Battery explosion [RE-wrenches]
John Veix
john at gosolar.co.nz
Thu Dec 2 14:35:20 PST 2004
Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Amazing Diet Patch
The fastest - Easiest way to lose weight! Try it now FREE!
http://click.topica.com/caacVmibz8Qcsbz9JC9a/MyDietPatches
-------------------------------------------------------------------
As a matter of interest - what was the size of the battery - and was the
control box sealed-off (unvented) or not. Do you know what actually
triggered the explosion?
I do agree that it is cheap insurance, my query was directed at it being
necessary or not.
cheers,
John V
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
----- Original Message -----
From: "Randy Brooks" <Randy at BrooksSolar.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Friday, December 03, 2004 11:24 AM
Subject: Re: Battery explosion [RE-wrenches]
Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Win a Lexus RX330! Class and beauty rolled up in an SUV! Drive
your family this winter in style. Make it yours! Click below and
sign up now!
http://click.topica.com/caacVl3bz8Qcsa9rjuua/Vente
-------------------------------------------------------------------
John V,
After having a battery explode in a solar gate opener control box when
the gate was left unused for several weeks with a 5 watt uncontrolled
PV module, I now always install a small charge controller. The
SunGuard is cheap insurance and peace of mind.
Happy Holidays,
Randy Brooks
Brooks Solar, Inc.
Solar Power for People
140 Columbia View
Chelan, WA 98816
509-682-9646
info at BrooksSolar.com
www.BrooksSolar.com
On Thursday, December 2, 2004, at 12:12 PM, John Veix wrote:
>
>
> Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> **Attention Vioxx Users: Merck Knew About harmful effects** You
> may be entitled to a cash settlement from Merck. No
> Obligation- just answer this 60 second survey to find out.
> http://click.topica.com/caacVlObz8Qcsa84IxSa/Penn Media
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Why bother with a Sungard if the size of the panel is less than 1/3 of
> the
> battery a/h rating ?
>
> cheers,
> John V
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Allan Sindelar" <allan at positiveenergysolar.com>
> To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
> Sent: Friday, December 03, 2004 8:11 AM
> Subject: Re: Battery explosion [RE-wrenches]
>
>
>
>
> Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> Win a Lexus RX330! Class and beauty rolled up in an SUV! Drive
> your family this winter in style. Make it yours! Click below and
> sign up now!
> http://click.topica.com/caacVl3bz8Qcsa9rjuua/Vente
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Dean and Wrenches,
> My message about the exploding battery was incomplete, and meant for
> the
> "save drafts" folder, but went out. This was not a storage battery that
> exploded, but a small 12V starting battery of maybe 600 CCA at best
> and when
> new. It was in a generator "closet" that was part of an unheated
> workshop
> and well vented to the outside. The starter contacts were about 3'
> away from
> and above the starting battery, so it's hard for me to accept that the
> battery could have produced a hydrogen gas stream of sufficient
> density to
> explode from a starting spark at that distance, as Bruce and Dan
> suggested.
>
> Here's the best I can figure: She had had a 10A automotive charger on
> it,
> that included a "manual" switch setting. It may have been left on that
> setting, and that setting may have allowed the battery to get well
> within
> gassing range. It was an old starting battery with little capacity
> left. I
> suspect either a gas explosion with an undetermined internal trigger
> (as Jay
> suggested), or possible a spark at one of the cable terminals.
>
> Now, at her request I added an AC receptacle on the AC output of the
> gennie,
> to allow recharge of the replacement battery only when the gennie is
> running. She will set the charger to "automatic" rather than "manual"
> regulation, but I still don't trust that unit. I will recommend that a
> 5W PV
> module with a Sunguard regulator be added and used instead of the
> automotive
> charger.
>
> And after two weeks, her hearing is still notably weaker. Let's hope it
> returns fully. She's 73 years old, and still building passive solar
> homes...
>
> Allan
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dean T. Newberry" <deant at dcn.org>
> Hi Allan,
> When charging any lead acid batteries etc, there is always gassing,
> ie=20
> hydrogen and oxygen mixing above the battery. Any loose connection
> near=20
> the gas can cause a spark when a load is applied. The bad connection=20
> could be internal to the battery, or the post to clamp, or loose or=20
> corroded wire in the clamp, or possibly the start switch itself if
> nearby.
>
> Your customer will recover most of her hearing within a week. I have
> a=20
> pretty good case of tinnitis from the military and construction, so
> I=20
> can't tell if the harmless demonstration had a long lasting effect on
> my=20
> hearing, but I remain very respectful of battery gas.
>
> Battery banks should be installed in a clean, well lighted,
> ventilated=20
> space, the following is the code section on Batteries, in my
> experience=20
> all of these requirements make good sense.
>
>
>
>> On a related note, several weeks ago this client went to start this
>> gennie
>> after having run her automotive charger (Shumaker homeowner-grade 10A
>> automotive charger) for several hours off of system (inverter AC)
>> power.
>> When she hit the start button the battery exploded. The battery was
>> under
>> the generator and that protected her from acid, but her hearing is
>> still
>> partially gone. We weren't there, and she couldn't explain in detail
>> what
>> happened. It concerns me, as I can't explain why this battery
>> exploded.
>
> Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> Amazing Diet Patch
> The fastest - Easiest way to lose weight! Try it now FREE!
> http://click.topica.com/caacVmibz8Qcsa9rjuuf/MyDietPatches
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> - - - -
> To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com
>
> Archive of previous messages:
> http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read
>
> List rules & etiquette: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php
>
> Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/
>
> Hosted by Home Power magazine
>
> Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
>
> Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> Attention Women! Win a $50,000 Ultimate Makeover! Become the
> newest “Hottie” on the block. Or use the $50,000 how you wish.
> Make it yours below!
> http://click.topica.com/caacVl6bz8Qcsa84IxSf/Vente
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> - - - -
> To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com
>
> Archive of previous messages:
> http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read
>
> List rules & etiquette: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php
>
> Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/
>
> Hosted by Home Power magazine
>
> Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
>
>
>
>
>
--
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
**Attention Vioxx Users: Merck Knew About harmful effects** You
may be entitled to a cash settlement from Merck. No
Obligation- just answer this 60 second survey to find out.
http://click.topica.com/caacVlObz8Qcsa9rjuuf/Penn Media
-------------------------------------------------------------------
- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read
List rules & etiquette: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php
Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/
Hosted by Home Power magazine
Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Get a Holy Bible for FREE!
http://click.topica.com/caacVl9bz8Qcsbz9JC9f/PermissionData
-------------------------------------------------------------------
- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read
List rules & etiquette: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php
Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/
Hosted by Home Power magazine
Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to: michael.welch at homepower.com
EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com
For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit:
http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
More information about the RE-wrenches
mailing list