Battery question 1

[jcraft]

Just thought I would post this here out of curiosity. In our tool and die shop they had a 12 volt car battery sitting on the floor. It wasn't being charged or anything. Someone pulled the plugs off and was filling it with water when the top exploded and blew off. Any idea what would cause this?

 

[wbd]

What else was he doing? Did he have a dry rag he wiped the battery with causing a static discharge? I would look for a static discharge unless he was smoking at the time. Any hot work (welding or cutting) going on that could have sent a spark that way?

 

[matrixabc]

Could be static, you have to watch out as there will be hydrogen gas, when you open the vents, I have seen a few blow up, and can be very dangerous in confined spaces, spraying sulphuric acid everywhere.

 

[DanDel]

So, we know; hydrogen gas + spark = explosion.

What we don't know, was the guy injured?

 

[itsmoked]

Battery more than 2 years old?

The most likely thing was the plates being uncovered,(hence the need for a top-up), and they dried out. In filling the battery some of the dried material cracked and fell over shorting the cell. => spark => bang. Always use a face shield when messing with these blokes. Hope he wasn't blinded of disfigured.

Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.-

http://www.flaminsystems.com