Boilling battery

[Andries ter Hennepe]

Dear all, HELP!!!I just drove 550km.(344miles)from Amsterdam to Paris in my '65.I experienced a very boiling battery after approx. 400 km.On arrival it was blowing vapor.I have a new battery (antiqueautobattery) and a new voltage regulator.Is there a quick solution to this problem?If not quick, any solution?I'd like to get home safe tomorrow evening...
Regards, Andries

[Joe L.]

Re: Boilling battery

Andries-----

The only reason for a boiling battery that I can think of is an overcharge condition. This pretty much means that the regulator is defective. I'm not very expert on these mechanical regulators, but I would open it up and see if the contacts are stuck togther. I don't know how much damage that this would do to the battery, but it sure won't do it any good.

If you can get the regulator working, then you might be able to just refill the battery and, at least, get home with it. If so, watch your ammeter on the way home for a constant charge condition, especially considerable needle deflection to the (+) side.

[Andries ter Hennepe]

Re: Boilling battery

Joe,appreciate the quick responce.The thing is, the ammeter goes to the NEG! side, yes, towards minus 40A.This is on the highway.It reads "0" when idling and goes neg the moment the revs build up.Any idea?
Regards, Andries

[Joe L.]

Re: Boilling battery

Andries----

No, I'm stumped. But, my electrical expertise is very limited in this area. Hopefully, one of the board "electrical guys" can come to the rescue.

[Andries ter Hennepe]

Re: Boilling battery

Joe,thanks for the try anyhow.I will open up the regulator,which is new by the way, and see for the contact points.
Going to bed now.
Regards, Andries

[Ralph E.]

[Dave Christensen]

Re: Boilling battery

Are you SURE that the ammeter is not connected backwards? I doubt that you could drive 100s of miles with the battery discharging heavily. It would be quite dead. Since it is boiling over, it is charging, heavily. This tells me that you have several problems. The first one is the ammeter is probably connected backwards. Turn on your lights and see if the ammeter needle goes towards the + or -. If it goes +, then switch the leads on the back of the ammeter and this problem is fixed.

The second problem is probably the regulator. It will take more trouble shooting to resolve. The downside to running without the battery connected is that the whole electrical system will see something more than 13.2 volts if your regulator is not working properly. Your lights, radio, accessories, and probably the coil will not like the higher voltage. Almost irregardless of what voltage is coming out of the alternator, the battery serves as a regulator to keep the system voltage at 13.2 V.

good luck

Dave Christensen

[Doug Flaten]

Re: Boilling battery

You could have a short somewhere in the system that is draining the battery and causing the alternator and regulator to charge for all they are worth. I had a similar problem on my old Harley on a trip, it kept boiling the water out of my battery, and I suspected the regulator was shot. I had replaced the old points regulator with a sealed solid state regulator that bolted on the end of the generator. After trying my best to tear it apart to see if I could splice in a points type regulator, I later found that I had a battery wire making an intermittent short under the seat. It either was not a continuous short or it was not large enough to shut the motor down. Old Harley's have no fuses and a short usually will kill the motor, or you'll notice the wiring melting. If your ammeter is wired correctly and it is showing a negative discharge I would suspect a short somewhere. I am not sure how the ammeter would react if you had an internal short in the battery itself. Maybe someone else can chime in.

[Jim T.]

Re: Boilling battery

You could drive with no output from your alternator. I drove over 200 miles one summer day in my 70 using only the battery. Not using the air, lights, or radio I arrived at my destination and the battery still had enough electrical power to start the car. The battery only had to supply power for the ignition system. I sometimes wonder how far I could of driven during the daylight hours.
You could disconnect the alternator and drive on the battery, about half way, reconnect the alternator for a few miles to charge the battery, then disconnect it and drive home.

[Andries ter Hennepe]

Re: Boilling battery

Morning everyone,thanks for all the suggestions.I will turn the connector around, the explanation sounds "sound" to me.Then try to open up the regulator.If not then disconnect from time to time the generator and prey to be home tonight.If any more suggestions, please write.
Regards, Andries

[Mike Yager]

Re: Boilling battery

If you have a short in the battery, the ammeter should show a discharge. This is caused by the battery not able to hold a charge and the system not able to keep up with the demand.

Been there and experienced it. Of course it had to happen with the wife in the car. We were only a few miles from home and were able to quickly get someone to help get the car home. No big deal, right. It was the only time the car has not gotten us home on a trip.

That was over four years ago. Every time we go for a ride, she always asks if I have my mobile phone in case we get stuck somewhere.

Ahhh. The joys of married life.

[Jack H.]

Good point, Mike!

If there's a shorted cell, it should be easy to detect. Figure 2.2V per cell, nominal, and 6-cells in a 12V battery. Disconnect battery cables and measure open circuit voltage. If the battery is suspected to be fully charged (should be if it was boiling over), you ought to see 12-13 VDC. If she's in the 'mud' (10V or less) there's at least one internally shorted cell....

[Richard Hayes]

Re: Boilling battery

It sounds to as the Alternator's diodes have broken/breaking down and throwing AC to the battery. That would cause the ammeter to go negative when you revved it up AND you'd be able to drive for a while- because you are still getting some unfiltered DC to the battery-and that's why its boiling. Hook up a cheap battery charger and you'll get the same effect.

I bet that it really smells bad!!!