|
04-08-2012, 02:02 AM
|
#1
|
3 Rivet Member
1970 27' Overlander
Sumner
, Washington
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 113
|
sulfur stink
Started 'full timing' about a week ago, so been shaking small problems out of our 70 A/S....... Came home tonight with a strong sulfur, rotten egg smell. Jumped online, saw fifty blogs about hot water heater and water fungus problems, Well water smells fine. This was 'very strong smell'. Hint, back window of rear bath was open. Checked fifty things, finally checked converter, seemed ok, no over heating or smells. Finally checked the battery; it was hot. Totally out of distilled water, it had cooked out all of the 'sulfuric' acid, thus the sulfur smell. The rear window is right above the battery rear hatch, and it just filled the whole trailer with bad smells.......filled it full of distilled water, smell stopped immediately. Now to figure out why?
Have not towed it in a week or more, been on shore power, plugged in to power supply, why? Any suggestions? bad inverter??
__________________
Favorite Bumper sticker:
Yes, this is my truck...
No, I won't help you move....
|
|
|
04-08-2012, 03:18 AM
|
#2
|
Rivet Master
1977 31' Sovereign
1963 26' Overlander
1989 34' Excella
Johnsburg
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,944
|
over charged battery
With a modern converter, the batteries should not have been overcharged. The old style converters were noted for doing that. Check the charge voltage output from the converter. Replace the converter if it is too high and overcharging the batteries.
|
|
|
04-08-2012, 04:19 AM
|
#3
|
Rivet Master
1961 24' Tradewind
1969 29' Ambassador
1970 21' Globetrotter
Jamestown
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,783
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by dwightdi
With a modern converter, the batteries should not have been overcharged. The old style converters were noted for doing that. Check the charge voltage output from the converter. Replace the converter if it is too high and overcharging the batteries.
|
If your univolt is original, the 69 through 74 (or thereabouts) were notorious for failing. When this happens the voltage goes high and boils the battery.
If a voltmeter check shows voltage much above 13.8 you have a charger failure. If the voltage is ok you most likely have a shorted battery cell.
__________________
Rick Davis 1602 K8DOC
61 tradewind, plus a few others
13 Ram 2500 TD
99 Dodge TD 577K miles
|
|
|
04-08-2012, 05:09 AM
|
#4
|
"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
|
Yep...time to convert the converter. or hire a battery sitter.
Not worth taking the chance of the same happening with a new battery.
Bob
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
|
|
|
04-08-2012, 05:10 AM
|
#5
|
2 Rivet Member
1963 28' Ambassador
Lyme
, Connecticut
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 99
|
Are you sure its the battery? Make sure its not a gas/ propane leak. Propane has an additive that smells like sulfur/ rotten eggs to alert people to a leak. As soon as you said sulfur, I thought gas leak.
__________________
2019 Ford F350 Platinum
Gen-Y Torsion 10,000 lb Hitch
Rock Tamers
|
|
|
04-08-2012, 06:55 AM
|
#6
|
Rivet Master
1970 27' Overlander
Espanola
, Full Timer
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,753
|
also if the propane is about to run out it will put some of that smell out there too...sometimes faint but you can smell it.
|
|
|
04-08-2012, 07:17 AM
|
#7
|
Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 26
Morrill
, Nebraska
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,014
|
The smell in propane is more like a skunk smell. Sounds like the converter is your problem. Time to upgrade.
If you are parked more or less permanently you can disconnect the battery and just use the converter if it is one of the modern types. A battery switch would make this an easy step. Just remember to reconnect the battery before hitting the road.
|
|
|
04-08-2012, 02:41 PM
|
#8
|
Rivet Master
1987 32' Excella
Nepean
, Ontario
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,414
|
I had an SOB ('76 Shasta) that used to boil out the battery when it was on shore power. Somehow I always forgot to check the battery level until it was too late.
That said, though, you will find that tyour battery will likely need replacing as well as replacing your converter/charger.
__________________
VE3JDZ
AIR 12148
1987 Excella 32-foot
1999 Dodge Ram 2500HD Diesel
WBCCI 8080
|
|
|
04-11-2012, 04:28 PM
|
#9
|
3 Rivet Member
2004 16' International CCD
Orem
, Utah
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 213
|
hate to tell you this
better check for dead mice
|
|
|
04-13-2012, 05:35 PM
|
#10
|
Rivet Master
1987 32' Excella
Nepean
, Ontario
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,414
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by starcraft
better check for dead mice
|
Had that too - after leaving mouse bait I found the squishy dead mouse in a box of dog biscuits as I reached in to get one for my dog. uuuuggghh
__________________
VE3JDZ
AIR 12148
1987 Excella 32-foot
1999 Dodge Ram 2500HD Diesel
WBCCI 8080
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|