Battery Exploded...Video / Photos

   / Battery Exploded...Video / Photos #11  
I had 2 batteries explode in a 1972 Chevelle. Both times they exploded when trying to start the car after sitting overnite. The first time it happened the whole case to the battery was blown apart. I called Sears and told them what happened and that the battery was less than a year old. The guy said bring all the parts in they would swap it out. I got an old rusty galvanized wash bucket and with a pair of pliers picked up as many pieces as I could and put them in the bucket. The guy at sears fished around the bucket a bit and said OK. After I got home I rinsed out the wash bucket and the inside bottom shined like new!
Another time the battery blew similar to the one in the picture. I loved that car but it had too many electrical gremlins to keep. I had the voltage regulator and alternator checked both times and no problem was found with them.
 
   / Battery Exploded...Video / Photos #12  
Scarier even was a buddy's small aircraft (Aircoup) in which the battery exploded shortly after takeoff.
Acid was less of a problem than were his drawers.
He gave up flying after that.
 
   / Battery Exploded...Video / Photos #13  
I would venture to guess a loose connection at the battery caused the spark that ignited the fumes produced from charging.

I would clean terminals, install a new battery, start engine, and check voltage output then go from there. If it starts okay and not putting out more than 15 volts it should be good to go.
 
   / Battery Exploded...Video / Photos #14  
No , very good thought.

Definitely check the alternator output for proper voltage regulation even before you connect it to a new battery. Disconnect the charge lead from the alternator then run the tractor from the battery alone then check the alternator output voltage with a voltmeter. When you know it's good you can reconnect it to the new battery and figure the problem was a shorted cell or something but if the voltage it too high it will simply destroy your new battery.

In an alternator the voltage regulator reads the output voltage on the output terminal and regulates the current in field coil in the rotor to maintain the proper voltage level at the output generally 14.something volts. The output of the stator windings which is multiphase AC is rectified by diodes typically connected as a full wave bridge to make DC voltage which is then applied to the output terminal.

Besides bearings, the usual failure item in an alternator are the brushes which conducts DC current from the output and regulator to the coil in the rotor.

I had a regulator go bad on me once and it swelled an AGM battery up like a toad, of course ruining it. It was vented so it didn't explode but it must have been close. One of the nice things about AGM batteries is that all the acid is fully absorbed into glass mats so there is none to splash and spill all over the place like there is in a wet cell battery.
 
   / Battery Exploded...Video / Photos #15  
Likely battery case was cracked and let most of the fluid out. When you charged it the gasses accumulated under the cover and got touched off by a spark. I had a golf cart battery explode in my face because of this. The battery cap went right past my head and luckily there was no acid left to splash me.
 
   / Battery Exploded...Video / Photos #17  
Remember the Hindenburg when it comes to hydrogen... maybe too many are too young?
 
   / Battery Exploded...Video / Photos #19  
Remember the Hindenburg when it comes to hydrogen... maybe too many are too young?

Even I am too young for that. They only used hydrogen because we would not sell them helium which was considered a strategic material then. We would not sell it to Germany so they couldn't use it for airships to bomb the rest of Europe, which they did in WWI. Helium is mined and the US has or had most of the world's supply of it in the natural gas fields in TX and OK.
 
   / Battery Exploded...Video / Photos
  • Thread Starter
#20  
Lots of great info. I really think the built in VR went in the alternator as someone stated. I wonder if the battery was being over charged the day before when I was using it and cause a short in the battery. Then after charging it over night and turning the key sparked inside and Boom.

The Antigravity jump pack I put on it to start it afterward was only connected like 1 minute when I took it off (tractor kept running) and the battery in the anitgravity was very swollen and warm.

SO I purchased a new Mitisubishi A7T02071C alternator as that is what seems to fit the 4cyl Mitisubishi Diesel engine I have in my SAME and looks exactly the same. The plate on the alternator I pulled off today was worn and could not read the last numbers. Called the dealer but......so ordered off Amazon.

Them once I get that sorted out I have sort out the key switch that will not kill the engine when turned off and that once fuse in the video.

Great info you guys....thanks
 

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