Charging a battery sets off explosive gas detector?

[BrianS]

I have my boat batteries in my basement utility room. I hit them with the charger once a month or so to top them off. I have a First Alert combo explosive gas / CO detector in the same room as that is where the propane lines enter the house for the kitchen cooktop.

I have several batteries and have charged them with no issue. Tonight one of the batteries failed to charge at the 2 amp setting, so I bumped it up to 6 amps. About an hour later the explosive gas detector started going off. I reset it and it went back off right away. I moved it to another room and it didn't go off.

I didn't smell gas. Is it possible the off gassing from the battery charging set it off? Anyone have that happen before?

 

[hackwelder]

A lead/acid battery will vent hydrogen when it is charging hard...and hydrogen is highly explosive and odorless...usually not a problem unless there is a spark close to the battery vent caps but it is wise to do charging in a well ventilated space

 

[tshetter]

I have been told charging lead-acid batteries may produce hydrogen gas.

 

[rmmiller]

Let me tell you, those gasses are very explosive! I had a battery pop in my GTO and it made one hell of a bang. Brought neighbors out of their houses four doors down.

 

[jkwilson]

I'd bet that battery is shot. Shouldn't be discharging enough to need that much charging in a month.

 

[ford33]

You have an explosive alarm warning going off and you're writing asking if it could be the batteries?

Get out and call the fire department!

 

[Lippyp]

When I was in the scouts we used to go potholing (spelunking) on a fairly regular basis. We used to stay in the grounds of a cottage owned by this slightly mad old chap known as Sparky. Back then lighting underground was either Carbide (acetylene) lamps or battery lamps (usually ex Coal Board ones) These had lead acid batteries. On one trip when just our leaders were down there they had some batteries charging on a windowsill in the cottage and one started gassing and exploded setting the house alight, They all had to exit via various upstairs windows and wait for the fire service to arrive. Next time I visited the stairs had gone and had been replaced by an oil drum and old wooden box!

So yeah, batteries gassing enough to set off a gas detector is pretty dangerous, especially if its near a source of ignition like a gas furnace etc.

 

[Big Bad Dad]

I have seen batteries explode a couple of times. They were set off by sparking the jumper cables while jump starting a dead car. Had to help one guy wash acid out of his eyes! You don't forget that.....ALWAYS charge in a well vented area with no ignition source.

 

[Jethr0]

I had a battery blow up in my face years ago (more accurately, caps blew off and sprayed the contents at me). Acid burns ****. They sizzled until the ER neutralized them. In my case the battery had failed somehow inside apparently. I'd replace the batteries.

 

[Scsmith42]

It sounds as if one of your batteries may be going bad. Check it with a load tester before charging again.

Battery chargers typically reduce their output current as the battery reaches full charge. When a cell goes bad on a battery it tends to cause the battery charger to overcharge the remaining good cells, and that increases the production of hydrogen, as well as the potential for an overcharging related battery melt down.

At least you know that your explosive gas detector is working!


Scott

 

[ishiboo]

I have my boat batteries in my basement utility room. I hit them with the charger once a month or so to top them off. I have a First Alert combo explosive gas / CO detector in the same room as that is where the propane lines enter the house for the kitchen cooktop.

I have several batteries and have charged them with no issue. Tonight one of the batteries failed to charge at the 2 amp setting, so I bumped it up to 6 amps. About an hour later the explosive gas detector started going off. I reset it and it went back off right away. I moved it to another room and it didn't go off.

I didn't smell gas. Is it possible the off gassing from the battery charging set it off? Anyone have that happen before?

Hydrogen as many have said.

When was the last time you checked the water levels?

They might be fine, they might be shot. Hydrogen off-gassing is a normal function of lead-acid batteries.

 

[dragonballz]

The good thing about burning hydrogen is that water is the byproduct. After you burn yourself, rub some of that water in it.

 

[Falcon67]

I have several batteries and have charged them with no issue. Tonight one of the batteries failed to charge at the 2 amp setting, so I bumped it up to 6 amps. About an hour later the explosive gas detector started going off. I reset it and it went back off right away. I moved it to another room and it didn't go off.

Having lots of batteries around here, including a 36V golf car - get rid of that battery. It was outgassing hydrogen. And yes they do that anyway in small amounts, but when they start breaking down and the charger runs way too long the charger can start "boiling" the battery. That's when the detectors start going off.

 

[Onewolf]

Replace those batteries with marine AGM batteries.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Any time you charge a battery you offgas Hydrogen. It's a normal part of the process. Even when your alternator is charging your battery, it's producing H2. If you've ever seen those little bubbles "boiling" when you charge your battery, that's what those bubbles are. It does NOT mean you have a bad battery.

A bad battery is USUALLY caused by sulfidation - conductive lead sulfides collect at the bottom of the battery cells over time (due to the charge/discharge cycle) - when it builds up enough to short out the cell its new battery time (usually a shot battery won't hold a charge, or will hold a minimal charge). This is generally about 6 months after your "36 month" (or 48 month etc.) battery hits that guaranteed date.

There are ways to bring dead batteries back to life - you can google it...

 

[Rod N]

I charge batteries all the time in the garage and my detector never indicates anything.
When I did have a battery that I kept trying to charge, even though my charger kept giving up on it, the detector went nuts!
I got rid of it real fast!

 

[BrianS]

Well I think you guys hit the nail on the head. I checked the water level in that battery and it was low in a few cells. I also checked the date on it, 12/05!! I think I got my money's worth, going to retire that one.

 

[DenisG]

If the smoke alarm has an ionization smoke detector, I'll bet that acidic fumes set it off. That's my guess.

 

[mygarageone]

I have seen batteries explode a couple of times. They were set off by sparking the jumper cables while jump starting a dead car. Had to help one guy wash acid out of his eyes! You don't forget that.....ALWAYS charge in a well vented area with no ignition source.

I had that exact thing happen to me but I was looking directly over the battery.
Got acid all over me and in my eyes , top of battery totaly gone , it flew past my head.
I was wearing a nylon coat and a wool shirt under it , the coat shrunk and the shirt became holy .
My eyes were banged up for 3 days , thank God I didn't lose my eyes nor any vison.
Best part , my neighbors hot daughter took care of me untill I got the bandages off .

 

[HOTFR8]

You need better ventilation in the area you are charging the batteries.

 

[BigGMC]

Blimpin' aint easy!

 

[jwh]

Slightly off topic but I know a now retired State Trooper. Told the story that his Sgt. would go to lunch while he was minding the barracks. Sgt told him "if it's a true emergency call me." Trooper asked "what do you call a true emergency!?". Sgt. Said: "Son you're too young to remember the Hindenburg."

 

[dynahoe]

batteries in storage do not need to be charged it is not good for them. go to an auto parts store or a dealership and ask them how often they charge the batteries on the shelf.store them safe and dry and when it's time to use it install it if it needs charging then charge it

 

[Scsmith42]

batteries in storage do not need to be charged it is not good for them. go to an auto parts store or a dealership and ask them how often they charge the batteries on the shelf.store them safe and dry and when it's time to use it install it if it needs charging then charge it

What about sulfite buildup on the plates?


Scott

 

[HOTFR8]

A battery tender would be better for that battery and you still need good ventilation of the place or room you charge them in.

 

[Falcon67]

batteries in storage do not need to be charged it is not good for them. go to an auto parts store or a dealership and ask them how often they charge the batteries on the shelf.store them safe and dry and when it's time to use it install it if it needs charging then charge it

Batteries deteriorate if not kept fully charged.
"When storing your golf car be sure to put the vehicle in “tow” mode (if you have a regen golf car) and disable any powered accessories so that no current is being drawn on the bank. Try to put a charge to them at least once a month if possible and a device to keep a “float” charge on the batteries at all times is ideal. This can obviously be a challenge if you plan to leave for long periods of time though it’s better to prepare than to come back to a dead and potentially worthless set of batteries. "

FEMA knows about battery charging -

http://www.usfa.fema.gov/pdf/efop/efo27803.pdf

http://www.firehouse.com/article/10518243/the-unexpected-golf-cart-hazard

http://www.trojanbattery.com/Tech-Support/FAQ/Maintenance.aspx

 

[Rock knocker]

I built a big forklift charging station in a warehouse once. The controls, interlocks and draft curtains were as complicated as any I've seen. And hydrogen is easy to control because it's so light

 

[jkwilson]

batteries in storage do not need to be charged it is not good for them. go to an auto parts store or a dealership and ask them how often they charge the batteries on the shelf.store them safe and dry and when it's time to use it install it if it needs charging then charge it

Not at all true. A battery can pretty easily lose 15% of its charge in a month, and being at any state of charge below full causes permanent damage to the battery. Old batteries on store shelves are not worth buying. Places like Interstate quick charge dealer inventory, but most places don't. Best practice is to fully charge any battery in storage at least monthly.