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

Thanks, I've actually learnt something new today.

Thanks

Very informative .. learnt something new today .. thanks @ Op !!!

Hmmmm

Good people good information. It's better than all these bad news and bad pictures we see on naira land everytime.

Thanks for the information!

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...

I guess this mod is having a sleepless night

Weldon OP.

Thanks for the info

Guess the topic is about wet cell batteries.

godson36:
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...

You too no sleep? You get insomnia?

hmmm..... excellent write up. seriously i av learnt something.

I will apply those techniques and.thank uou later op




Anyways....




DrabeeyWasHere

Great info!
Thanks

Good and useful info! Nice one op

So batteries explode?

Thanks to the OP....useful info for someone like me...who recently had battery problems(But not of the combustible kind).

BlackPeni5:
Guess the topic is about wet cell batteries.

All batteries are wet cell. Those ones called 'dry cell' still have acid inside..

Never heard of dry cell batteries exploding... The info is for wet cell batteries I think

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.

Bttery explosion very Common in ford edge.

AutosBay:
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

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.....

Good one OP

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.

@AutosBay,

Does this also apply to those referred to as "Dry Cell" and to what extent compared to the wet cell batteries?


Just Donelli

Ok

og2711:


All batteries are wet cell. Those ones called 'dry cell' still have acid inside..

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.

But we use a sealed battery

.

BlackPeni5:


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.

True. In fact I felt that the whole article was pretty useless as its almost impossible to get open cell batteries anymore..