Date:         Sun, 1 Jun 2008 07:14:03 -0700
Reply-To:     Mike Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Battery explosion
Comments: To: Zoltan Kuthy <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <8A99E4250A4B4DE0919D2A1BD66E7F4E@ZoltanPC>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Wow.

Is there any reason to suspect that the battery had been overvoltaged by
a funky voltage regulator? Only because Andrew describes a battery
failure due to voltage regulator failure, but in your case the battery
failed right after starting the engine, yes? I don't know much about
modes of failure for batteries but I'd think that an explosive failure
of a lead acid battery due to overcharge would occur after the engine
had been running for a while, allowing it to bake and pressurize. And I
guess the battery would have to of the sealed type, too.

What kind of battery was it? Brand and technology (flooded cell, AGM, gel)?


Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR

On 5/31/2008 7:00 PM Zoltan Kuthy wrote:

> Just as I turned the key, booom, smoke and chaos.
> Apparently, the battery exploded under the pass. seat.  One cell leaked out completely, the others partially.  The plastic of the battery fell apart at places.
> Today, I was cleaning the whole thing up, POR 15, bedliner spray, cleaning ground, fitting with stainless bolt.
> Otherwise all is well.
> Zoltan
>