T&T: Hot Battery

[Richard P Blake]

I put this post out several weeks ago.  And it seems no one had any real
good reasons why this is happening.  Well the Zantrex Prosine 2.5 is new
and is connected to two banks of West Marine GEL cell batteries.  Two of
the batteries were new the other four batteries where about 12 months
old..  The Prosine would go thought its charge routine ending in a READY
state and a float voltage about 13.2 VDC.  The Prosine monitor would
indicate a 18 amp current rate and the fourth battery in the parallel
group would get so HOT you could not touch it.  Did a load test checked
VDC after 24 hour rest and measured 12.7 VDC.  Rest of the batteries in
the bank were cool to the touch.  Took battery back to West Marine they
tested and said the only thing they saw wrong was the CCA were down about
100 amps and they replaced the battery under the warranty.  Now battery
one, two, and four where new and three , five, and six are about 12
months old and of normal temperature when charging.  Now after replacing
battery four and going through a complete charge cycle battery three is
now HOT to the point that you can not touch it which was completely cool
before the replacement of battery four.  All of these batteries are in
parallel so I do not believe the charger is at fault as all of these
batteries see the same available voltage and current.  But it seems that
this started with battery #1 was HOT.  Replace it and Battery #2 gets
hot.  Replace it and battery #4 gets hot.  Replace it and now battery #3
gets HOT .  This is really strange if the hot battery is removed from the
bank the rest of the bank stays cools.  If the HOT battery is replaced. 
It remains cool and the HOT battery syndrome moves to another battery. 
The bad news is this is a very strange problem.  The good news is I only
have two more batteries to go.  The other saving grace is the batteries
do not go DEAD they hold a good charge the only problem is they get HOT
and I mean very HOT to the point that they start to out gas and will burn
your hand if you touch them.  If you remove the battery from the bank and
charge them stand alone they will take 18 amps forever and get real HOT. 
This really has me stumped any ideas out there or am I just plagued with
6 defective batteries from a bad manufacturing run.  Remember these are
all less that 12 month old GELL Cells.  


Rgards,  Rick Blake
"Private Reserve" Port Charlotte, Fl.
36' Nantucket Sedan Powered by Yanmar
"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved
body, 
But rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting...'Holy
S**t...What a Ride!"