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Old 04-25-2017, 08:07 PM   #1
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Battery Explosion

I've got twin Cummins 555's in my "new" GB 49.
My mechanic has been working on changing fluids, filters, etc. since we just bought the boat.

He went into the engine compartment yesterday to find the starboard 8D battery bubbling battery acid after it had exploded. No other damage, and fortunately no fire.

He cleaned things up well.

Any ideas on cause? The battery was probably over ten years old.

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Old 04-25-2017, 08:12 PM   #2
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Hydrogen gas build up
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Old 04-25-2017, 08:15 PM   #3
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If one cell shorts, the remaining cells overcharge and boil dry. Then at the tail end when bone dry, there is an arc and it ignites the hydrogen. Boom.

Check your batts. If one cell is way different with regards to electrolyte level, it is about to do the above.
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Old 04-25-2017, 10:10 PM   #4
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A neighbor of mine had a battery explode - I heard it from inside my boat. It was a sealed lead acid battery. He said the acid went everywhere. They used a special indicator spray to find areas of acid spill/spray. It took quite a bit of work to find and clean up every spot. You might want to check for yourself to be sure there's no more remaining.

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Old 04-25-2017, 10:45 PM   #5
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+1. Battery stores sell a yellow foaming spray that turns red when acid is present. I'm not sure but the foam may have a neutralizing component as well.
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Old 04-26-2017, 12:04 AM   #6
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If you mix up a concentrated baking soda solution, you can spray it in the area and watch for bubbling where the acid remains. In the process, it will neutralize the acid. Use liberally on detected spots.
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Old 04-26-2017, 12:07 AM   #7
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+1. Battery stores sell a yellow foaming spray that turns red when acid is present. I'm not sure but the foam may have a neutralizing component as well.
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If you mix up a concentrated baking soda solution, you can spray it in the area and watch for bubbling where the acid remains. In the process, it will neutralize the acid. Use liberally on detected spots.
Yes - I think that's pretty much the regimen that my neighbor followed.
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Old 04-26-2017, 12:31 AM   #8
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I have the idea, rightly or wrongly, that explosion is more an issue of sealed than unsealed batts. For a start, sealed,so more risk of a good explosion if it happens. Plus, no method of adding water as it disappears, which I know is not supposed to happen, but they do have that wretched eye thing which is supposed to tell you the liquid is disappearing, even though it "doesn`t", because the batt is sealed, which it almost is, but not quite.
I `d rather have unsealed LA batts, even if they need top up, or because they can be topped up, and because I think they are less likely to explode. If they were inaccessible, AGMs.
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Old 04-26-2017, 12:36 AM   #9
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I have the idea, rightly or wrongly, that explosion is more an issue of sealed than unsealed batts. For a start, sealed,so more risk of a good explosion if it happens. Plus, no method of adding water as it disappears, which I know is not supposed to happen, but they do have that wretched eye thing which is supposed to tell you the liquid is disappearing, even though it "doesn`t", because the batt is sealed, which it almost is, but not quite.
I `d rather have unsealed LA batts, even if they need top up, or because they can be topped up, and because I think they are less likely to explode. If they were inaccessible, AGMs.
Yes indeed - my neighbor replaced his SLA with an AGM.
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Old 04-26-2017, 01:30 AM   #10
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I had a 4D fail in my sailboat. It boiled over and I had battery acid 2 inches thick in the battery well. It was a pain to clean up but I used lots of baking soda to neutralize it. Fortunately, no explosion.
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Old 04-26-2017, 01:35 AM   #11
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I `d rather have unsealed LA batts, even if they need top up, or because they can be topped up, and because I think they are less likely to explode. If they were inaccessible, AGMs.

I agree. My house bank and my thruster/windlass bank are both the original, Chinese, sealed LA 8D batteries. The boat is 7 years old, the batteries could be 8 years old. I don't expect they will last a lot longer, maybe a couple of years if I am fortunate. Sealed LA batteries in a boat always make be a bit nervous. When I replace them it will either be with AGM, or more likely LA GC batteries with a watering system.
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Old 04-26-2017, 05:26 AM   #12
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10 year old LA batts? If I bought a boat with 10 year old batteries, they would be the first thing to go. I am no battery expert but I have never had a LA battery last even 7 years.
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Old 04-26-2017, 05:35 AM   #13
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"Any ideas on cause? The battery was probably over ten years old."

You have answered your own question.
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Old 04-26-2017, 08:21 AM   #14
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If you are thinking of replacing your batteries you probably have waited too long already.
I just replaced my thruster battery. The performance was like I upsized the thruster motor. Wow. You don't notice the slow failure. But you do notice the improved performance of a new battery.
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Old 04-26-2017, 08:37 AM   #15
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Quote:
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I agree. My house bank and my thruster/windlass bank are both the original, Chinese, sealed LA 8D batteries. The boat is 7 years old, the batteries could be 8 years old. I don't expect they will last a lot longer, maybe a couple of years if I am fortunate. Sealed LA batteries in a boat always make be a bit nervous. When I replace them it will either be with AGM, or more likely LA GC batteries with a watering system.
You practice dentistry. You advise your patients to get regular checkups. Suggest you replace your batteries now rather than having the boat doctor tell you why your vessel needed a root canal.
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Old 04-26-2017, 08:52 AM   #16
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The battery industry considers a unit scrap when its AH capacity has dropped, to 80% of original.

If you monitor that metric, you can set your own threshold.

Otherwise use the calendar.

Worst option is just wait, until it fails "unexpectedly". The mode of failure may be catastrophic esp on a boat.

In my opinion a properly designed and managed electrical system will never surprise you.
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Old 04-26-2017, 09:59 AM   #17
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All good points. So far, the batteries have been performing really well. However, they have lived a relatively pampered life. The engine start and genset start batteries have both been replaced. The genset start battery was replaced a year ago with a group 31 AGM. The engine start battery was replaced by the PO.

I think part of the reason the house and thruster batteries have performed for so long is that they have been pampered. Unlike the main and genset start batteries, they live in the aft lazaret instead of the hot ER. All charge sources are directed at the house bank, and then a Duo-charger is used to charge the thruster bank. There is a SOC meter that automatically cut out the house bank at 50% SOC. When I got the boat I changed that to 70%.

Even so, I can't imagine them lasting too much longer which is why I am starting to think about what I want to do next.
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Old 04-26-2017, 10:09 AM   #18
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And I learned something new today! Geez! I have no idea how old my batteries are.
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Old 04-26-2017, 11:29 AM   #19
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Power boats and yachts have a tendency to ignore our batteries. We stay plugged in with a charger running so it appears that our batteries are fine. Engines start (because the charger is running). When not plugged in either our gen set or our mains are running (or both). So the batteries are rarely made to perform.

So in our idyllic world everything is ok. Mains started - battery is good. Stereo working - battery is good. Drinks cold - battery is good. Then something happens and nothing works because the battery is NOT good.

Sailboat(er)s as a general rule take better notice of their batteries because they use them more to their design capacity than most power boats. Learn from the sailors and take better care of your batteries and they will last longer and really work when you need them.
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Old 04-27-2017, 08:38 PM   #20
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Power boats and yachts have a tendency to ignore our batteries. We stay plugged in with a charger running so it appears that our batteries are fine. Engines start (because the charger is running). When not plugged in either our gen set or our mains are running (or both). So the batteries are rarely made to perform.

So in our idyllic world everything is ok. Mains started - battery is good. Stereo working - battery is good. Drinks cold - battery is good. Then something happens and nothing works because the battery is NOT good.

Sailboat(er)s as a general rule take better notice of their batteries because they use them more to their design capacity than most power boats. Learn from the sailors and take better care of your batteries and they will last longer and really work when you need them.


Thanks for the advice wwestman and everyone!
I've replaced both batteries and have learned a lot from everyone's replies!!
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