Batteries smell like sulfur and won't hold a charge

[Eltee]

I have a 2009 Airstream Interstate and the house battery will not hold a charge overnight. The first episode: we were on a road trip and the batteries began to smell like sulfur both while driving and in the middle of the night. We took it to a service center and they stated that the two batteries were different and they have to be the same, hence, the sulfur smell. They replaced the batteries.

Episode 2: Sulfur smell again. Took it to service. They stated the brand new batteries were out of water so they replaced them with waterless batteries.

Episode 3: Sulfur smell again for a few hours on the new batteries, then it stopped. Took it to service, they consulted with Airstream and said there is nothing wrong.

During all of this, the house battery will not hold a charge overnight. Service center says nothing is wrong. Is it unreasonable for us to expect the battery to last overnight with only the small refrigerator running? Does everyone else that owns an Interstate wake up to a warm refrigerator?

Since the batteries can't apparently be fixed, we thought about switching the refrigerator to a propane refrigerator (a bandaid fix, I believe), but Airstream said it can't be done.

Can anyone help? We are desperate! We spent $80K on this rig and can't trust it to last or not burn up (sulfur smell - isn't that a symptom of overheating batteries?).

Thank you!

[Moflash]

Your converter is boiling them dry.Call Randy at Best Converter and buy a multi stage converter that does not overcharge your batteries when towing or plugged into shore power.Cost approx $140 and 30 -60 mins to install.Then install a high quality set of agm batteries ( Lifeline is a good brand)as large as will fit in your battery compartment.Then you will enjoy your Airstream without the problems you are now experiencing.
I ordered my converter and batteries also from Best Converter as with a lot of other members on this forum.You are not the first to experience this.Below is a link

www.bestconverter.com
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[lewster]

Originally Posted by Eltee

I have a 2009 Airstream Interstate and the house battery will not hold a charge overnight. The first episode: we were on a road trip and the batteries began to smell like sulfur both while driving and in the middle of the night. We took it to a service center and they stated that the two batteries were different and they have to be the same, hence, the sulfur smell. They replaced the batteries.

Episode 2: Sulfur smell again. Took it to service. They stated the brand new batteries were out of water so they replaced them with waterless batteries.

Episode 3: Sulfur smell again for a few hours on the new batteries, then it stopped. Took it to service, they consulted with Airstream and said there is nothing wrong.

During all of this, the house battery will not hold a charge overnight. Service center says nothing is wrong. Is it unreasonable for us to expect the battery to last overnight with only the small refrigerator running? Does everyone else that owns an Interstate wake up to a warm refrigerator?

Since the batteries can't apparently be fixed, we thought about switching the refrigerator to a propane refrigerator (a bandaid fix, I believe), but Airstream said it can't be done.

Can anyone help? We are desperate! We spent $80K on this rig and can't trust it to last or not burn up (sulfur smell - isn't that a symptom of overheating batteries?).

Thank you!

You have a problem with your charging system that might/might not be converter related. YES, the Parallax converter that I believe came in the T1N Sprinters is garbage, but unless you have been running your generator continuously or have been on constant shore power, it sounds like you have other issues as evidenced by your 'sulfur smell while driving' since the only charge source for these batteries while on the road is your engine alternator.

You should have your charging system (including your engine alternator and your battery isolator/separator and or the battery isolation device) thoroughly checked by a competent and experienced professional.

I think that your problem is deeper than you have been led to believe.