Battery Problem (cross posted in general gassing)

[cazzer]

My mate hasnt driven his car for a while. It has an optima red top battery in it.
He took it for a drive yesterday (it needed starting with a boost pack).
Anyway, when he got back, there was a strong smell of sulpher around the battery and it was way too hot to touch.
This sounds incredibly not normal to me.
Is it just a battery recharging from flat quickly or is it a serious problem?

[stevieturbo]

I think a voltmeter would be handy.

Have you actually checked to see if your alternator is charging correctly ?

[motorwise]

sounds like the alternators pushing too much into it - check the voltage across the battery with the engine running - any higher than 14.5v and you'll have to ditch the alternator

[motorwise]

it may survive but you'll probably have to ditch the battery as well