Vented lead-acid batteries are prone to generate hydrogen during the last phase of charging. The gas bubbles will entrain a bit of sulfuric acid from the electrolyte. Sulfuric acid can small like the methyl mercaptan that is added to natural gas and propane. Pull the charger, check the water level, and only add distilled or RO water, as the calcium carbonate will poison the cell and prematurely kill the battery. Soft water is just as bad, as it exchanges the carbonate ions for chloride ions. Ditto bottled drinking water, as it has "minerals added for taste". WWII submarines had this problem writ large. Bored yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 It sounds as if your battery charger is the normal type with several options for low, medium and high charging rates. Some of those can overcharge a battery which would be indicated by the heat and smell. A trickle charger or battery tender type will maintain the charge as needed without overcharging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffee break Posted March 9, 2015 Author Share Posted March 9, 2015 Thanks guys, We use battery tenders on the lawn tractors at my church. I see one in my future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NVP66S Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 Battery Tenders (that's a trade name) are excellent for flooded cells. The float voltage is a bit different for AGM (absorbed glass mat) and gel cells. If you have one of these, a Battery Minder (another trade name) is better because it gets programmed for each cell type every time you use it. I have one of each. You can identify the flooded type because it has either screw caps or pry caps. Have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffee break Posted March 9, 2015 Author Share Posted March 9, 2015 NVP66S, I did an online chat with Dawn @ Battery Tender. Her suggestion was their Battery Tender Jr for a lawn tractor. I expect the battery is a flooded cell, it has warnings about tipping the battery. Thanks, Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusaNostra Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 "I assumed the gas line to the grill was the problem. " LOL: coffee, you guys are lucky. I have not seen my BBQ grill for 3 months now. We need a month of 50 degrees (everyday) to thaw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffee break Posted March 10, 2015 Author Share Posted March 10, 2015 The "accidental engineering" was moving the lawn tractor. An unintended experiment. Nothing like dumb luck to help you out.:willy_nilly: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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