Smell from battery

[the evil twin]

Your battery is screwed, it is shorting out internally and producing gobs of hydrogen gas.

As someone else posted, put it somewhere (very carefully) well ventilated, keep away and just let it die a miserable lonely death.
Don't try and recharge it, just get rid of it.
Try for warranty if it still had some left but they will usually only offer part of replacement if anything.

Your voltage readings are perfectly normal so thats good.

That solenoid linking the Batteries is OK, old school but still OK.
I agree with TD in that if you do want to update to a modern battery parallel management system you are half way there because you can use the existing cables.
You can go Redarc SBI12 for about $100 to $150 depending on what C/B's you choose to protect the battery feeds if you don't have any already.

[Kano]

Thanks very much Threedogs. I'll have a look at that new system. One more question, is it ok to drive around with the 2nd battery removed or do I need to d/c something?

[Kano]

Thanks EvilTwin. That's very helpful. I'll go and look at an updated system as suggested. I've taken the battery out and have it in a safe place till I ditch it.

[the evil twin]

Thanks EvilTwin. That's very helpful. I'll go and look at an updated system as suggested. I've taken the battery out and have it in a safe place till I ditch it.

No worries.

If you want to drive around with no 2nd battery for a while I would disconnect the lead at that solenoid that runs to the 2nd Battery.
You could just insulate the 2nd Battery positive terminal but if you disconnect at the solenoid then it is a better option

[Kano]

Great thanks, I'll disconnect the lead at the solenoid till I get a new system.

[the evil twin]

Great thanks, I'll disconnect the lead at the solenoid till I get a new system.

Cool...

The 'old' solenoid shouldn't be what trashed the battery so you can wack another one in there if you want.

Have you had a lot of K's over corrugations or something?
When I was living up there in the 80's and 90's we would sometimes kill a battery on trips out to Coburg or the Roper but the roads were really shitty.
Even Gunn Point could be a saga sometimes

[Kano]

Oh right. We have only just moved here from Alice Springs and we did do a few trips on corrugated roads down there. We have been planning a few trips for the dry season so it's good to get these things sorted now.