Battery negative getting very hot

priorysw
priorysw Forum Participant Posts: 3
edited July 2016 in Caravans #1

Hope someone can give advice on this one: I connected my caravan battery to caravan. The battery is showing a voltage of 12.79v. There was no mains connected. As far as I'm aware there was nothing on in the van. But...while the battery was connected the
negative pot was getting very hot. Is this normal? I could also hear a hissing sound. How can this happen? Doesn't this mean a charge is being pulled from the battery? Any advice? Cheers.

Comments

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585 ✭
    1000 Comments 250 Likes Photogenic
    edited July 2016 #2

    Not met the problem but if no one can help I would try the clubs technical helpline.

  • Snowy1
    Snowy1 Forum Participant Posts: 263
    edited July 2016 #3

    Faulty cell in battery or battery terminals oxidised (oxidised or corroded terminals can cause resistance = heat); Clean battery terminals and don't forget to clean the inside of the battery terminal rings i.e. inside of the terminal rings that fit around the leasure battery stud terminals, if you know what I mean. Using a wire brush and emery-cloth for the inside of the terminal rings.

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #4

    So having fixed the heat part as above, where is the electricity going at such a rate to make the noise. What you hear would either be arcing in the bad connection, or the electrolyte in the battery bubbling - both high current situations.   There may be
    noting "on" intentionally but it appears something is drawing power.

  • DORMAN12Q
    DORMAN12Q Forum Participant Posts: 90
    edited July 2016 #5

    If it is hissing it sounds like Snowy said a faulty cell, You can smell it usually when the are gassing off, if they are really bad they make my fillings feel like I am chewing tin foil,

    Turn the battery isolator off and close the battery door, I would wear goggles if I were you,

    You could do with the gas venting, but if it is going to explode I would try and contain the flying plastic and acid,

    I would get a bucket of water ready if it does explode to wash the acid off straight away,

    If the terminals are loose and there is a heavy load the terminal will get hot and the wire insulation usually melts back, but if it is as you say nothing is switched on then it sounds like a faulty cell,

    Hopefully it will just bulge a bit and cool down, they sometimes do. I wouldn't have the charger on it or any load.

    If it is disconnected , thats good leave it, if it is still connected I would leave it to cool and make sure everthing is switched off before you disconnect it, I would wear goggles and a face screen if you have them and cover your skin up, they don't half
    make a right mess when they go, they sound like a shot gun going off.

    Good luck

  • priorysw
    priorysw Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited July 2016 #6

    Thanks all for taking the time to reply. The pots are clean, nothing on them. I've disconnected the battery until I resolve whats going on. It was very odd, the neg was hot but the pos was cold. Will investigate further. Cheers!

  • Snowy1
    Snowy1 Forum Participant Posts: 263
    edited July 2016 #7

    Jokingley (banter); Sounds like your leasure battery could be past it's "Cell by date" lol

  • priorysw
    priorysw Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited July 2016 #8

    Yes it's not looking positive is it. Cheers snowy1.

  • Snowy1
    Snowy1 Forum Participant Posts: 263
    edited July 2016 #9

    Jokingley (banter); Sounds like your leasure battery could be past it's "Cell by date" lol

    Yes it's not looking positive is it. Cheers snowy1.

    Good one!

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited July 2016 #10
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #11

    Your battery is faulty. Take it to an auto electrician to have it confirmed. Be very careful when handling the battery.

    Best of luck

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #12

    How Old is the battery? If more than (say) 4 years old I would dump it and buy new anyway. Hardly worth mithering.

  • martindf3
    martindf3 Forum Participant Posts: 65
    edited July 2016 #13

    Yes it's not looking positive is it. Cheers snowy1.

    Thats a Negative attitude !

  • Snowy1
    Snowy1 Forum Participant Posts: 263
    edited July 2016 #14

    Yes it's not looking positive is it. Cheers snowy1.

    Thats a Negative attitude !

    Ha ha, Don't you start too Martin lol

  • Greygit
    Greygit Forum Participant Posts: 167
    edited July 2016 #15

    Sounds like a bad contact to me.....replace terminal clamp?

  • triky auto
    triky auto Forum Participant Posts: 8,690
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #16

    Undecided  Hmmm,sparks could fly !!Laughing.

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