Exploding batteries

diesel1 · Dec 19, 2019

Been doing some work on my military vehicle today, after a run out, got back home, stopped the engine to answer my phone,
Finish my call and as soon as hit the start button one off the batteries exploded, battery was only 2ft behind me, theres a thick steel plate between me and the batteries thank god. The bang was unbelievable, i had my ear defenders on but didnt seem like it!
Blew the top off the battery showing acid all over,
Anyone else have this with batteries? 2 12v batteries inline making 24v system, will post a pic.,

diesel1 · Dec 19, 2019

Dead battery

milkloss · Dec 19, 2019

I guess the Other battery was kerfukered and the one that blew up was taking 24v instead of twelve and made Some gas?

Mursal · Dec 19, 2019

They do that, usually after a charge and you ask it to do work. Explosive gases and a bad connection (inside or out) and you get ignition.

Campbell · Dec 19, 2019

Hydrogen gas, same what did it for Zeppelins.

biggles · Dec 19, 2019

Had the same thing happen on a js130 with twin batteries, all the surrounding paint came off next time it rained, I did give it a good hose down straight after but obviously not well enough.

milkloss · Dec 19, 2019

biggles said:
Had the same thing happen on a js130 with twin batteries, all the surrounding paint came off next time it rained, I did give it a good hose down straight after but obviously not well enough.

boiling water is the ticket.

biggles · Dec 19, 2019

milkloss said:
boiling water is the ticket.

Hopefully there wont be a next time, I'll bear it in mind just incase though!

daveydiesel1 · Dec 19, 2019

Our old hitachi did that and we washed her but the oil cooler ended up corrodin thru so make sure you throughly wash anywhere it would have splashed

startinghandle · Dec 19, 2019

Happened to me in our maestro diesel van in the early 90's on a very hot day

Kidds · Dec 19, 2019

My Dad regularly blew up batteries by welding or grinding next to batteries on charge.
You’d think he’d learn after the first one.

neilo · Dec 19, 2019

I had it happen when connecting a charger to a tractor battery we had for fencers once. I was lent over the top of it at the time, as it was on the floor, so had a Sulphuric Acid shower.

My head went in the nearest water trough (about 50 yds) as fast as I could get there, and luckily no damage done to anything but my pride.
I never could work out what caused it and have never had it since, despite batteries here being pretty well constantly charging on a rotation.

Paddington · Dec 19, 2019

Lent someone a fencer battery, only it was left on too long and the voltage dropped to 8V. He stuck it on super boost charge and blew a 'ole in the case.

Lazy-Farmer · Dec 19, 2019

They produce hydrogen gas when charging and if you add that to a confined space, add spark for and ignition source And a bit of oxygen and you have a party. I had one explode on the charger in the workshop once. I was a big shed and bits got every wall. Some bang comes off them.

Lincs Lass · Dec 19, 2019

Only seen one battery go bang ,,My old boss had one on charge and was sharpening beet lifter knives with the grinder ,,he never thought and the sparks were going over the battery ,,big bang ,,bits of battery went in all directions and he stood there watching his nylon overalls quickly disintegrating ,,he shot out the shed and got the hose pipe out abit sharpish .
We were picking up bits of battery for weeks after

8100 · Dec 19, 2019

Had one on a Leyland Clydesdale blow while jump starting it (which was every morning

) I somehow got away with no injury and not getting sacked for telling the gaffer to come and start the heap of muck himself.

How much · Dec 19, 2019

iI was almost certainly caused by a spark igniting the battery gas so what else in that area of the vehicle could have caused a spark ?

As for the gas overcharging is the most likely cause either the alternator regulator is faulty and putting in two many volts of you have had them on a boost charger prior to taking it out and the gas has lingered there and a spark on the second start up caused the explosion.
or you have wired them incorrectly as in 12 v not 24 v and the alternator output is to high for it .

ACEngineering · Dec 19, 2019

diesel1 said:
Been doing some work on my military vehicle today, after a run out, got back home, stopped the engine to answer my phone,
Finish my call and as soon as hit the start button one off the batteries exploded, battery was only 2ft behind me, theres a thick steel plate between me and the batteries thank god. The bang was unbelievable, i had my ear defenders on but didnt seem like it!
Blew the top off the battery showing acid all over,
Anyone else have this with batteries? 2 12v batteries inline making 24v system, will post a pic.,

As said above check the voltage on alternator. Its possible the reg pack has failed so not regulating the voltage output.

ollie989898 · Dec 19, 2019

Cripes that could have been really nasty. As stated they gently let off gas when charging or drained. Any kind of internal fault and bang. Hydrogen explosions occur in industry a fair bit and they can be nasty.

David. · Dec 19, 2019

Had one recently actually; forgotten it was charging, quick flash of the grinder 10m away, kaboom, fizz, £100 new battery thanks very much, etc.
No cure for stupid.

Exploding batteries

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