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From: Richard (no email)
Date: Thu Apr 12 2007 - 16:11:15 EDT
The best
> explanation I've found so far is that the batteries were so close to the
> end
> of their lives that equalizing simply killed them off. The fumes were
> evidence of the degradation of the plates. The inverter sensed the absence
> of charge in the battery banks, and went 'balls to the wall' as long as it
> could to restore capacity.
Amazing that you did not get the hint from the 'acrid air'. The instructions
for equalize in all manuals I have seen say 'do not leave the batteries
unattended during equalize', and most require that batteries be at normal
fluid levels before equalize. The fumes had little or nothing to do with
degradation of the plates, everthing to do with too little care and
attention to the process. Once batteries go into thermal runaway, which is a
small possiblity here, the only thing to do is complete disconnect, that is
no charge, no load. This is also not a time to attempt adding water.
It is also possible (but unlikely) that the odor came from a source other
than the batteries.
Many inverters have a time component in the charge cycle that will limit the
period of time bulk charge was on. (also true for equalize). Check to see
that the standard times have not been tampered with. The situation you
describe was much more common with ferroresonant chargers that typically did
not have time control on the charge cycle.
Aside from the electric fuel pump possibility, if the engine has a very
large alternator and is a moderate size engine, it is possible the engine at
idle was stalled by the alternator load if the alternator was fully loaded
serving all the electric demands. I would go over every connection in your
high amp circuitry and check for 'clean and tight' after an event like this.
Also check on wire sizes and breaker functioning. Look for signs of burned
wire ends especially under connectors or other areas where wires are
'packed'.
Consider a breaker on your charge line from the alternator sized to protect
the wire.
Richard
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