Re: [FWDLK] Positive ground -= battery charging

[Ray Jones <hurst300@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Also good advise!
I'm a retired Master Auto Tech, and I had never in 40 years seen a 
battery explode, or had anyone tell me they had. 1 Day, after weakly 
cranking my L'il Red express for several minutes, I opened the hood and 
wiggled the cables to get better contact. In a hurry, and not thinking. 
The heavy load on the Battery had created Hydrogen gas which was laying 
on top of the Battery. At some point, a spark was struck, and so was I. 
 the Battery exploded in my face, knocking my glasses off, cutting my 
face with case shards, and generally making a mess. It took me a minute 
to figure out what the Hell happened.  Fortunately, I was outside my 
Dr.'s office, and they rushed out and got me to the washroom to get the 
acid off my face.

Always avoid making sparks around charging or as in my case, 
discharging Batteries. Charging or Jumping, hook the positive lead to 
the positive terminal first, always! Then hook the negative to a ground 
on the engine, a bolt head, bracket or suchlike. Except on early 
Positive Ground cars, do the opposite. Always hook the ground last, and 
NOT at the Battery, unless  you're charging the Battery on the bench. 
In that case, make sure the Charger is at least off, or better, 
unplugged, as Bill says.

Ray J


On Sep 27, 2005, at 9:42 PM, Bill K. wrote:

> Bear in mind that charging a battery can create hydrogen gas, which is
> highly explosive.  You're supposed to hook the charge cables up with 
> the
> charger unplugged, then plug it in, and do the reverse when taking it 
> off.
> And it should be charged in a well-ventilated area.
>
>
> Bill K.

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