Batteries - Again / Still

Pat Anderson · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 1:33 pm Post subject:

The visual damage is confined to the strap from the starting battery negative post to the house battery bank negative post, and the strap from the VSR battery switch to the starting battery positive post. Guess I won't find out about anything else until I replace those two items and the battery switch. Don't know how to test for other damaged wiring...

mikeporterinmd · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 1:34 pm Post subject:

journey on · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 3:02 pm Post subject:

Mike has a good point. Whomsoever buys one gets to take their choice.

However, remember to install a separate battery voltmeter, since the remote panel is OFF when there is no AC power.

And, yes, I do not have much to do today.

Boris

Sea Wolf · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 4:24 pm Post subject:

Pat-

Wow! Glad you weren't hurt or burned with acid, etc.

I guess the batteries were out in the cockpit so that most of the battery acid was spewed out where you can wash it down and out of the back of the boat?

If you decide to move the two Optima batteries up into the cabin, you might think about the weight involved and the balance of the boat. I put two group 27 marine batteries under the forward dinette seat, and it threw off the balance of the boat enough that I wound up adding a couple of spare anchors under the galley to help balance them out!

Good Luck!

Joe. Thumbs Up

Larry H · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 4:49 pm Post subject:

Pat,

I would hose off anything that the fumes got to. Those fumes are acid!!

After washing down, sprinkle some baking soda around the batteries and anywhere the fumes got to. If the baking soda fizzes, then acid is still present. The baking soda will neutralize any remaining acid.

If your 25 has an aluminium gas tank, I would wash out the bilge and the tank compartment.

You are lucky, some direct shorts on batteries result in an explosion!!

I always carry baking soda to neutralize any acid spills around batteries.

If those are wet cell batteries, check the fluid level in the battery. If very much fluid is missing, that acid was boiled out.
It might be a good idea to take the batteries to a battery company to be checked out. (Pacific Power in Everett on Broadway near 41st is one place)

Pat Anderson · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 5:02 pm Post subject:

I did not see any liquid...just gas clouds.

Anyway, for some very expensive cabling, 6' of #2 black to connect the negative posts of the two banks, 2' of #2 red to go from the VSR switch to the starting battery, all is APPARENTLY working again. Power to the house and power to the outboard. The only thing I don't know is if the relay that is supposed to control charging from the alternator still works or not...

All this from just changing out a starting battery and making a careless mistake...

Dora~Jean · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 5:21 pm Post subject:

Just chalk it up Pat, one more thing you probably WON'T do the rest of your life! People are usually good at doing something, you're evidently real good at making brew (will have to try some someday). So don't beat yourself up too much, we've all been there, some admit it, some don't. Rolling Eyes

Thanks for sharing your thoughts too. Happy New Year (gotta be better, eh?).

dotnmarty · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 5:33 pm Post subject:

Pat- Thanks for sharing your 'teachable moment'. I learned from it and appreciate it.

Larry H · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 6:17 pm Post subject:

Pat,

The gas cloud IS acid. Please... at least sprinkle some baking soda around the affected area to see if there is any acid on the surfaces.

While I was a mechanic years ago, I caused a battery to explode in a new MGB by disconnecting a running battery charger (a customers car, not mine). The battery was under the rear package shelf and spread acid all over the inside of a new car.

The mechanic next to me grabbed a water hose and sprayed me and the car interior. We continued washing down the interior and managed to save the car. (and my job!!)

For safety, always turn your face away from a battery when detaching a battery charger or jumper cables.

Sea Wolf · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 10:23 pm Post subject:

Battery Stories, Continued............

#1:

I had a "baddish" nearly discharged battery explode (one cell only) in a little 12 foot Gregor aluminum boat a few years back.

I knew the battery was largely discharged, but decided I'd run the motor all day, mostly trolling, and see if the little 4 amp charger in the motor would bring it back to fully charged.

About four hours later it exploded! Sounded like a cherry bomb!

Fortunately, the battery was in a battery box with the lid strapped down.

I stopped the boat, waited for the noise to stop, then used water from the lake to dilute the acid, etc.

2#:

We were visiting my Aunt in Los Angles eons ago (right after WWII) when someone knocked on the door, saying they had a battery problem. This was a old car, a pre-war Plymouth, as I remember, with the battery under the front passenger seat! We went out and it looked like "Old Faithful" was under the seat spewing forth! (This was back in the days when cars had 6-volt batteries!) Tow truck time!

Joe. Thumbs Up

tsturm · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 10:40 pm Post subject:

[quote="Larry H"]Pat
The gas cloud IS acid. Please... at least sprinkle some baking soda around the affected area to see if there is any acid on the surfaces.

Or Smoke from wire insulation??

Larry H · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:02 pm Post subject:

tsturm,

Pats description of "clouds of gas" lead me to conclude that the batteries were overheated by the direct short and boiled.

If it was smoke, thats better.

Perhaps this is better advise:

I suggest checking the fluid level in the batteries and if it is low, then treat the area for acid. It the level is normal, then suspect smoke and look for burned wiring or melted insulation.

Pat Anderson · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 12:28 am Post subject:

We had burned wire for sure...I did hose the cockpit down with water and sprinkled it with baking soda. Tomorrow I will check the electolyte level on the starting battery, there is nothing to check on the Optima house batteries. Both are showing full charge, so hoping all is OK...we are anchored up at Andrews Bay in Lake Washington for the night, nothing to do except hope the Wallas does not shut down!

Larry H · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:54 am Post subject:

Pat,

That's good news!!

I hope you get to enjoy a nice NEWS YEAR DAY!!

Larry H

thataway · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 10:01 pm Post subject:

Wow, I fly back from LA and all you want to know (and more) about batteries comes up on the forum!

The only other comments I might add are:
1. We consider 50% discharged at 12.20 volts (the are variations of the table and the voltage varies by manufactuer and type of battery)

2. We use AGM for batteries which will be left for peroids of time and not used, for batteries which are kept in the living spaces, or batteries which are mounted in unusual positions (for example in our 25 the two group 31's are on their sides behind the water heater)

3. We put a breaker equal to the current draw or input 7" from both the battery and the charger. For example, we have a 40 amp breaker on both ends of the #6 wire going from the charger in the Tom Cat to the batteries which are in the Lazarette.

4. When we are going on a long trip--away from resources, we will replace our batteries every 4 years. They may last longer, but we find that 4 years is a good replacement cycle. The Golf Carts in my RV are 5 years old, and still holding charges well, so we will stick with them for now, since we have a new engine/generator starting battery and the golf carts are not essential to operation.

5. Battery weight equals capacity--the more weight, the more capacity. If you have a 30 lb Optima battery, there is no way it will have the same capacity as a 60 lb lead acid battery, although the technology in the Optiima is "better".

Pat, I am glad you were not hurt--what an experience!