Battery poles reversed

[Vincent Pacilio]

Well going on 4th season with 2013 242 limited S. Batteries were remove end of season n placed in basement ( on wood table). A tender was attached to both batteries like previous years. This past Saturday place charged batteries in boat fired up starboard engine no issues ran it few minutes than turned off. Next fired up port engine same thing ; except when I turn off motor I saw smoke coming from battery compartment. Positive side of terminal was melting . I quickly disconnected positive lead. Pulled batteries to check out of boat : 1 st battery normal, 2nd battery positive n negative terminal have switched polarity. Anyone experience similar situation.

 

[itsdgm]

Wow, that's a new one. I've never heard of that before. Sorry about your troubles @Vincent Pacilio but welcome to the site. Hopefully you haven't suffered any damage due to that battery issue.

 

[Bruce]

Welcome Aboard!

Have the poles of the battery actually switched? Is it under warranty? Was your boat harmed?

 

[Vincent Pacilio]

Nothing to bad some melted wiring covering on a few inches and will
Replace both batteries

 

[Vincent Pacilio]

Welcome Aboard!

Have the poles of the battery actually switched? Is it under warranty? Was your boat harmed?

Boat is fine. Batteries were going on 4 th season. I will replace red wire n put 2 new batteries in for season. Got 3 seasons out of them.

 

[Speedling]

When batteries are really really dead they reverse polarity. It's because of some chemical reaction that occurs when u get them to a certain point.

 

[mb300sd]

Both the positive and negative plates in a lead acid battery are just lead. Which one is positive/negative is determined during initial charging, and it's possible to completely discharge and reverse the 2. Don't try it with any other kind of battery.

Could the tender have been attached backwards? That's the only way I can think of of it getting charged backwards without you noticing.

 

[bumpy]

I have seen polarity reversal on AA batteries twice in the last few months in a small battery powered weather station display. Freaked me the F out! I can imagine how you felt when this happened with 12V and 500+ amps! Glad there wasn't more damage.