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  • eddiesolo
    • Jul 2013
    • 11193

    #1

    Battery explosion.

    Had a severe battery overload and explosion in the workshed that has resulted in injury to myself.
    The charger beeped and I got up to turn off, I had just started to reach up to turn off when it exploded. The case ruptured and flame and gasses everywhere. I instinctively turned away and was lucky I had my magnifiers on, although slightly raised.

    I managed to cut the power and then managed to get the burning remnants or the battery and charger outside where they continued to explode. I then realised I was on fire, my coat is holed as is my t-shirt. Hair and beard singed and have a couple of cuts and a sore eye but apart from that okay.

    I then had to deal with still burning debris in the shed. There is soot and bits all over the place and I think a tank may have been damage.
    This has really shook me up and I was very lucky indeed. I know this maybe a knee jerk reaction due to shock but I am seriously thinking of packing it in.

    I do take battery charging serious and store batteries in a metal fire proof box and never leave a battery charging.

    I am cleaned up and have a dressing on, minor cuts, painful eye but nothing in it and a bit singed...could have been a lot worse.

    It has to be either the charger auto current cutoff failed or the battery was dodgy.
    Attached Files
  • Waspie
    • Mar 2023
    • 3488

    #2
    Sounds like you had a very close shave there, sorry, no pun intended! Glad you're not too seriously hurt.
    We used to get what we called a thermal runaway in Sea Kings, which resulted in blowing the front nose panel and associated avionics!!
    A lucky escape. Did have your face looked at? Hospital I mean!

    Comment

    • eddiesolo
      • Jul 2013
      • 11193

      #3
      Originally posted by Waspie
      Sounds like you had a very close shave there, sorry, no pun intended! Glad you're not too seriously hurt.
      We used to get what we called a thermal runaway in Sea Kings, which resulted in blowing the front nose panel and associated avionics!!
      A lucky escape. Did have your face looked at? Hospital I mean!
      Yeah, cleaned up, eyes checked and gel and gauze applied.

      Comment

      • Mark1
        • Apr 2021
        • 4156

        #4
        Ooh not good mate, as you say could have been worse at least you and the shed live to fight another day.

        Comment

        • yak face
          Moderator
          • Jun 2009
          • 14013
          • Tony
          • Sheffield

          #5
          Wow , good to hear youre not seriously hurt si , but must have been a frightening experience . A cautionary tale for anyone charging batteries , imagine if you hadnt been there , the whole shed would have been a goner .Dont pack in modelling though mate , just pack in charging batteries ! Hope you feel a bit better soon , cheers tony

          Comment

          • papa 695
            Moderator
            • May 2011
            • 22826

            #6
            Sorry to hear about this Si, really glad your ok though. Most likely a dodgy battery, try not to let it stop you modeling.

            Comment

            • Airborne01
              • Mar 2021
              • 4098
              • Steve
              • Essex

              #7
              Sorry to hear this mate, glad your injuries are minimal!
              Steve

              Comment

              • Guest

                #8
                Shocking news Si, thank goodness you weren't seriously injured.
                Good that you have had some medical treatment.
                We all take battery charging as something of an everyday occurrence if you work with power tools these days .

                Please don't give up modelling .

                Comment

                • Jim R
                  SMF Supporters
                  • Apr 2018
                  • 15922
                  • Jim
                  • Shropshire

                  #9
                  Bloody hell what a frightening experience. Just glad you're pretty much ok. As John said we take recharging stuff for granted these days.

                  Comment

                  • Dave Ward
                    • Apr 2018
                    • 10549

                    #10
                    Si,
                    ouch! nasty experience! good to hear that you got away without any serious injury, although the singed beard sounds bad! What sort of batteries were they & what for? I regularly recharge my device batteries, and it's something I never give a second thought to...........
                    Dave

                    Comment

                    • stillp
                      SMF Supporters
                      • Nov 2016
                      • 8137
                      • Pete
                      • Rugby

                      #11
                      That's bad news Si, but it could have been so much worse. What battery was it?
                      Pete

                      Comment

                      • Ian M
                        Administrator
                        • Dec 2008
                        • 18272
                        • Ian
                        • Falster, Denmark

                        #12
                        That was a lucky escape Si.
                        How many people here plug their power-tool batteries in to charge and go out, Charge the mobil phone while in bed at night...
                        Glad that you are ok- Shaken and not stirred so to say.
                        Dont give up the hobby though because of that.
                        Group builds

                        Bismarck

                        Comment

                        • boatman
                          • Nov 2018
                          • 14498
                          • christopher
                          • NORFOLK UK

                          #13
                          WOW Si very sorry to hear that an glad you not very badly hurt as i do a lot of sealed lead acid batts chargin on the batts for my norfolk an tiger but i hope i never have that happen as i charge my batts in my man cave indoors an my charger has an autocutoff in its so when batt is fully charged it cuts off but this has made me think i will charge my batts in my small shed in future so if i get a batt go bang then it will only damage the shed WOW
                          chrisb

                          Comment

                          • Gern
                            • May 2009
                            • 9262

                            #14
                            I would've s**t myself if that had happened to me! Glad you're OK Si.

                            Comment

                            • Andy the Sheep
                              SMF Supporters
                              • Apr 2019
                              • 1864
                              • Andrea
                              • North Eastern Italy

                              #15
                              Sorry for your accident, Si and glad you didn't get serious injuries and/or serious material damage to your workshed.
                              I understand that your mishap is rapidly becoming a lesson learned for many of us; we are so used to battery recharging we scarcely remember it's a potential fires and explosions source.
                              In my area someone had his home burned because of a battery overheating while he wasn't at home.
                              Hope to see you soon at the bench: getting immediately back on the saddle after having been unseated is the best remedy (unless you have some bone broken :rolling.

                              Comment

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