|
|
23-04-2018, 14:18
|
#1
|
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cat in New Zealand, trawler in Ventura
Boat: 46' custom cat "Rum Doxy", Roughwater 41"Abreojos"
Posts: 2,041
|
Batteries really do explode.
A couple of weeks ago, while pulling anchor in Bahia Elena, Costa Rica, one of our batteries exploded. It was fairly impressive, sounding like an M80 going off in the cabin. Since the batteries are in a strong box with a lid there was no real harm done, except to our nerves. I quickly rewired the battery bank, excluding the topless one and we carried on.
This occurred late in the morning after motoring for several hours with the sun high, so the batteries were well charged and there was likely a lot of H2 and O2 in the top space. We had just pulled anchor and my wife had me drop the anchor back in the water to rinse off a clot of mud. When I lifted it back up...Blam! I still don't know exactly how the explosion occurred, but it was internal, so I suspect the plates had become warped due to abuse and were able to create a spark, igniting all that hydrogen and oxygen in the top space although I checked the fluid level afterwards and it was well above the plates, so who knows? For the fun of it I checked the voltage as well on the 4 golf cart batteries that make up our bank. The highest reading was on the exploded one, making me think that out of 4 damaged batteries, this was the highest performing and thus the more "stressed".
Anyhow, just a reminder to all to make sure batteries are in a proper box or reinforced area because, just like the sticker on the top says, they can explode.
|
|
|
23-04-2018, 14:59
|
#2
|
Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Maine
Boat: CS-36T - Cupecoy
Posts: 3,197
|
Re: Batteries really do explode.
We just had a local man killed yesterday when the battery in his BMW caught fire in his garage after a short drive. Batteries can certainly be dangerous...
https://www.pressherald.com/2018/04/...re-identified/
|
|
|
23-04-2018, 15:49
|
#3
|
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2003
Boat: Dragonfly 1000 trimaran
Posts: 7,141
|
Re: Batteries really do explode.
Poor guy. Just because his battery caught fire, you had him killed? That's pretty extreme !
<sarcasm>
__________________
The question is not, "Who will let me?"
The question is,"Who is going to stop me?"
Ayn Rand
|
|
|
23-04-2018, 16:19
|
#4
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Panama City FL
Boat: Island Packet 32 Keel/CB
Posts: 995
|
Re: Batteries really do explode.
One should choose their words very carefully with this crowd. No slack with this bunch.
As a 6 GC2 bank sort of guy, be interested in any further info you might uncvover.
|
|
|
23-04-2018, 18:30
|
#5
|
Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Channel Islands, CA
Boat: 1962 Columbia 29 MK 1 #37
Posts: 14,262
|
Re: Batteries really do explode.
Were they AGMs?
|
|
|
23-04-2018, 18:40
|
#6
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Portland, OR USA
Boat: C&C 35 MK-II
Posts: 386
|
Re: Batteries really do explode.
Mikereed posted he checked the water level afterward, so likely FLA.
__________________
Thanks,
Ron
|
|
|
23-04-2018, 20:08
|
#7
|
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Everywhere (Sea of Cortez right now)
Boat: PSC Orion 27
Posts: 1,377
|
Re: Batteries really do explode.
Quote:
Originally Posted by senormechanico
Poor guy. Just because his battery caught fire, you had him killed? That's pretty extreme !
<sarcasm>
|
Maybe just a little too soon. I've been there before........
goat
|
|
|
23-04-2018, 20:50
|
#8
|
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: PNW
Boat: J/42
Posts: 938
|
Re: Batteries really do explode.
Yeah, we made batteries in 7th grade physics class and I was standing next to the bench when a whole row of them blew up. First permanent hearing loss - one of those Halmark Moments.
|
|
|
23-04-2018, 20:54
|
#9
|
Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Channel Islands, CA
Boat: 1962 Columbia 29 MK 1 #37
Posts: 14,262
|
Re: Batteries really do explode.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ronstory
Mikereed posted he checked the water level afterward, so likely FLA.
|
gotta learn to read someday
__________________
DL
Pythagoras
1962 Columbia 29 MKI #37
|
|
|
24-04-2018, 08:48
|
#10
|
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 6,174
|
Re: Batteries really do explode.
@ #4:
Pronouns should always agree in number with their antecedents ;-0)!
Hoots
TP
|
|
|
24-04-2018, 09:09
|
#11
|
Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Boat: Miura 31
Posts: 348
|
Re: Batteries really do explode.
Mike, what batteries and how old?
|
|
|
24-04-2018, 09:31
|
#12
|
Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,103
|
Re: Batteries really do explode.
Good post Mike!
|
|
|
24-04-2018, 09:44
|
#13
|
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: W Carib
Boat: Wildcat 35, Hobie 33
Posts: 13,479
|
Re: Batteries really do explode.
Ive never had one explode on a boat, but I have had one nearly catch fire...to the point of smoking, presumably due to an internal short...while recommissioning a boat that had been laid up for a long time...turns out it had a minor lightening strike...probably what created the internal short.
Worked in a body shop as a kid and did have a car start batt explode there once at very close range (practically in my face)...lots of plastic shapnel and battery acid.
|
|
|
24-04-2018, 09:46
|
#14
|
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2017
Boat: Lagoon 400S2
Posts: 3,755
|
Re: Batteries really do explode.
Last week a 12V 120 Ah GEL battery was boiling and gasing, awful scent! If I was not near, it would have exploded too I guess. What a mess!
She was wired parallel in a bank with 3 others of the same type and age
|
|
|
24-04-2018, 18:46
|
#15
|
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Boat: Roberts 45
Posts: 1,033
|
Re: Batteries really do explode.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikereed100
A couple of weeks ago, while pulling anchor in Bahia Elena, Costa Rica, one of our batteries exploded.
[...]
Anyhow, just a reminder to all to make sure batteries are in a proper box or reinforced area because, just like the sticker on the top says, they can explode.
|
Thanks for sharing that, Mike. Is there a "Lesson learned" here?
Having the batts in a "proper box" obviously contained the explosion. So how about ventilating that box with a fan? Maybe that would've prevented the explosion in the first place?
On top of that, a temperature sensor with an audible alarm might be a useful addition, too?
I guess you already know that with FLA's, off-gassing is normal when charging them at a fairly high rate.
Recombination caps help reduce the water loss and would reduce the amount of combustible gasses.
The only precaution left then is to provide ample ventilation during those relatively brief times of high current charging. The fan doesn't have to run 24/7.
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Advertise Here
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vendor Spotlight |
|
|
|