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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Car Talk / How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) (9056 Views)
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How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by AutosBay(m): 9:47pm On Mar 22, 2016 |
Why do batteries explode and how can you protect yourself from injury when your hood is up? It helps to know a little bit about 12-volt lead-acid batteries. They have six two-volt chambers, called cells, that contain a grid of lead plates submerged in sulfuric acid. Electricity is generated when the acid reacts with the lead plates and water. One byproduct of the process is gaseous hydrogen, an element so highly flammable that it is used to power rocket engines. Charging a battery also generates hydrogen. And because heat drives up hydrogen output, you can expect more trouble generally in hot weather. The danger is that hydrogen will explode if a spark occurs nearby. One source of sparks can be the battery itself. As a battery ages, it loses water, leaving the top of the lead plates exposed to the air inside the battery case. Over time, this can lead to warpage of the plates. When the driver starts the engine, the heavy demand for power can cause these already warped plates to flex, touch and thus spark. The most common cause of battery explosions upon start-up is dirty battery posts and cables. The dirt prevents a good connection and allows electrical arcing. So it is a good idea to inspect and clean battery posts regularly. Improper jump-starting is another leading cause of explosions. The mistake many motorists make is to connect the jumper cables to another car's good battery and then to the dead battery, a practice that causes sparking. Always connect jumper cables to the dead battery first, then to the good battery. Another important safety precaution is to attach the negative jumper cable for the dead battery to an unpainted metal portion of the car frame, rather than to the negative battery post. That allows any sparking to occur far from the battery itself. The potential for battery explosions may be greater than it was 10 years ago. Some newer batteries are sealed, preventing motorists from adding water to keep the electrolyte (the mixture of sulfuric acid and water) above the lead plates. But many manufacturers have gone back to batteries with tops that can be removed. Another problem is that new cars have much larger demands for electrical current, so batteries must produce more juice but with the same physical volume. One method used by battery makers to increase current is to space the lead plates closer together, but that only makes it easier for them to short. In any case, motorists should always exercise caution when the hood is up, avoiding smoking or anything else that can ignite hydrogen. Source: http://articles.latimes.com/1999/aug/26/news/hw-3902 8 Likes 5 Shares |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by feldido(m): 10:19pm On Mar 22, 2016 |
Thanks, I've actually learnt something new today. 1 Like |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by AutosBay(m): 5:54pm On Mar 23, 2016 |
Thanks |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by AdemolaA2: 4:02am On Mar 25, 2016 |
Very informative .. learnt something new today .. thanks @ Op !!! |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by Suntemi(m): 4:08am On Mar 25, 2016 |
Educative |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by kaywiluv(f): 4:13am On Mar 25, 2016 |
Hmmmm |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by Nobody: 4:13am On Mar 25, 2016 |
Good people good information. It's better than all these bad news and bad pictures we see on naira land everytime. |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by daliki: 4:15am On Mar 25, 2016 |
Thanks for the information! |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by Nobody: 4:25am On Mar 25, 2016 |
Who among the MODS is posting a this time of the day.. that MOD is having a sleepless night... yes. about 6topic in Frontpage around 2am... |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by homeboy205: 4:45am On Mar 25, 2016 |
I guess this mod is having a sleepless night |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by Flexherbal(m): 5:12am On Mar 25, 2016 |
Weldon OP. |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by worlexy(m): 5:38am On Mar 25, 2016 |
Thanks for the info |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by BlackPeni5: 6:08am On Mar 25, 2016 |
Guess the topic is about wet cell batteries. |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by tete7000(m): 6:20am On Mar 25, 2016 |
godson36: You too no sleep? You get insomnia? 1 Like |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by shegzy06(m): 6:21am On Mar 25, 2016 |
hmmm..... excellent write up. seriously i av learnt something. |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by Nobody: 6:23am On Mar 25, 2016 |
I will apply those techniques and.thank uou later op Anyways.... DrabeeyWasHere |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by DrObum(m): 6:27am On Mar 25, 2016 |
Great info! Thanks |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by danseph(m): 7:27am On Mar 25, 2016 |
Good and useful info! Nice one op |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by Nobody: 7:30am On Mar 25, 2016 |
So batteries explode? Thanks to the OP....useful info for someone like me...who recently had battery problems(But not of the combustible kind). |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by Nobody: 7:37am On Mar 25, 2016 |
BlackPeni5: All batteries are wet cell. Those ones called 'dry cell' still have acid inside.. |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by Godfullsam(m): 7:40am On Mar 25, 2016 |
Never heard of dry cell batteries exploding... The info is for wet cell batteries I think |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by cardoctor(m): 7:51am On Mar 25, 2016 |
Every battery has the capacity to explode. Even your television remote control battery. It depends on what it is subjected to. Apply caution when using any battery. Thanks @ op for this post. 1 Like |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by muller101(m): 7:55am On Mar 25, 2016 |
Bttery explosion very Common in ford edge. |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by Nobody: 7:58am On Mar 25, 2016 |
AutosBay: How is hydrogen flammable?...tho it powers engine rockets ,cuz dey re used as rocket fuels also....i learnt dey are d lightest gaseous element which is equally inflammable..... |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by rapthugx(m): 8:33am On Mar 25, 2016 |
Good one OP |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by diggy4real: 8:52am On Mar 25, 2016 |
God has really been on my side. I am guilty of these. I do borrow battery always to start my car then, replaces my battery when the car is ON.There has always been a spark as a result of connecting the dead battery. thanks for the write up. |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by Donelli: 9:09am On Mar 25, 2016 |
@AutosBay, Does this also apply to those referred to as "Dry Cell" and to what extent compared to the wet cell batteries? Just Donelli |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by kulobyno: 9:09am On Mar 25, 2016 |
Ok |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by BlackPeni5: 9:20am On Mar 25, 2016 |
og2711: Of course...A battery produces electricity via chemical reactions. But the details in the report is related more to wet cell batteries cos we don't add water to dry cell ones. |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by tonychristopher: 9:45am On Mar 25, 2016 |
But we use a sealed battery |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by Olaone1: 11:00am On Mar 25, 2016 |
. |
Re: How To Avoid Battery Explosions (Yes, They Really Happen) by Nobody: 2:20pm On Mar 25, 2016 |
BlackPeni5: True. In fact I felt that the whole article was pretty useless as its almost impossible to get open cell batteries anymore.. |
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