Battery Using Water

[sleepinin]

I have 2 deep cyle batteries on my trolling motor. It's a 24v system and has a Guest 2 bank 4amp onboard charger. I checked the water in the two deep cycle and one of the deep cycle batteries was fine. The one that wasn't fine took 3/4 of a gallon of water. The battery is less than a year old. I'm wondering what would cause this one battery to use so much water. Could something have gone wrong with the internal plates of the battery and caused my charger not to turn off and it just burned all the water out trying to charge it? I keep the batteries in well secured battery boxes and then I have those silicone vibration dampners under the battery to prevent damage. Any thoughts on this theory would be appreciated. Also, another thought, could this be an electronics issue with the trolling motor causing some kind of shorting or drain that burns the water? There is no battery acid in the battery box so I don't think there is a cracked case.

 

[battery]

Re: Battery Using Water

your battery is boiling a lot to cause the water to evaporate. there could be a bad cell. check the voltage, and do a hydrometer test to see what your acid level is. if there is a big difference in readings from cell to cell you may have a bad battery, this will also kill your good battery if not corrected. adding too much water will also kill your battery because there will not be enough acid in it. You will end up diluting the electrolyte and it will not accept a charge. if the plates were exposed its a good chance the battery is toast.

 

[sleepinin]

Re: Battery Using Water

The plates were exposed as far down as I could see, i think your right and it's toast. The plates aren't all gray anymore. It's probably under warranty. Now where did I put that receipt?

 

[sleepinin]

Re: Battery Using Water

Bass Pro Shop replaced the battery for $5 without a receipt. Then the new battery and the other existing battery started boiling out also. Turns out the charger a Guest 26308 has a function where when it's ending the charging of a battery holds the voltage at 14.4 vdc for awhile to top off the batteries. Mine is malfunctioning and doesn't ever switch off.

 

[battery]

Re: Battery Using Water

Better get a new charger or it will ruin your batteries.

 

[sleepinin]

Re: Battery Using Water

Went today to Cabela's and they replaced it for free. I hooked it up to the batteries and it shut off like it's suppose to. I think this problem is finally over.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Battery Using Water

So now Bass Pro Shops and Cabella's are out a few bucks on you, but what have you done for their esteem by informing us of the way they handled your problem.

Good for them.

Morse/Teleflex did a similar thing for me on a steering cable. Couldn't believe it.

All do respect, but this is one of the main differences in the Mom & Pop shops of yesteryear and the corporate golliaths of today. They volume buy giving us lower prices and in most cases, bend over backwards to make you happy...........and, no reflection on the shop owners of yesteryear, today THINGS WORK so you seldom need to exercise the warranty.

I can remember for most of my growing up years, buyer beware. You buy it and you own it period.

Good work.

Mark