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battery blow up

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novice

12-22-2004 08:17:52

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I keep my tractor battery on a trickle charger with auto cutout circuit that is designed to not over charge the battery. I disconnect the cables before I hook up the charger so there is no possible ongoing drain. The last time I started the tractor, I disconnected the charger, connected the cables, got in the cab and turned the key. BANG, the battery blew up, I presume from the explosive gasses always discussed in the jump start procedures and a spark between cable connector and post. Luckily the tractor had a cab and I was in it. Plastic and acid went everywhere and I ran for the washdown hose and washed stuff down really well. It CAN happen and I was very lucky it was on the tractor with the cab and not some other. From now on I think I will disconnect the ground strap only and do it where it bolts to the frame. That and safety goggles.--Erik

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buickanddeere

12-23-2004 03:59:19

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Re: battery blow up in reply to novice, 12-22-2004 08:17:52

If the battery manufacture does not clearly say "Vibration resistant". The battery is far more prone to fail and fail with a bang when used in any moving/vibrating equipment. Those Optima spiral built batteries are looking better all the time. They use the same proven technology already in use to build capacitors.

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Nolan

12-22-2004 17:56:22

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Re: battery blow up in reply to novice, 12-22-2004 08:17:52

I've had more then one battery blow up on me over the years. Don't discount internal failure of the plates within the battery itself. They can indeed warp or break, and arc, resulting in a battery explosion. Was quite a well known problem with GL1200 motorcycles for a number of years.

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Mitchissippi

12-22-2004 11:50:18

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Re: battery blow up in reply to novice, 12-22-2004 08:17:52

Was putting a battry a my Mustang GT, several years ago, and the end blew out of it. Luckily, I was wearing glasses at the time. I took two steps and stuck my head over an out door hydrant.

Scary.

Mitch

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CEB

12-22-2004 11:27:18

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Re: battery blow up in reply to novice, 12-22-2004 08:17:52

True Story:
Over 20 years ago when we were square baling at home. My dad got off our old John Deere 60 tractor to check the baler. I was on the wagon. We heard a loud bang and saw the tractor seat flying through the air. The battery had exploded and since the battery is under the seat on a JD 60, the seat went flying. It was just a stroke of luck that it choose to explode the moment he had gotten off the tractor.

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Jon H

12-22-2004 11:45:10

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Re: battery blow up in reply to CEB, 12-22-2004 11:27:18

If the seat cushion had the plywood base breaking up or was replaced by a non JD cushion with no plywood under the metal seat springs,the springs can contact live battery posts. Nearly 1000 amps shorted through the metal seat springs makes for red hot springs and smoldering seat padding. Been there,done that,lucky the battery was not gassing enough to have an explosive mix present.:-0 I have always thought that the old Case tractors(like a DC)with the battery mounted at chin level right in front of the driver was a bad idea.

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300Randy

12-22-2004 11:05:24

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Re: battery blow up in reply to novice, 12-22-2004 08:17:52

Same thing happened to me only on a JD riding lawn mower. Had the trickle charger on all night.
The battery was under the seat, only one season old. Hit the start switch and it blew up.

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old

12-22-2004 09:24:48

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Re: battery blow up in reply to novice, 12-22-2004 08:17:52

Your best way to fix that from ever happening again would be to install a battery dicconnect switch some where in one of the cables. It also makes a good theft device.

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Cosmo

12-22-2004 09:02:06

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Re: battery blow up in reply to novice, 12-22-2004 08:17:52

I was once cleaning out a city drainage ditch right behind the local Superior Court Judge's house with a 690D JD. After getting back on the excavator from a nature call I turned the key. KA-BOOM! One of the batteries had exploded. Within seconds a breathless wild eyed cop appeared through the bushes with his pistol in hand. It seems (as my luck runs) the good Judge had been getting death threats and was being guarded for a few days. After everyone's nerves settled down we had a good laugh.

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Bob

12-22-2004 08:30:00

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Re: battery blow up in reply to novice, 12-22-2004 08:17:52

I'm a firm believer in wearing safety goggles when working with batteries, ESPECIALLY when they're charging.

It may have been the battery's time to go. If an internal fault (broken connection) develops INSIDE the battery, they can blow themselves up from the inside, just as quickly as an external spark, at one of the posts will, in the presence of hydrogen from charging.

What machine are you working with that you think you need to disconnect the cables all the time?

If it has a small electrical draw, track that down and fix it.

If you want to disconnect the battery after every use, get a battery disconnect switch.

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paul

12-22-2004 11:08:23

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Re: battery blow up in reply to Bob, 12-22-2004 08:30:00

Sure gets a person's attention, doesn't it? I hopped on the Ford 960 (it was only off for 15 minutes, middle of the day hauling ear corn wagons) hit the starter & bang, lost my hearing for 2 seconds, plastic & liquid flying everywhere.

Those that know a Ford, the batter is right there under the gauges, you hunch down over a bit to hit the starter....

I grabbed another battery from a different tractor, got it together & back out to the field without dad waiting for a wagon...

--->Paul

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novice

12-22-2004 08:40:25

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Re: battery blow up in reply to Bob, 12-22-2004 08:30:00

Bob: It's on a MM G-1000. I dont know that there is a drain but I have always done that as a precaution. The disconnect sounds OK but I am now leary of connecting the clamp connectors to the post at the battery because sometimes when I do there is a spark. That probably means there is a drain doesn't it? May be some disconnected light wires although ammeter shows no drain when tractor not running and should not be hot light wire if light switch not on. I just don't want that to happen again when I am right next to the battery, goggles or not. --erik

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Jon H

12-22-2004 09:48:19

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Re: battery blow up in reply to novice, 12-22-2004 08:40:25

A machine equipped with a Delco(and possibly others) alternator can fool you into thinking you have a power drain. There is an electrical noise suppression capacitor inside the alternator that will draw power for an instant as it charges itself from the 12V battery. This is normal and will not discharge the battery,but will cause a tiny visible spark at the battery cable when you connect it to the battery post.

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Allan in NE

12-22-2004 09:57:10

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Re: battery blow up in reply to Jon H, 12-22-2004 09:48:19

Hey Jon!

You're pretty darned sharp considering you're from North Dakota and all. :>)

I always yank those ca-pa-sa-taters out when working on tractors. :>)

Allan

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Jon H

12-22-2004 10:09:37

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Re: battery blow up in reply to Allan in NE, 12-22-2004 09:57:10

Gotta be sharp up here,or this North Dakota climate will hand you a Darwin award. ;-)

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Bob

12-22-2004 11:00:59

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Re: battery blow up in reply to Jon H, 12-22-2004 10:09:37

Jon,

WHAT bad North Dakota weather? Heck, it was 40 above three days ago, and it's supposed to hit the 30's Christmas Day... Can't beat that!

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Allan in NE

12-22-2004 11:15:57

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Re: battery blow up in reply to Bob, 12-22-2004 11:00:59

Oh Sure,

As soon as I move out, things get nice up there. Hmmmm, must be a message in there somewhere. :>)

Allan

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Jon H

12-22-2004 11:33:35

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Re: battery blow up in reply to Allan in NE, 12-22-2004 11:15:57

Yep, this has been an amazing fall/winter. Had 60 degrees about a week ago. Got most of my off season equipment rebuilding done in unheated storage and even outside without much discomfort.
Sure will ease the repair workload that normally waits for spring/summer.

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RAB

12-22-2004 09:36:43

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Re: battery blow up in reply to novice, 12-22-2004 08:40:25

Novice,
If it is a trickle charger, why disconnect the battery lead (disconnecting and reconnecting are danger times) - just connect across the battery in circuit, but not to the battery terminals,(plural)!
Connect live lead securely to the battery live-side, then connect the earthing connector to the frame well away from the battery, then switch on. Disconnect in reverse orde after switching off battery charger. Same procedure if using jump leads as well!
Your battery probably blew "cos there was a spark at one of the terminals when you tried to draw starter motor load. If you had a drain on the battery, you were lucky it did not blow on reconnection.
Over-charging a battery causing water to be electrolysed generates oxygen and hydrogen in PERFECT proportions for the maximum bang (two volumes of hydrogen to one volume of oxygen). If your battery has one cell "poorly" it will try to over-charge the other cells (as the voltage control is now ineffective) or maybe the float charge cut-out setting is a tad too high.
Above all, be safe.
Regards, RAB

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Bob

12-22-2004 09:15:00

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Re: battery blow up in reply to novice, 12-22-2004 08:40:25

Take a test light with a low-wattage bulb and connect it between the battery post and the disconnected cable. If there is a current drain, the test light will glow. Start disconnecting various electrical devices on the tractor until the light goes out. That will idnetify your electrical drain.

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