Why would a battery explode?
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,064
Likes: 0
From: Crying
Originally posted by Road Rage
My wife had a yard sale the other day and it was late in in afternoon and 95 deg and the last lady left in a 1996 Camry - we hear a boom and she dies at the end of the driveway. It was here lucky day, of course, as as soon as I popped the hood, I saw the blown battery. Kept the kids and gawkers away as there was some acid, washed her down with baking soda and water, and with my trusty Matco 10mm ratcheting wrench, had the old batt out, in the Sube, and on our way to Sears to get her a new batt - they did take the old one by the way, as the lead was intact.
Last week, she sent a nice note, and 3 "Good Samaritan" T-shirts; not required, but a nice gesture.
My wife had a yard sale the other day and it was late in in afternoon and 95 deg and the last lady left in a 1996 Camry - we hear a boom and she dies at the end of the driveway. It was here lucky day, of course, as as soon as I popped the hood, I saw the blown battery. Kept the kids and gawkers away as there was some acid, washed her down with baking soda and water, and with my trusty Matco 10mm ratcheting wrench, had the old batt out, in the Sube, and on our way to Sears to get her a new batt - they did take the old one by the way, as the lead was intact.
Last week, she sent a nice note, and 3 "Good Samaritan" T-shirts; not required, but a nice gesture.
good looking out,
went outta your way to help a stranger
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,323
Likes: 28
From: Longmont, CO
It's also possible for a battery to produce more hydrogen than normal if it's old. The lead/acid interaction doesn't work nearly as well (I don't remember exactly why), so any charging current applied to the battery doesn't charge it much (I believe a process of ionization of the sulfuric acid?) - instead it simply splits the water into hydrogen and oxygen (think gradeschool science class.) Any sort of spark or too much heat and you get a small explosion.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,491
Likes: 1
From: Rochester, NY
Many, many moons ago (in the '70s, if my '60's drug-induced stupor allows me to recall 
) there was a lady with a new car trying to help a friend jump an older car. We heard a boom and a scurrying of people. Went over to find the top of the NEW battery nowhere in sight and acid on at least one of the kids. Sent the kids into the restaurant bathroom to wash off and helped them get going. Glad it wasn't me...
) there was a lady with a new car trying to help a friend jump an older car. We heard a boom and a scurrying of people. Went over to find the top of the NEW battery nowhere in sight and acid on at least one of the kids. Sent the kids into the restaurant bathroom to wash off and helped them get going. Glad it wasn't me...
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post