battery fireworks!

[gregwiththegrin]

Slowly getting the old bus roadworthy, was feeling pretty happy when i heard a snap, crackle and pop?

Firstly I checked to see if a bowl of rice crispies had found its way behind my seat but instead saw quite the fireworks display coming from the battery!

The metal lid currently has no insulation so im thinking theres a current jumping from battery to lid? I also noticed one of the battery terminals wires (not the braided one, the other) showed signs of burning (surrounding rubber had melted)

This is my first bus, 1.9l watercooled caravelle so not sure how worried i should be about this or if I just need to insulate the lid? Current worry levels are reasonably high!

Any help as always, greatly appreciated

Thanks, Greg

NB The battery is new.

[kevtherev]

insulate the lid
clean all the contacts and the earth point

[gregwiththegrin]

Cheers Kev

[California Dreamin]

I've used a square of old inner tude and spray glued it to the underside of the cover on the + positive side of the cover (the non braided side)

The battery really should have a plastic terminal cover over the pos side but this rubber insulation should be good enough.

Martin

[billybigspud]

I have a bit of lino in my lid.

[ghop99]

There is a folded up news paper on top of mine.

[nevill3]

Mine is made of wood, covered in grey lining carpet!!!!

I have still put a length of tape over the bare battery posts, just in case!!

[82JEW75]

Mine doesn't have a battery lid, so meh !

We've stuck rubber "non-slip matting" to the undersides of lids before though, anything non-conductive will do.

[bigherb]

You can get the proper terminal cover like these just pushes into the two holes next to the terminal. Usually some on old batteries at scrap yards.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310347119445? ... 1423.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[slowcoach]

There is a folded up news paper on top of mine.

Snap !

[California Dreamin]

Nice to know that if you do get any sparks (perhaps if the paper wears through or gets ripped) then there is a nice pile of newspaper to get the fire going....

Martin

[kevtherev]

there you go! mr Doom has warned you. FFS

451 deg F is the flash point of paper Martin, that's the flash point in an oven
I'd love to see you start a fire with a ciggy lighter and no gas in it with a roll of news paper.

[bigherb]

451 deg F is the flash point of paper Martin, that's the flash point in an oven

So you don't think lumps of molten metal are not that hot.

[kevtherev]

C'mon lets post facts not theory.

like the ciggy butt into a petrol tank... boom?...no that's a myth too

To start a fire you need an ignition source, a correct fuel/oxygen mix
the ignition source is....?
Don't say spark or molten lead.. not good enough, why?
where did the spark come from? not off the lid.. that's insulated, the lead? it's brief life at 621F is not enough to ignite paper as it's not sustained.
paper is a great insulator, and still used today.
I bet anyone here to start a newspaper fire with a 12 volt battery spark will end in tears

[California Dreamin]

there you go! mr Doom has warned you. FFS

451 deg F is the flash point of paper Martin, that's the flash point in an oven
I'd love to see you start a fire with a ciggy lighter and no gas in it with a roll of news paper.

What medication are you on today Kev?.......the title says 'battery fireworks' as in sparks.....and with the type of amps that a battery is capable of delivering the sparks can be sustained and substantial, definately enough to ignite a newspaper.
No I haven't tried it....why the hell would I, insulate with something more suitable than newspaper, thats all I'm saying.



Martin