discussion Battery explosion.

[eddiesolo]

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.

 

[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!

 

[eddiesolo]

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.

 

[Mark1]

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

 

[yak face]

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

 

[papa 695]

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

 

[Airborne01]

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

 

[Guest]

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 .

 

[Jim R]

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

 

[Dave Ward]

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

 

[stillp]

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

 

[Ian M]

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.

 

[boatman]

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

 

[Gern]

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

 

[Andy the Sheep]

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.

 

[The Smythe Meister]

Can only but repeat what the guys have said already Si ....
Sorry to hear about your incident,the risks of chargers are underrated these days.... mainly due to the fact that nearly everything needs/comes with one now.
At least you're still in one piece mate,I hope you don't quit the hobby due to this,after all.... it wasn't the Tank's fault. !

 

[Tworrs]

Sorry to hear of your unfortunate accident Si.
May I ask what battery it was?

 

[boatman]

well Garry yes i was wondering what type of batt it was an the age as my SLA batts have vents at the top so when the gases inside the batt build up they open up an let the gasses exscape so no bang
chrisb

 

[boatman]

AN Si i have one of them charges with the yellow front but i dont use it as when i did use it it never charged up the lipo batts properly so thats the reason why i dont use it now only use my big charger to charge up my batts with that auto cutout an all my batts are fairly new
chrisb

 

[eddiesolo]

Thank you fellas, the battery in question was a NiMhd, the charger should have turned off, discharged and then trickle charged as needed. It beeped to inform me it had finished the main charge. I was literally a foot and a half away when it blew, as said it was a very lucky day.