Rotary SPOA10 Shockwave Battery Explosion

[ewjax]

I've had my SPOA10 Shockwave for almost two years now. Not a single issue working the lift. About a week ago, I went to raise the lift, and the solenoid started clicking instead of activating the pump the way it usually does. Sounded like a dead battery situation.

So I removed the access panels from the unit and was planning to measure the voltage of the cells. Before doing so, I pressed the button one more time and BOOM. One of the batteries exploded, releasing gases and sulfuric acid all over.

Fortunately, I was standing on the side of the unit when the battery exploded and still have my eyesight. It sounded like a rifle, it was that loud.

I quickly left the area and opened the external garage door. I then spent 2 hours cleaning up the mess.

I suspect that one of the batteries must have failed and that the charger was not smart enough to stop charging and created an overcharge situation in the good battery. I'm glad I didn't try to remove the battery because it's possible it could have exploded in my face. I was very lucky.

I have replaced the charger that Rotary supplied (a $50 charger that is no longer available from the manufacturer) with a more robust charger.

I also replaced the batteries with DieHard Platinum AGMs.

I would never buy or recommend the Shockwave lift again without confirmation from Rotary that they have identified and resolved the issue. It has been almost two weeks since I have communicated the issue to them and engineering is still looking into it.

So if you have a Shockwave SPOA10, I'd recommend replacing your batteries yearly. Maybe this will save someone from going through this experience.

If buying new, just stick with the non-Shockwave version, which is probably sufficient for most of us. If I could convert mine to 220v, I would.

Here are pics of the battery, their charger, and my new charger setup.

 

[longez]

Glad you are safe! My SPOA10 is the non-Shockwave version running on 220V. I *almost* bought the shockwave version, but since mine is a hobby lift I decided I could wait another 30 seconds or minute to get a vehicle in the air.

 

[ewjax]

Glad you are safe! My SPOA10 is the non-Shockwave version running on 220V. I *almost* bought the shockwave version, but since mine is a hobby lift I decided I could wait another 30 seconds or minute to get a vehicle in the air.

Good call. Should have done the same. Cleaning up a pool of Sulfuric Acid was not fun.

 

[infinkc]

wow thats scary. things you would never think of when purchasing that option.

Im guessing its using a DC motor to operate, so you would have to change out the pump assembly if you wanted a 220v instead and run power.

Would think with some quality batteries and a better charger like you did, you should be bulletproof now.

 

[ewjax]

wow thats scary. things you would never think of when purchasing that option.

Im guessing its using a DC motor to operate, so you would have to change out the pump assembly if you wanted a 220v instead and run power.

Would think with some quality batteries and a better charger like you did, you should be bulletproof now.

You are correct. The motor is 24v and would probably need to be replaced.
I would be open to that but would have to have an electrician do some work to get 220V to the unit.

 

[Walter_TA]

This is a case where the battery had a broken bus bar. It would provide voltage when the two pieces touched and no voltage when they did not. There was a spark when they touched. There was hydrogen from changing the battery and the spark set it off. BANG. Replacing the batteries will not help this. Does not happen often.

 

[ewjax]

This is a case where the battery had a broken bus bar. It would provide voltage when the two pieces touched and no voltage when they did not. There was a spark when they touched. There was hydrogen from changing the battery and the spark set it off. BANG. Replacing the batteries will not help this. Does not happen often.

That's great information. So maybe a low quality battery?

Would that better charger pickup on this scenario and stop charging?

 

[Walter_TA]

This is usually a handling issue. The bus bar is lead. If the battery is dropped or hit, the bar can break. I have not seen a charger find this issue. If a battery is putting out current and then stops this will likely be the cause, once bad connection are eliminated.

 

[ewjax]

This is usually a handling issue. The bus bar is lead. If the battery is dropped or hit, the bar can break. I have not seen a charger find this issue. If a battery is putting out current and then stops this will likely be the cause, once bad connection are eliminated.

The battery was in place and working for almost 2 years without any movement, so wonder what the ultimate failure was. I've never had a battery do that. Crazy.

 

[DJCL65]

As a quick point of reference, my garage is next door to the original poster’s. I have the exact same Shockwave lift and it was installed the same week as his. My batteries died two days before his. We successfully replaced the batteries without incident and have been using the lift normally since then.

We tested both of my batteries with a voltmeter. One was normal, one was clearly bad. My batteries were the same model and date range as the original poster’s. Hoping this situation is remedied with a higher quality charger. Would be great to hear back from Rotary engineering on this matter with their input/advice.

 

[46MGTC]

Shockwave - Sounds like an appropriately named product.

 

[kinglake]

Meanwell is typically good quality. I don't think I'd consider it lesser quality that Genius. Genius is just targeted to consumers so has a fancy look and fancy marketing. Meanwell is more OEM. Meanwell might actually be better.

 

[ewjax]

Meanwell is typically good quality. I don't think I'd consider it lesser quality that Genius. Genius is just targeted to consumers so has a fancy look and fancy marketing. Meanwell is more OEM. Meanwell might actually be better.

It may be but I don't really trust it. The model was discontinued by the manufacturer and I'm sure there is a new one out there. Genius may also have some fancy lights, but they also have a list of safeguards and features, where MeanWell didn't have much documentation.

Either way, a failed battery on its own won't suddenly explode without being over charged. And maybe my Meanwell charger had an a problem.

Hope I never experience that again.

 

[Walter_TA]

A Battery will not explode from over charging. During changing there is hydrogen is released. There was a spark from somewhere to ignite it. If batteries explode very often you would see cars at the side of the road.

 

[ewjax]

A Battery will not explode from over charging. During changing there is hydrogen is released. There was a spark from somewhere to ignite it. If batteries explode very often you would see cars at the side of the road.

So question is, why did this battery explode when I pushed the button to raise the lift?

The whole thing is unnerving and hence my position to not go with Shockwave again and instead I'd go with their 220V SPOA10.

 

[logical]

Meanwell is typically good quality. I don't think I'd consider it lesser quality that Genius. Genius is just targeted to consumers so has a fancy look and fancy marketing. Meanwell is more OEM. Meanwell might actually be better.

They have a new slogan. "We may seem like bad people and cause your battery to explode...but we mean well"

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, The battery experienced catastrophic failure probably because of an internal mechanical failure that produced an ignition source for trapped Hydrogen gas.

 

[captaindiode]

Wonder if the would be a good application for an Optima battery?

 

[Jwallace1]

we occationally see batteries explode at work, standby generator applications not a lot of abuse due to the application, they will sit on a battery rack on the floor or mounted to the generator. looking at the picture of the battery is a cheap genaric battery. the problem usually happens when the charger is charging to hard and the battery expells hydrogen gas it can be worse if its in an enclosed space it traps the gas, a lot of the time the batteries are old style flodded lead acid batteries with open vents and as they vent the top of of the batteries can get wet and attract durt and dust, this will create a path for an arch on top the battery and when you hit the switch the battery is sending out a large ammount of curent that can arc between posts and light off the gas, internal failures can also cause this. get some maintenace free batteries these are sealed, AGM, or VRLA and match the correct charger and that should help

thanks

 

[MBfreak]

+1 for Jwallace.
Correct analysis

Ola

 

[ewjax]

we occationally see batteries explode at work, standby generator applications not a lot of abuse due to the application, they will sit on a battery rack on the floor or mounted to the generator. looking at the picture of the battery is a cheap genaric battery. the problem usually happens when the charger is charging to hard and the battery expells hydrogen gas it can be worse if its in an enclosed space it traps the gas, a lot of the time the batteries are old style flodded lead acid batteries with open vents and as they vent the top of of the batteries can get wet and attract durt and dust, this will create a path for an arch on top the battery and when you hit the switch the battery is sending out a large ammount of curent that can arc between posts and light off the gas, internal failures can also cause this. get some maintenace free batteries these are sealed, AGM, or VRLA and match the correct charger and that should help

thanks

This sounds like what I may have experienced. Thank you for the guidance and information.

I've since installed the AGM Diehards and with the new charger that has clear indications as to status, this won't happen again.

 

[walrus]

Never heard of the Shockwave, what makes this lift better than a regular SPOA?

 

[ewjax]

Never heard of the Shockwave, what makes this lift better than a regular SPOA?

Only requires 120v outlet to charge batteries, and has faster operating lift function.