5420 Battery blew up on me today

Archer EV · Sep 5, 2011

I worked with a man years ago who had a battery blow up on him. He and his son were working on a car on the weekend. He had some damage to his eyesight as a result of the accident.

I believe, after reading this thread, I will do some battery maintenance on my tractor today.

V1Rotate · Sep 5, 2011

I'm not sure that was a sealed battery in the pictures. In the second picture it looks like there are removable caps. These caps have what looks like a screwdriver slot in them. If this is the case, you can use a flat bladed screwdriver to twist open the cap and check the fluid.

Kyle_in_Tex · Sep 5, 2011

Live and learn. It would be a 30+ minute job to add water due to access to the top. I thought the battery was a sealed, no maintenance battery due the type of threaded caps. I guess I'll look to see what a new battery costs.

greasemonkeyok · Sep 5, 2011

Never experienced it myself, but your experience is a good reminder that the caution about wearing eye protection is not just safety-police hype.

Thanks for sharing the pics.

SPYDERLK · Sep 5, 2011

I have never had one explode, but can see how it could happen from a couple new batteries Ive had fail after a good formulation trickle charge the previous day. In both cases the batteries were installed with all good indications .. instrument lights, system voltage etc. Turn the key .. one click then nothing. Battery would read 12.8 with a meter but plummeted to zero as soon as even a light was turned on. The only explanation I can come up with is a connection inside the battery burnt/broke and the acid was enuf connection to make the meter read. You know there was a spark at the moment of failure. In my case the charge was many hours before so the hydrogen was gone. In the case of a similar failure of a battery in active service the hydrogen and oxygen are continuously evolving. A spark will blow it. I was lucky.
larry

PILOON · Sep 5, 2011

Happened to a buddy of mine as well----
only it was in his airplane shortly after takeoff.

He never really flew much after that!

mjncad · Sep 6, 2011

PILOON said:
Happened to a buddy of mine as well----
only it was in his airplane shortly after takeoff.

He never really flew much after that!

Paraphrasing the crew of Apollo 13, "Tower, we have a problem."

jonyyuma · Sep 6, 2011

Well it does happen a lot now. We usually have it happen on 8d batterys installed in pairs. They age and they make hydrogen gases inside, the spark for igniton come from an opening inside the battery circuit.Most of the time the battery fails on cranking. The gases ignite and the battery becomes a case for the eruption. We have installed plexyglass shields over the tops of batterys.I have had it occur on my own cars too, usually without any warning? Some mfrs recommend that you place some type of cover over a battery if jumping it or slaving it?

retiredmgn · Sep 6, 2011

Holy crap. I've heard of such a thing but no actual experience. What about mixing up a bucket of baking soda and washing stuff down to neutralize the acid. Its nasty corrosive property shows up after the fact.
I shuffle a half dozen batteries around between machines and boats. Always charging them up in the shop. I've always been respectfull but from now on I'm going to be 'more' respectfull.