Battery emitting sulphur steam / voltage query

[rustydollar]

Oh, and if we hear a "big bang" from your direction, we will know what happened.

In our very cramped shop had the battery from my 49 Hudson sitting on the floor connected to a charger, sparks from the bench grinder blew the top off the battery.

 

[Coyote machine]

Had a guy bringing me a load of wood for my then woodstove. He had been working on his truck's electrical system, something to do with the alternator. He parked his truck and left it running in front of my shop to come inside and talk. We heard the loudest bang you can imagine; it was his battery exploding and throwing pieces all over his engine compartment. He is SO lucky he didn't still have his head under the hood as he had for numerous times 'fixing' his charging system.
Batteries to me are same as ordinance, you can't be too careful around them if there are ANY charging system issues.

 

[k0ua]

Had a guy bringing me a load of wood for my then woodstove. He had been working on his truck's electrical system, something to do with the alternator. He parked his truck and left it running in front of my shop to come inside and talk. We heard the loudest bang you can imagine; it was his battery exploding and throwing pieces all over his engine compartment. He is SO lucky he didn't still have his head under the hood as he had for numerous times 'fixing' his charging system.
Batteries to me are same as ordinance, you can't be too careful around them if there are ANY charging system issues.

Yup, that sounds about right. The good news is his battery split and relieved the pressure, but the hydrogen coming out of the split could still have exploded. All in all not a good situation. I had a similar situation many years ago, and I can't remember how many times I put down soda, and repainted that battery tray and compartment. It is like the gift that keeps on giving. What a mess.

 

[dixonr2]

Thank you for your kind words. Yes I am familiar with Ray Charles, but rather than Georgia on my mind I have further worries on my mind!!
as you know I installed new voltage regulator and battery and all seemed OK! But finished mowing my field yesterday and I could smell sulphur from the battery again and I could hear it boiling!! Voltage readings are 17 idling, 18 revving and 18 revving with lights, 13 engine off.

So as I wait for the dealer to reply just wondering if anyone here has any idea what is going on? Voltage regulator looks fine ie not burned out.

Thank you.

Ray

 

[dixonr2]

Any help / advice re my last reply, gratefully received. Thanks

 

[Spanner]

Bonjour M.Ray.
I just had a read back through the thread and it seems the boys gave you pretty good advice based on the available evidence.

As stated, the battery (a mere storage and delivery device) cannot generate 18V. Fair enough.

So we need to look a little further back -

Have you had the tractor from new or did you buy it 2nd-hand (used)?

Has any work been carried out (or modifications) to the electrical system? - Have you installed beacon, LED's radio etc? (Other than the recent battery and regulator, that is.)

It's not unheard of for a new-ish battery to fail early in life. (Not common, but not impossible.)

Does the Iseki have a cab?

My experience of Iseki's is that they incur chaffed wiring more than other tractors due to the prolific use of plastic panels and console components. But that's just me and one rogue "Eye-sicky". I hated that tractor...
But I did find and repair the multiple bare wires and she is still chugging 10 years later.

So, How old is it?
Is the wiring stock-standard?
Have there been any mods?

Bien cordialement,
:drink:

 

[Coyote machine]

Immediately don full protective gear - full face shield AND goggles, and gloves, long sleeved shirt and long pants and hat. Approach battery with NO jewelery and no possible source for sparks or ignition, no metal on your person, NO cigarettes, or other possible sources for ignition/explosion. Have a second person in the nearby area, but NOT in the work zone in case something goes wrong.

Have baking soda and a hose ready to be used if needed. Disconnect ground side, (negative) battery post connection at battery and place the cable so it cannot touch the battery or post.

Remove the positive battery post clamp too, and then carefully remove the battery and place it away from any source of ignition, like a water heater, car, etc. After letting the battery sit for a few hours use a VOM to check the battery for voltage present.

Now you need to go through your entire electrical system and find what is causing the overcharge condition. Your battery is NOT the cause. It will be either your new voltage regulator or your alternator, depending on what your tractor has as equipment. The alternator makes the output voltage and can definitely go above a batteries needed voltage of 14.25-14.50 volts MAXIMUM without any issues, BUT your voltage regulator is what is there to LIMIT the voltage to what is required and NO more.

Post back results, and keep the battery away from any people, especially inquisitive children. It's still a potential risk for explosion based on what you said it was receiving for charge voltages above 14.5 volts.
Best to store it outside away from any building, people, vehicles, etc. so if it explodes it will not harm property or persons.

 

[dixonr2]

Hi,

I bought it used from a dealer in the UK and had it delivered. As far as I know there have been no alterations or modifications. I believe that these tractors are exported used to Malaysia where they are refurbished. I can't find any reference to this model number anywhere (TU 1401) but the nearest one to it (TU 1400) was produced in the mid 80's. It has no cab and the wiring to my untrained eye looks stock standard. Thanks for your help. Ray

 

[k0ua]

Hi,

I bought it used from a dealer in the UK and had it delivered. As far as I know there have been no alterations or modifications. I believe that these tractors are exported used to Malaysia where they are refurbished. I can't find any reference to this model number anywhere (TU 1401) but the nearest one to it (TU 1400) was produced in the mid 80's. It has no cab and the wiring to my untrained eye looks stock standard. Thanks for your help. Ray

Ray, if you have measured the charging voltage and it is again near 17 volts, then the voltage regulator has failed again, by definition. The key is finding out WHY the voltage regulator is failing. Your new battery is likely cooked again too, and is likely cracked where the steam is venting out of the case. My suggestion would be to ditch the stock configuration, and install a new alternator with built in integral regulation, and a new battery. Or if you don't want to do that, you have to figure out why these voltage regulators are failing. That is 2 now. Could you have a connection issue of some type? Grounding of regulator? All the precautions we spoke of before about taking measurements still apply. You still have a dangerous situation here.

If I remember correctly, when you replaced the battery and regulator before, you measured the charging voltage after the replacement and it was near 14 volts with the rpm's up. Please confirm if that indeed is true. And if it is true, it follows that the new regulator has failed.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Ray, if you have measured the charging voltage and it is again near 17 volts, then the voltage regulator has failed again, by definition. The key is finding out WHY the voltage regulator is failing.

Yep.

So, what can make a voltage regulator fail so soon? A host of things, but please do yourself a favor and start with the basics. Clean all your connections thoroughly, especially the grounds.

No, don't inspect them visually. Take them apart and make them clean. Bare shiny metal. Then apply a thin coat of dielectric grease to inhibit corrosion.


Flaky grounds can do very strange things.