Battery Exploded

[thefulminator]

I used to work in a battery shop. For a battery to explode there needs to be an ignition source and something to ignite. The ignition source is usually a shorted cell or a bad terminal connection. The fuel to ignite is the hydrogen gas produced when a battery is charged.

If a battery is over charged, the water in is is broken down into hydrogen and oxygen which recombines into water after ignition. If the battery has a cell short, which is caused by contact between adjacent plates a spark inside the battery can happen once the cell is boiled nearly dry. This is usually caused by repeated too high of a load on the battery or over charging. When too high of a load is repeated, the plates will flex slightly during that loading. That causes the lead sulfate in the plates to fall out and gather at the bottom of the cell. Over charging does the same thing by overheating the plates. Once enough lead sulfate has built up in the cell it can contact adjacent plates. The easiest way to see if you have a cell short is to load test the battery, usually at a shop with the right equipment and see if one or more cells appear to boil during loading.

One other thing. If you have 12V dual battery system, be sure that the batteries are the same model and same age. If you have two different configuration batteries in parallel, the weaker battery which has the lower resistance, will charge first and overheat while the stronger battery will charge less.

[CarmieJo]

Thanks for posting this. I didn't know I needed to do anything to the batteries except keep the red switch to the "On" position so they charge when I'm driving or plugged in. Hope you can help a girl out. Would I just pry the long caplike things off the top and pour water in them?https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...MYBungHYqfRMZL

[flybouy]

Your Google link is broken. A 12 volt battery will gave six cells and six caps, or two caps of three. Only use distilled water (about $1 a gallon) available at any grocery store, big box store or pharmacy. You should use enough to cover the plates inside put not above the bottom rim of the hole.

If you're concerned about making a mess just buy a cheap turkey baster and use that to add water.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by CarmieJo

Thanks for posting this. I didn't know I needed to do anything to the batteries except keep the red switch to the "On" position so they charge when I'm driving or plugged in. Hope you can help a girl out. Would I just pry the long caplike things off the top and pour water in them?https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...MYBungHYqfRMZL

Depending on battery location and your desire to mess with cap removal, replacement and dropping water into the cells while peering into them with a flashlight , you might look into a battery watering system such as I bought.

The last trailer required the removal of LP tanks, various brackets and then crawling under the trailer to retrieve/place the battery straps so I installed the watering system. What a relief/time saver. Liked it so much I moved it to this 5th wheel even though the batteries are so much easier to get to. Just open the compartment, attach the pump line, put the end in the bottle of distilled water, pump a couple of times, disconnect and you're done; all of 2 minutes. Just a thought.

[bbells]

When charging batteries put out hydrogen gas. Add a spark to hydrogen gas and you get a big pop. So, to explode you need heavy charging and a spark. Static electricity will do it.

[CarmieJo]

https://photos.google.com/search/bat...MYBungHYqfRMZL

Try this link.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by CarmieJo

https://photos.google.com/search/bat...MYBungHYqfRMZL

Try this link.

I get the same 404 error as the other link.

[GaryUT]

Use a battery filler. Available from most automotive parts stores.


Video showing how to use them:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4SRUVdL8UY

[Northern Lights]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

here ya go. It might be a "unicorn" but if so, then "unicorns are real"...

A 6 volt battery. Was it on a 12 volt charger?

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Northern Lights

A 6 volt battery. Was it on a 12 volt charger?

Who knows ??? The question wasn't about WHY a battery explodes, it was "I've never seen a battery explode" so I posted a photo of an exploded battery... I've no idea "why" and honestly, it doesn't really matter since the end result has already rendered the battery "exploded".....

[Jnich17]

I had one to explode 2 years ago. I keep mine plugged in all year and checked water every month. One morning i was in yard and found the top of the battery box about 25 feet from camper. I investigated and found that the battery had exploded sometime that week. There was no damage to camper thank goodness and just replaced with equivalent battery. No issues. Have since traded camper. However, later that summer my converter went out and had to replace it.

[DDuncan51]

Originally Posted by HppyCmpr

What would cause a new battery to explode while stored? Can it explode because of heat?

I'm not saying this is your problem but.... Make sure the battery is properly air vented.

A few years ago I inspected my brother-in-laws new 5th wheel prior to him accepting delivery. It came with one battery in its own vented compartment. He had an additional battery installed in the forward, completely sealed compartment. I pointed this out to the sales rep. Needless to say ,but I will anyway, they put an air vent in the compartment.

[geeman]

Originally Posted by thefulminator

I used to work in a battery shop. For a battery to explode there needs to be an ignition source and something to ignite. The ignition source is usually a shorted cell or a bad terminal connection. The fuel to ignite is the hydrogen gas produced when a battery is charged.

If a battery is over charged, the water in is is broken down into hydrogen and oxygen which recombines into water after ignition. If the battery has a cell short, which is caused by contact between adjacent plates a spark inside the battery can happen once the cell is boiled nearly dry. This is usually caused by repeated too high of a load on the battery or over charging. When too high of a load is repeated, the plates will flex slightly during that loading. That causes the lead sulfate in the plates to fall out and gather at the bottom of the cell. Over charging does the same thing by overheating the plates. Once enough lead sulfate has built up in the cell it can contact adjacent plates. The easiest way to see if you have a cell short is to load test the battery, usually at a shop with the right equipment and see if one or more cells appear to boil during loading.

One other thing. If you have 12V dual battery system, be sure that the batteries are the same model and same age. If you have two different configuration batteries in parallel, the weaker battery which has the lower resistance, will charge first and overheat while the stronger battery will charge less.

Strange this came up. I am the fire chief at our volunteer dept and live across the street. About 2 weeks ago I was outside and heard a BOOM. A member was going to take the truck to a parade, turned on the master and hit the key and BOOM. It took out the 1st and 3rd of 4 batteries!!!

The batteries were only about 3 years old and were maintenance free type. Since new, 2004, the truck has been plugged in for onboard charging which is a 0.5 amp battery minder only.

We do not know the cause of the explosion but darn glad it had the big aluminum step cover over the batteries.

[kntrygal]

I've been reading alot of the posts here and throughout the forum. Unless I'm mistaken, would a 12V golf cart battery w/ the following specs be a good choice then? The previous owner slapped a cheap car battery in for a single battery system.

• Reserve Capacity(RC) @ 75Amps: 280
• Amp Hours(Ah) @ 20Hr: 150

[DDuncan51]

They'll work fine. I run two similar to what you describe, size GC2, batteries in my RV.

[Ken / Claudia]

Thought all golf cart batteries are 6 volt?

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Ken / Claudia

Thought all golf cart batteries are 6 volt?

Typically they're either 6, 8 or 12 volts. Through the years I've avoided the 12 volt deep cycle batteries because they're heavier (about 2 times heavier than each GC2 6 volt battery) which makes them harder to lift in and out of the battery compartment. They also almost always cost more than a pair of comparable 6 volt batteries.

Right now, COSTCO has Interstate GC2 6 volt batteries for $87 and GC12 12 volt batteries for $240 (that's $66 more) for the larger and heavier 12 volt single battery.

[Ken / Claudia]

Ok thanks, maybe I have seen them and not known. Sounds like they are not a good choice on rv tongues. Like a big genny the power is nice,but cost and weight make them best to stay at home.

[dutchmensport]

ha! reading this thread makes me want to go check my batteries now in my Montana. It's been about 6 months now.

[DDuncan51]

I looked at the reviews for the Costco Interstate 6Volt batteries, I hate to say it, but they don't look to good. I've always been an Interstate fan, and have had no problems with customer service, replacement of bad batteries, but who needs the hassle, if it can be avoided?