Thread: Exploding Battery

Exploding batteries are a hazard of lead acid batteries that has been recognised for over a century. The most spectacular one I have seen was in a small coastal motor vessel in PNG about forty years ago, when one morning an attempt to start the main engine blew the floor of the cockpit out - and the top of one of the batteries. Interestingly, the battery, minus its top cover, continued to operate for several weeks until a replacement could be obtained.

What happens is that the battery has been gassing while charging, producing an explosive mixture of hydrogen and oxygen. This is then ignited by a spark when starting current is drawn, usually from a bad connection on one of the battery terminals, but occasionally from a faulty connection between cells within the battery.

John

These batteries were the sealed maint free type John.Terminals were tight.Had been having issues last week with the linking cable between the 2 batteries shorting and not able to be tightened,it was fixed.
Obviously the battery had recived internal damage as a result of the above.
Andrew

I had that happen on a VW Golf many years ago Andy, right bloody mess it made

Gday Andrew,
Have had 3 sealed batteries explode on the boat, 2 whilst I was standing next to them, they were in there own sealed battery box, but they blew the lid off and I got some of the acid on my tshirt, it dissolve the shirt in no time, lucky I was facing the other way.

It seems to be a hazard of the sealed maint free ones, even tho they tell you its uncommon, have seen enough of them at the battery disposal point to realise its not that uncommon..

Cheers Ean

Just a thought Landy, did you get the grader going again, if so all is probably well.

If you have not started the grader since the batteries blew, might pay you to check the voltage output of your alternator.

Having one swollen battery is not unusual but to have two, thats sounding like they were being over charged and once they had swollen then they probably had internal damage and a starting current was enough to create a spark, and as they say, the rest is history.

Hi Tim
All good now,28.2V,24V system.NORMAL????
I run all work lights and has two beacons going.
Andrew

They make a bang
I have a 24V JD here that did the same thing. One battery dropped a cell on mine. Come to think of it, I could smell it boiling the other cells before shut down.
When I restarted the offending battery exploded Was like a gun shot!

I had a very lucky escape about 30 years ago. The old VW Beetle used to have the battery located under the back seat. In those days pre alternaters, is was not uncommon for a car doing short trips to need the battery charged by an external source.

When a person didn't own a charger they would drop the car into the garage for a day and have them do it. On this occasion a Beetle was dropped in and I was given the job. I removed the battery caps(3 of as they were six volts) and connected the charger. Came back later that day to disconnect. I did this by leaning through the open window, leaning over the battery and proceeded to disconnect(probably with mains power still on) and BANG, it exploded in my face. Luckily with a large water flush there was no permanent facial or eye damage..

Technology can be amazing at times. I recently purchased a CTEK charger and I don't know how they do it, but it is safe to disconnect with mains connected as they produce no spark.

Dave.