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I had the same problem on a brand new battery which is under the front seat.

2am the carbon monoxide detector is going mad.The fumes had setit off, after leaping out of bed and nearly throwing up from the rotten egg smell. I opened all the windows and diconected the battery. The charger was just continuing over charging. The new battery was wrecked. At the moment I am just using ehu when on site.If anyone knows of Dometic mk 140 zig unit and how to resolve the problem I would be grateful.

ask gary

http://www.arcsystems.biz

1 )  the word i was looking for is sulphation.under normal discharging,fine crystals of lead sulphate are formed on the plates and,by recharging,these are convertible.if the battery is left discharged for long period,however,these crystals turn into coarse lead sulphate crystals which are not easily converted back to the fine state and may ruin the battery..

2 ) the effects of suphation are (a) a reduction  in the battery Ah capacity and (b) to impede the charging process causing the battery to become very hot

3) in minor sulphation cases extended periods of charging at low currents will improve the situation.,but in serious cases the battery becomes unusable because of internal short circuits which result. 

a short passage from one of my motor electronic books.it may explain it a bit more.