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Forum Index : Windmills : Battery Charging
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joyt12k Regular Member  Joined: 12/05/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 49 |
Hi everyone, does anyone know if, when charging batteries with a windmill,do you open the tops to ventilate the batteries as you would normally with a battery charger? Or is it like being in a car, permantly closed. jasmine |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
You know, I wonder if its ever really been necessary to unscrew the tops of batteries while charging them? It is a good idea to check the fluid level from time to time, but is there ever any real risk of a pressure build up high enough to split a cell open? I do remember unscrewing the battery tops when charging a flat car battery with a battery charger, but now that I think about it, was it necessary. A typical charger can only supply 5 to 10 amps max, but in a car, the alternator can pump 30 or more amps into the battery, and the caps are screwed down. To answer your question, no, you dont need to unscrew the caps. But you should keep the tops of the batteries clean, to reduce the chance of dirt blocking the vent holes. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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AMACK Senior Member  Joined: 31/05/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 184 |
Hi joyt12k, All acid ( liquid ) battery will produce gas when charging. Most battery’s will have vents in them to release these gases. Be very careful as this gas will explode if a flame or spark is present. Windmills are the same as any charger, they will cause the battery to produce gas ( hydrogen ) Even a car battery has vents in it, some may have a system that condenses the gas and returns it to the battery but most just vent it. AMACK *Note to self 1. Make it thick 2.Make it heavy. 3.Make it stronger than it should be. 4. Don't rush the first job as the second job will cost more and take mor |
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| joyt12k Regular Member Joined: 12/05/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 49 |
Thanks for the answer guys, the batteries are in a closed cabinet in the garage, I don't smoke so I guess they are pretty safe from exploding, however I just realized all the electronics are also in the same cabinet,(charge controller, low voltage device and relay and bridge rectifier) are these safe from the corosive gasses? jasmine |
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Downwind Guru  Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333 |
They are some what safe from corrosive gasses but not safe from explosive gasses like produced from a charging battery. The contacts of switches, like in a relay arc when they make and break contact and this could be enough to cause a explosion. It is what i would call living life dangerously. Years ago i turned a grinder on the sharpen a drill bit while a motorbike battery was charging on the bench and blow every cell out of it, and showed myself in acid and was near deaf for days  ...lesson learnt? (and that was a small battery)
I think you best add some ventilation. Pete. Sometimes it just works |
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MacGyver Guru Joined: 12/05/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 1329 |
joyt12k Hydrogen is the lightest element, so it'll be hovering right at the top of your cabinet. One hole in the bottom and one at the top will likely suffice. . . . . . Mac Nothing difficult is ever easy! Perhaps better stated in the words of Morgan Freeman, "Where there is no struggle, there is no progress!" Copeville, Texas |
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isaiah Guru Joined: 25/12/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 303 |
Also any moisture on top of the battery will conduct!! If you have a battery that has moisture on it take your vom and hook one lead to the positive take the other lead and run it around the top of the battery, you'll be surprised the readings you'll get. and this could cause a hi decibel event. Yes I had a car battery on a small crawler in a quonset building blow up in my face. yes NO I couldn't hear or see for a while and even though I wear glasses I had problems for some time. So take the time and precaution, better safe than sorry. URL=http://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy/1973-11- 01/The-Plowboy-Interview.aspx>The Plowboy Interview[/URL> |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Joy It would be better to get all the electrical gear out of the cabinet as the fumes from charging are corrosive apart from the hydrogen gas problem as Pete said, it only takes the smallest spark to set it of, I also had the same problem of battery explosion in a large battery bank and it demolished the shed and everything in it, so be very careful. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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| Downwind Guru Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333 |
It looks like a few of us have learnt the dangers of charging batteries the hard way, and is a good wake up call to others not to follow in our foot steps. Looking at many systems posted here on the forum i often wonder about this danger, and have been waiting for a disarster to accure. I really feel this is one area that needs to have more discussion on, and a bigger awareness of attention needed to saftey in this area. It only takes 1 spark and it could be you making a simple change in wiring that causes it, and the result can be loss of limb or life, not to mention the $$$$ of equipment damage. Just remember if you are breathing a hydrogen rich air your lungs are also full of explosive gas to, you might not explode but can cause bad internal burns and scaring to your airways if a flash takes place. As Bob quoted it flatened his shed and everything in it. It is a hydrogen bomb in the making just waiting for a bright spark to detonate it. BE SAFE, PLAY SAFE. Pete. Sometimes it just works |
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| joyt12k Regular Member Joined: 12/05/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 49 |
Thanks Guys, you have me worried now, the cabinet was specifically made to house everything and looks really neat, in fact I back up my VY Ute and the cabinet is on the back wall just above the tray, of course the petrol tank is just below it. I would have thought that the spark from the relay was enclosed, all connections are sound, however when connecting the positive leads to the batteries I do always get huge sparks. How about if I just ventilate the cabinet or install a 12v fan? What does everyone else do? jasmine |
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| arklan Newbie  Joined: 18/08/2010 Location: AustraliaPosts: 29 |
why do car batteries not need their caps taken off? theyr being charged all the time while driving. also, having one of those small solar panels to keep the car battery from going flat. the cig lighter doesnt work unless the key is turned to acc, so would the solar panel do nothing unless the key is turned to acc all the time? |
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| Downwind Guru Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333 |
I think a small fan or ventalation would be fine as the gas is only produced slowly and its a build up that makes it dangerious. Pete. Sometimes it just works |
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| Joblow Regular Member Joined: 05/01/2010 Location: AustraliaPosts: 54 |
Downwinds comment re breathing batterys gas and lungs exploding reminds me of a problem the medical profesion encountered in the old days: they had been using ether as an anesthetic for years without any problems until at a later date, patients started expoding on the operating table, this phonomenen continued until it was realised that the newly available nylon stockings the nurses were wearing could cause a minute spark when their legs rubbed together, and BANG! messy end to operation  The man who never made a mistake never made anything |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hu Arklan The only reason to remove the battery lids/caps is to check the electrolyte level and use the hydrometer for checking the specific gravity. Also when charging it is a good idea to watch the cells bubbling as it will give an indication of a lazy cell or one that is shorted out, however don't use a Irish torch for light while checking. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
When I worked for Telecom we had to service some pretty big battery banks. The battery rooms always had two ventilation holes, one at top and one at bottom. Hydrogen floats, it will rise to the top of the battery room and pass out the top room vents, and in the process draw in clean air throught the bottom room vents. You can use a small brushless PC fan to help force air throught the battery cabinate if you think the vents are not big enough. I did find this PDF on battery room design. It might be helpfull. http://usachppm.amedd.army.mil/IH/control-of-hazards/industr ial-vent/docs/Battery%20Charging%20Room%20Design%20Review%20 Checklist.pdf Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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