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Post by vikx on Apr 17, 2015 21:48:19 GMT -8
 This battery was about 18 months old, charged with a Schumacher 1.5 amp maintainer. Both were purchased at Walmart. I have similar in most of my trailers. The wiring is correct. Any insights into what could have caused this? It even blew the battery box apart. My thoughts: Maintainer failed and overcharged? Battery out of water? Why? Battery wired backwards? (I trust this owner, very honest, he didn't.) Could this battery have been a "bad" one?? Thanks for any and all info. This could have been so much worse.... |
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Apr 17, 2015 21:53:22 GMT -8
WOW! That's scary.
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RinTin
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Post by RinTin on Apr 18, 2015 5:32:46 GMT -8
Vandalism?
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Post by bigbill on Apr 18, 2015 6:12:40 GMT -8
This is what myself and others have talked about for years. It is caused when things are not properly ventilated and the gases build up, then any minor spark can cause such an explosion. The spark could be generated by a loose wire or just static electricity. This doesn't happen often but when it does it can be disastrous. I have been standing next to three different batteries that exploded in my life, two caused a lot of damage but one didn't blow much but the battery case all three caused reduced hearing for a day or two. one of them was on an asphalt paver and was enclosed in a 1/4 inch steel box and it blew the box open. This usually happens when the battery is under a heavy load such as charging or a heavy draw both of of these cause gases to intensify. This is why many people like to put the battery on the trailer tongue.
In answer to your question I would suspect over charging causing acid to "boil". 1 1/2 amps is to high of a charge for maintaining a battery with no draw. A 1/2 amp would be more than enough to keep a fully charged battery charged.
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maddan
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Post by maddan on Apr 18, 2015 6:46:16 GMT -8
I'll be watching what others say about this as I'm in the early stages of acquiring/installing a battery for my trailer. Planning to mount the battery on the tongue. I've already installed a converter, mostly for running the 12 volt items when plugged into shore power. Based on other posts, the converter probably isn't strong enough to keep the battery fully charged. When the trailer isn't being used, it will be kept at a storage lot, so I'm planning to disconnect and remove the battery, and charge it at home in my garage with a trickle charger. There have been a lot of recent posts pointing out the caution needed for maintaining a battery, Such as the practice of disconnecting the battery ground from the frame, before disconnecting the battery terminals to remove a battery. It now seems very important to ensure the battery gasses are vented/expelled before attempting any work on a battery. I will be bookmarking this thread to capture insight as to what to expect with handling a battery safely. A comprehensive post is needed to cover all aspects of battery installation, and maintenance. Thanks in advance for information!
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John Palmer
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Post by John Palmer on Apr 18, 2015 8:47:34 GMT -8
This is what myself and others have talked about for years. It is caused when things are not properly ventilated and the gases build up, then any minor spark can cause such an explosion. The spark could be generated by a loose wire or just static electricity. This doesn't happen often but when it does it can be disastrous. I have been standing next to three different batteries that exploded in my life, two caused a lot of damage but one didn't blow much but the battery case all three caused reduced hearing for a day or two. one of them was on an asphalt paver and was enclosed in a 1/4 inch steel box and it blew the box open. This usually happens when the battery is under a heavy load such as charging or a heavy draw both of of these cause gases to intensify. This is why many people like to put the battery on the trailer tongue. In answer to your question I would suspect over charging causing acid to "boil". 1 1/2 amps is to high of a charge for maintaining a battery with no draw. A 1/2 amp would be more than enough to keep a fully charged battery charged. X2, BigBill is right on!
In the motorcycle business we handled thousands of lead acid batteries every year, and I have never had one, or seen one blown up on the four commercial Battery Tender's that we used. In fifty years of messing with vehicles, I have only been close by, when one battery exploded. It was 45 years ago, in a trunk of a drag race car, and the battery was being heavily charged, built up the hydrogen gas trapped under the rear fender, and a spark set it off, very loud, and scary.
I use a 2.5MA battery maintainer. The key feature here to remember, is a 2.5MA Maintainer does NOT charge at the 2.5MA level all the time. It will vary from zero charge, "UP TO" the maximum charge level. It's a smart charger that sense's the voltage missing from a fully charged battery, and just replaces it to the full charge level of 13.6v to 14.2v, then "Turns Off". A common Trickle Charger is NOT something that you want to connect to your battery, and leave it on 24/7. It does not sense the voltage level and does not know when to cut back, or turn completely off.
Vikx, I hope your OK, and the damage caused was limited to the battery and box only. We can only make educated guesses at this point. The battery exploded due to the gas build up. The battery box, likely both contributed to the lack of ventilation, and also likely controlled some of the plastic shrapnel from the battery. I would focus on better venting, fumes go up, so the vent needs to be at the top of the cover. Make sure you never disconnect a battery cable from a battery that has been enclosed in a confined area causing a ignition spark. Just disconnect the ground wire from your terminal block first. I would suspect that your battery maintainer had a malfunction and over charged the battery, built up excessive gas, and a ignition spark set it off.
In our race car we use an aluminum battery box in the driver's compartment, to meet racing rules. It's polished aluminum, has a nice vented lid with retaining clips, and is available from Summit Racing. Just a consideration.
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maddan
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Post by maddan on Apr 18, 2015 10:09:33 GMT -8
Thanks BB and John. Several take aways for me. Since I'll mostly be charging the battery in the garage, use a smart battery maintainer, rather than a trickle charger. Make sure the battery box is aired out before disconnecting any wires. Since I haven't purchased a battery or battery box, am I to assume that most battery boxes don't provide venting? If so, I assume holes could be drilled on the sides of the box near the top?
A final question: when a battery emits fumes, can you detect the odor?
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Post by vikx on Apr 18, 2015 10:40:45 GMT -8
Thanks Everyone! I believe this IS a case of poor ventilation. Aristocrats often have a battery compartment on the side. It is not vented with louvers, but is "loose" as it is just an aluminum door with bent edges. Rather flimsy. I will be adding a vent for sure. The plastic box did have vents in the lid. Compartment with "Land Commander" logo:  The 1.5 maintainer was a Smart Charger, so it would drop the level of charging when the battery was up.   The battery was not vandalized and no one was around when it blew. Owner noticed some weird electrical actions and decided to check and the exploded battery is what he found! I'm wondering how a spark could have ignited the gasses? Is there such a thing as spontaneous ignition with battery gases?? Another thought is that the maintainer tried to charge as the battery level dropped, thereby igniting the gas? As most of you know, I've always been a proponent of mounting batteries OUTSIDE. Even gel and glass batteries can gas. The salespeople will not guarantee they won't. The answer was, "very unlikely, much safer than lead acid, etc" Again Thank you. We are relieved no one was hurt. |
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John Palmer
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Post by John Palmer on Apr 18, 2015 16:17:33 GMT -8
Gel cell, and AGM (acid glass matt) batteries, are just glorified lead acid batteries. They do "off gas", but not as much. They also do not have the same performance as a quality deep cycle battery.
They are used in a lot of motorsport vehicles because they can be mounted on their side, and they are light weight, but will still start a motor a few times before they are dead. Not good for constant draw applications like we have in trailers.
Most anything could ignite the trapped gases. It the trailer had a refrigerator (propane gas, or electric) would be possible source as it cycles on and off. Even a loose cable could spark and ignite the gas.
Curious, how was the battery mounted? Batteries should be bolted down "through the box" with a automotive hold down strap. In our NHRA drag racing class, they even have a spec (3/8") for the size of the required hold down bolts. If the battery box just has a strap over the top, it allows the battery to move loosely inside the box. This could cause the cables to loosen. Just a thought.
Batteries and propane tanks are deadly items that require some serious thinking as to how they should be secured. Just last weekend, we were camping at Mission Bay, and watching all the vintage trailers drive into the camp ground. Mid day we heard a strange scraping/dragging sound coming from the street. A vintage trailer was driving down the street, dragging their propane tank by the hose! They did not seem in any hurry to stop driving, and find out the source of the sound.
Be safe! |
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John Palmer
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Post by John Palmer on Apr 18, 2015 16:23:16 GMT -8
My deep cycle lead acid battery is in a plastic battery box under my front seat. It is hardwired to a generic battery maintainer and "plugged in 24/7 365 days a year". I cannot smell any gases from the battery charging. |
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Post by bigbill on Apr 18, 2015 20:33:43 GMT -8
IF YOU DO SMELL FUMES FROM THE BATTERY BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL THIS MEANS THE BATTERY IS GASING AND COULD EXPLODE.
The above caps are not yelling they are to get your attention to a very dangerous situation.
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Post by vikx on Apr 18, 2015 20:35:21 GMT -8
Believe me, I will be much nastier if anyone asks me to install a battery inside. Yes, it can be done properly, but they will pay the extra for a vented battery box, etc. This is the first time in almost 18 years that I've had a battery explode. Once is one too many times...
I recently did install a Glass Mat battery in the dinette which had a small vent in the side. I will discuss this with the owners and will probably install a direct vent battery box as a precaution. More money, but worth it for the safety factor.
As I remember, the battery box in the Land Commander was screwed down, but not sure. There were blocks forming a secure foot print on the compartment bottom. We are going to install the battery on the tongue in the next couple of weeks! Also, I will be installing a vent in the Loliner compartment door, unless the owners want to delete a propane tank and put the battery there. Sometimes, there's just not enough room on a short vintage tongue with two tanks.
When our conversation slows, I will Sticky this thread so that we can easily point it out.
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Post by bigbill on Apr 18, 2015 20:41:57 GMT -8
In regard to Johns post about fastening a battery down, if it is free to move the posts themselves can come loose inside the battery which turn the battery into a lethal weapon just waiting to explode. Bolt them down and route cables so that nothing is moving them. I have heard people say that a battery can generate forces equal to a half stick of dynamite or more when it explodes.
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Post by rogerthedodger on Apr 23, 2015 16:10:48 GMT -8
Yes, I saw the results of a battery exploding in a pickup truck, blew the hood open and acid was everywhere. I am installing mine on the tongue in my Low-liner just to be safe.
Roger
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John Palmer
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Post by John Palmer on Apr 23, 2015 17:49:03 GMT -8
Yes, I saw the results of a battery exploding in a pickup truck, blew the hood open and acid was everywhere. I am installing mine on the tongue in my Low-liner just to be safe. Roger Please do not think "it's safe" mounted on the tongue! A spark can set it off anywhere! Be safe in handling any batteries. |
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