[Mgs] Exploding batteries

[Dodd, Kelvin]

Good reminder. With "sealed" batteries, we tend to get sloppy without
remembering that so called sealed batteries still have vents.


AGM batteries like the Gates cells don't have this problem, but you will
destroy them by using chargers of this type.

Kelvin Dodd


> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-mgb-v8 at Autox.Team.Net
> [mailto:owner-mgb-v8 at Autox.Team.Net] On Behalf Of Paul Hunt
> Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 2:08 AM
> To: V8 list; mgs at autox.team.net; MG-MGB at yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Exploding batteries
>
>  I was watching an episode in the new series of The Garage on
> Discovery last  night about the 'English Mobile Mechanics'
> (it's actually run by a Scot but  he is so useless he
> probably decided to insult us instead) in Spain.  They  had a
> BMW with a flat battery so connected a boost charger direct
> to the battery in the boot (even though my son's BMW has
> jump-lead connections in the engine compartment).
> These boost chargers put a very high voltage to the battery
> and hence a high  current, a lot of boiling and gassing.
> They got it started  and the boss told one of the mechanics
> to disconnect the charger, which he  did - by disconnecting
> one of the battery clips without turning off the  charger
> first.  Big spark from breaking the high current, ignited the
> gases  around and inside the battery, and the battery
> exploded.  The mechanic was
>  *very* lucky in that he only got acid up his arm and not in
> his eyes, nor  any injuries from plastic 'shrapnel'.
>
> Whilst I suspect that most of us have smaller chargers that
> would result in less gassing and a smaller spark, I wouldn't
> want to be the one to find out just how small a spark and an
> amount of gas would cause an explosion.  This is also whilst
> the last connection to be made when using jump-leads should
> be made *remote* from the battery.
>
> PaulH.