mherrcat
Contributing Partner
I usually leave the boat connected to shore power with the battery charger on when I am away from it and while I am there if I am not sailing. Normally the battery charger will show it to be in "float" mode, unless I have been out sailing using the auto pilot, VHF, portable refrigerator, stereo, etc., then it will show "absorption" mode for several hours after being reconnected to AC power.
Two days ago I notice the charger was in "absorption" mode when I got to the boat after a week away. I didn't think much of it and figured I would check it again later. On Saturday I moved the boat to another slip to watch the Christmas Boat Parade, then took about a 45 minute cruise through the harbor after the parade, then docked back in my regular slip.
This morning I checked the batteries, as I do every couple of weeks, and #1 was very hot and I could hear the bubbling inside. I carefully removed one of the filler covers and the electrolyte was vigorously bubbling and was not clear as usual but a brown color; like coffee ordered "dark" in New York (just a little milk.) The #2 battery was not hot and the electrolyte was clear and just a few very small bubbles visible. I then turned off the battery charger, closed up the boat and came home.
Never seen this before and figured it must be time for new batteries. I think they are 5 years old.
Is there a reason to suspect any other problem that could be causing this?
Two days ago I notice the charger was in "absorption" mode when I got to the boat after a week away. I didn't think much of it and figured I would check it again later. On Saturday I moved the boat to another slip to watch the Christmas Boat Parade, then took about a 45 minute cruise through the harbor after the parade, then docked back in my regular slip.
This morning I checked the batteries, as I do every couple of weeks, and #1 was very hot and I could hear the bubbling inside. I carefully removed one of the filler covers and the electrolyte was vigorously bubbling and was not clear as usual but a brown color; like coffee ordered "dark" in New York (just a little milk.) The #2 battery was not hot and the electrolyte was clear and just a few very small bubbles visible. I then turned off the battery charger, closed up the boat and came home.
Never seen this before and figured it must be time for new batteries. I think they are 5 years old.
Is there a reason to suspect any other problem that could be causing this?