12v Battery Explosion

[lonestarace]

While checking the electrolyte level of the four 12v Trojan house batteries in our 98 DSDP today I experienced a hydrogen gas explosion. Neither the MH or I was injured, but the battery was dead at the scene.

I had the coach plugged into shore power, so the batteries were being charged which produces hydrogen gas. DAHHHHHHHH! When I disconnected the positive battery cable from the #3 battery so as to get the cap completely off so I could check the fluid level, there was a spark, then a loud explosion! The explosion pretty much ripped the top of the battery case off but the acid stayed in the battery.

From now on when messing with lead acid batteries I'll make certain the batteries aren't being charged, I'll be wearing a face shield, and have a fan blowing across the batteries.

I was lucky.

Be Careful Out There

Don

[idenphones]

You where lucky for sure!!

After you change your underwear, I would strongly suggest going out to buy some lottery tickets!

Glad you are ok.

[Ray,IN]

You are indeed quite lucky! Sulfuric Acid will cause blindness, there is no antidote; lots of clean water, applied in time, may reduce the degree of blindness.
With all the constant-draw accessories in modern vehicles, I always wear eye protection (goggles) when servicing batteries.

[al_mers]

Disconnect the ground first and there will be no sparks.

[hamguy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by al_mers Disconnect the ground first and there will be no sparks.

There is as much current flowing in the ground lead as there is in the plus lead. Disconnecting the ground reduces the liklihood of shorting the battery. But it does not reduce sparks on disconnect.

[al_mers]

hamguy, I am not an electrical engineer, but I have never noticed a spark on tractors, boats, cars or RVs that I've owned when disconnecting the negative first. It may be because I've removed the load first.

[hamguy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by al_mers hamguy, I am not an electrical engineer, but I have never noticed a spark on tractors, boats, cars or RVs that I've owned when disconnecting the negative first. It may be because I've removed the load first.

Correct. It is the load that causes the spark on disc. Same would apply if you disconnected the positive first.

[RV Wizard]

In this case the load was the battery bank. Shore and generator power must be removed to prevent the inverter/charger or converter/charger from producing current to the battery bank. Also killing any other loads feeding from the battery, as noted above is crucial to preventing any arching upon cable removal from battery posts.