Why the battery can suddenly explode under the hood

Explosion of the battery under the hood is a rather rare occurrence, but extremely destructive. After that, you always have to lay out a decent amount for car repairs, and even for the treatment of the driver. About why an explosion occurs and how to avoid it, the AvtoVzglyad portal tells.

Once the battery exploded in my garage, so that your correspondent could see the consequences firsthand. It is good that neither people nor cars were there at that moment. The plastic of the battery shattered over a decent distance, and the walls and even the roof were splashed with electrolyte. The explosion was very strong and if this happens under the hood, the consequences will be severe. Well, if there is a person nearby, injuries and burns are guaranteed.

One of the most common causes of a battery explosion is the accumulation of flammable gases in the battery case, which ignite under certain conditions. Usually, gases begin to be released after the complete consumption of lead sulfate formed during the discharge.

That is, the risks increase in winter, when any battery has a hard time. A small spark is enough to cause an explosion. A spark may appear during engine start. For example, if one of the terminals is poorly fixed or when starting wires are connected to the battery in order to “light it up” from another car.

It happens that trouble occurs due to improper operation of the generator. The fact is that it must supply a voltage of 14,2 volts. If it gets higher, then the electrolyte begins to boil in the battery, and if the process is not stopped, an explosion will occur.

Another reason is the accumulation of hydrogen inside the battery due to the fact that the battery vents are clogged with dirt. In this case, carbon monoxide reacts with the hydrogen accumulated inside. As a result, a chemical reaction occurs and a lot of thermal energy is released. That is, in simple terms, two or three of its capacities explode inside the battery.

Therefore, timely monitor the battery charge and the health of the generator. Also check the fastening of the terminals and lubricate them with special grease to avoid oxides. This will greatly reduce the risk of an explosion.