[RE-wrenches] Battery based hydrogen incidents

[Dana]

Wow! and Thanks, for the honest stories everyone. I never
imagined the span of history here.

I am learning on how it could go very badly. I have much to
share with my clients next time the topic arises.

 

I have had so many melted battery recombination caps melt
down that I quit using them after the manufacturer told me
we could not charge a 24 VDC system to 29.2VDC or even
28.4VDC & I had to remove the caps at a much lesser
voltage[I have forgotten the voltage]. 

 

 

Dana Orzel

Great Solar Works, Inc

E - dana at solarwork.com

V - 970.626.5253

F - 970.626.4140

C - 970.209.4076

web - www.solarwork.com

 

"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"

Do not ever belive anything, but seriously trust through
action.

 

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf
Of Starlight Solar, Larry Crutcher
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 12:35 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Battery based hydrogen incidents

 

I was hesitant to reply because I surely will look foolish,
but perhaps it may help someone in the future. I did
something very stupid back in 2001 that caused an explosion.


 

The battery bank (12 volt, 660AH) was located in a metal
cargo container next to the wall and set in a plastic
container. The container had open doors on both ends. The
battery was in the absorption cycle with heavy gassing. I
noticed that the positive terminal was slightly loose. Fully
aware of the danger of the task I was performing, I grabbed
my socket wrench and began to carefully snug it down. Even
though I carefully observed the location of the wrench, I
did not think about the steel container wall as having a
path back to battery negative. It did. I blew the top off a
battery that I was standing over. Fortunately I was wearing
safety glasses or I probably would not be here today typing
this. There was a water hydrant near and I was able to flood
my face and body for about 15 minutes. No facial scares but
a lessen very well learned: Do NOT work on batteries that
are off gassing. Gassing begins at about 2.3 volts per cell.
If you are a battery novice, I encourage you to thoroughly
educate yourself and do not neglect your safety gear when
working on batteries.

 

Another event I witnessed: In 2007 I was at a campground and
heard an explosion. The owner of an RV a few spaces down
from me was opening the battery compartment as I walked up.
Inside he had  un-vented batteries in the same compartment
as the inverter and other switch gear. His batteries were
obviously gassing when something sparked it off. The top was
blown off a 6 volt battery and he had electrolyte everywhere
and a damaged cargo door. We work on hundreds of RV's and
sadly I see this kind of poor "workmanship" every week at
our service center.

 

Larry Crutcher

Starlight Solar Power Systems

928-342-9103

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