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04-25-2017, 08:07 PM
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#1
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Veteran Member
City: Blacksburg
Vessel Name: Sea Fever
Vessel Model: Grand Banks 49 Classic
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 40
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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.
Capt. Sea Fever
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04-25-2017, 08:12 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Silver
Vessel Model: Helmsman 31
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 162
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Hydrogen gas build up
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04-25-2017, 08:15 PM
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#3
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Technical Guru
City: Wilmington, NC
Vessel Name: Louisa
Vessel Model: Custom Built 38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,194
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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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04-25-2017, 10:10 PM
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#4
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Wannabe
City: SF Bay Area
Vessel Name: Stillwater
Vessel Model: Kadey-Krogen 54
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 782
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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.
Richard
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04-25-2017, 10:45 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
City: Tri-Cities WA
Vessel Name: Long Shot
Vessel Model: 1978 Californian 42' LRC
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 191
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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.
__________________
Eric
Please throw me the bowline Fraulein!
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04-26-2017, 12:04 AM
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#6
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TF Site Team
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,728
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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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04-26-2017, 12:07 AM
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#7
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Wannabe
City: SF Bay Area
Vessel Name: Stillwater
Vessel Model: Kadey-Krogen 54
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 782
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aft Deck Capt
+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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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyWright
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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Yes - I think that's pretty much the regimen that my neighbor followed.
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04-26-2017, 12:31 AM
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#8
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Guru
City: Sydney
Vessel Name: Sojourn
Vessel Model: Integrity 386
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 13,293
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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.
__________________
BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
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04-26-2017, 12:36 AM
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#9
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Wannabe
City: SF Bay Area
Vessel Name: Stillwater
Vessel Model: Kadey-Krogen 54
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 782
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BruceK
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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Yes indeed - my neighbor replaced his SLA with an AGM.
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04-26-2017, 01:30 AM
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#10
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Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
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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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04-26-2017, 01:35 AM
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#11
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Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BruceK
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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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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04-26-2017, 05:26 AM
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#12
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Guru
City: Satsuma FL
Vessel Name: No Mo Trawla
Vessel Model: Hurricane SS188
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 2,300
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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.
__________________
Buffalo Bluff Light 28
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04-26-2017, 05:35 AM
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#13
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
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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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04-26-2017, 08:21 AM
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#14
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Guru
City: Punta Gorda, fl
Vessel Name: Escapade
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 37 2002
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,231
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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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04-26-2017, 08:37 AM
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#15
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Guru
City: Carefree, Arizona
Vessel Name: sunchaser V
Vessel Model: DeFever 48 (sold)
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,179
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dhays
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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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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04-26-2017, 08:52 AM
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#16
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Scraping Paint
City: CT
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 963
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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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04-26-2017, 09:59 AM
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#17
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Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
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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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04-26-2017, 10:09 AM
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#18
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Guru
City: Palm Coast
Vessel Name: Southerly
Vessel Model: 1986 Marine Trader 36' Sundeck
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,231
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And I learned something new today! Geez! I have no idea how old my batteries are.
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04-26-2017, 11:29 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
City: Bellingham, WA
Vessel Name: Excellent Adventure
Vessel Model: 1995 Jefferson Ker Shine 45
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 395
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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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04-27-2017, 08:38 PM
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#20
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Veteran Member
City: Blacksburg
Vessel Name: Sea Fever
Vessel Model: Grand Banks 49 Classic
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 40
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wwestman
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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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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