I think I have a bad battery. I topped up the battery with deionzed water, set it up to charge in my garage on a wooden bench. The next day, I noticed a rotten egg smell and the case of the battery was warm. I stopped charging it. Would I be correct in thinking the battery is bad? Am I right there is no reasonable way to bring it back? Good thing I have an extra one.

It is possible you overcharged your battery depending on type of bat charger you have and the state of the bat just before charging.To begin I carry a cheap little Voltage battery reader from Autozone that tells me in letters and colored lights if my Battery is fully charged at or above 12.5 volts and only fair charge with a yellow light (below 12.5) and in a poor state with a red light. Just touch the red prong to positive terminal and black prong to the negative terminal. Same gadget will tell me if my alternator is working properly and charging the battery when engine is running. Carry one for each of my 3 trucks and it has saved me from being stranded in remote areas with a weak or dead battery.There are more expensive fancy gadgets for checking your battery as others will be happy to tell you.

Likely it is a doorstop.Here is what might be tried.1. measure the voltage. If it is below 10 volts. Stop and use it for a core exchange.2. if the voltage is ok, then barely cover the plates, and attempt to charge the battery at a low amp rate.3. after the battery has charged for quite some time (24 hours), let it rest for 24 hours and check the voltage. If it is 12.5 or higher, then check the plates to make sure they are covered, and do an equalization charge.But very likely #1 will be the path to follow.

wopachop wrote:Careful with that axe Eugene!!You likely overfilled the water. Then charged the battery indoors. No mention of voltage. No mention of charge amps. For real man be careful or take a few minutes to read up on charging wet cell batteries. You probably sat in the garage inhaling some nasty fumes.I have one of those smart chargers that go between 2/4/6 amps.I did not fill it to the brim; about 1/4 inch down.I also wasn't in the garage any longer than enough to figure out the smell was the battery.

pianotuna wrote:Likely it is a doorstop.Here is what might be tried.1. measure the voltage. If it is below 10 volts. Stop and use it for a core exchange.2. if the voltage is ok, then barely cover the plates, and attempt to charge the battery at a low amp rate.3. after the battery has charged for quite some time (24 hours), let it rest for 24 hours and check the voltage. If it is 12.5 or higher, then check the plates to make sure they are covered, and do an equalization charge.But very likely #1 will be the path to follow.It is old and a starting deep cell battery. No love loss on it.

swimmer_spe wrote:I topped up the battery with deionzed water, set it up to charge in my garage on a wooden bench. When charging it is best to place the battery in a pan to contain possible leaks. Placing a battery on wood is an old wives tale that just won't go away.

I think I have a bad battery. | Good Sam Community

NamMedevac_70
Explorer II
Aug 10, 2021
It is possible you overcharged your battery depending on type of bat charger you have and the state of the bat just before charging.

To begin I carry a cheap little Voltage battery reader from Autozone that tells me in letters and colored lights if my Battery is fully charged at or above 12.5 volts and only fair charge with a yellow light (below 12.5) and in a poor state with a red light. Just touch the red prong to positive terminal and black prong to the negative terminal. Same gadget will tell me if my alternator is working properly and charging the battery when engine is running. Carry one for each of my 3 trucks and it has saved me from being stranded in remote areas with a weak or dead battery.

There are more expensive fancy gadgets for checking your battery as others will be happy to tell you.

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