Battery Blow Up

[polo-dog]

I posted in a fishing thread that one of my trolling motor batteries exploded on me Sat. Here is a pic of the battery and some pieces that flew off the battery. It also blew a hole in the front, back and one side of the battery. It made a loud "boom" and when I looked in the compartment I could see smoke. I talked with CCSM, and he thought that if I get one new battery that he thinks that I should get two because of the new and old not being matched in age/etc. I have one of my old Duralast batteries that has a full charge but I don't want to break anything else. Does anyone else know if I can use two different and different aged batteries in my 24 volt system? Just curious, I think CCSM is right that it would be good to get two but that can get pretty expensive and what would I do with the old one that is working well?

 

[Guest]

Polo I have always heard that you should use 2 equal batteries on a 24 volt system. If one is weaker than the other it will prematurely drain the stronger battery. They would work ok for a while but the longevity of the newer Battery would be compromised. I guess you could put the one good battery you have on the used equipment forum and sell it.

 

[jon the fisherman]

In a 24v setup, it is like having a 24 v battery with two cells. If one bat/cel is week, it will affect the others performance

Cheez, you are quick

 

[Guest]

Polo, that one in the pic would make a good trade in at wallyworld.

 

[Fishin Fool]

Polo there is a real good chance that your battery was leaking fumes and had a loose connection that sparked the explosion. I had a battery blow up in my face once when I was helping a lady jump her car off. I had asked her to make sure the switch was off so I could tighten the connectors. When I bent over to work on the terminals she hit the ignition switch. I saw a quick spark and then (amazing how quick human reflexes are) heard a massive explosion. I took most of the acid in the face (I had managed to get my eyes closed) and on my clothing. My mom was standing several feet away and I began to yell at her to get me to water. Lucky for me there was a faucet a few feet away and I almost drowned from the water I was letting flow over my face. I just knew I'd be blind in those few seconds. I opened my eyes and almost cried because I could actually SEE! I had a few cuts and the blast had punched a hole in the hood. The thing that got hurt the most was my clothing. I was wearing running shorts and shirt and the acid ATE them off of me while I was trying to get them off. I'd advise anyone to make sure the compartment is aired out well and all switches are off prior to working on a battery. I'd say more than anything a loose connection caused your blast.

 

[jon the fisherman]

FF, you may be right

 

[polo-dog]

FNF, I'm glad that you got out with as little damage as you did. When I think back on what happened it is very strange because when the trolling motor didn't put out I went back to be sure that one of the circuit breakers on the terminals hadn't been tripped and they had not but then I opened the top of one of the cells to be sure that they hadn't gotten low on water. I put the top back on and it was a few minutes later that the bang came. Since the back end had been open there couldn't have been a large amount of gas trapped in the compartment and the terminals were all tightly screwed on as I had some trouble getting them off yesterday. Just a strange happening. I hope that it never happens again.

 

[digitalcb]

Singing Battery RE: Battery Blow Up

If you ever hear your battery sing--run. I've had them start a high pitched whine right before they blew.

Of course a spark in the vicinity can do the same thing. Batteries put out hydrogen gas which is explosive.

 

[Fishin Fool]

RE: Singing Battery RE: Battery Blow Up

digitalcb - 12/3/2007 9:25 AM

If you ever hear your battery sing--run. I've had them start a high pitched whine right before they blew.

Of course a spark in the vicinity can do the same thing. Batteries put out hydrogen gas which is explosive.

Right on the money. It doesn't take a lot of hydrogen gas to cause a blowup either. If you have been running with an on board charger charging the battery that is the best time for one to blow. The charging produces the gas and the least spark can set it off if the battery has a gas leak. Anytime I jump someone off now, I use LED cables that connect in the MIDDLE after you have placed each clip on both battery posts. The LED indicates a solid connection. That way you are standing in the middle of the cars instead of with your face over a cable trying to get a connection. When you plug them in the circuit is completed. I would still look for a loose connection Polo on the battery post. Does your trolling battery charge while the big engine is running? If it does, I'd that much more inclined to think this was a hydrogen explosion.

 

[fairweatherfisherman]

This is a good thread. Even though most of us know a lead-acid battery can blow, I almost never see anyone put on safety glasses before working with them. Thank God FF was able to get his eyes closed quick enough to prevent any damage. I hadn't heard about the connect in the middle booster cables, but I'm going to add them to my Christmas wish list. I've gone to nearly all AGM batteries now. They are kind of pricy, but the way they are designed reduces the level of the dagerous hydrogen emissions.