Is there a way to have an alarm if overcharging occurs?

From: Andrew Martin <campahvan@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Battery explosion

> Zoltan,
> 
> Whoa, that sounds nasty.
> 
> The PO of my 85 Westy had a voltage regulator fail and the battery was
> overcharged to the point of boiling the acid.  No explosion but the case
> heated up and expanded so much he had to bend the edges of the battery
> compartment up and pry the battery remains out.
> 
> The oddest thing was he didn't notice the trouble from the driver's seat
> until the engine died presumably from the unregulated voltage being fed to
> and shorting the ECU.  How he didn't notice the smell of the battery cooking
> is a mystery because when I bought the van a few months later it still
> smelled a bit like battery acid inside.
> 
> I'd sure what to know what cause your battery to actually explode!
> 
> Andrew
> Suquamish WA
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Zoltan Kuthy
> Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:01 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Battery explosion
> 
> Just as I turned the key, booom, smoke and chaos.
> Apparently, the battery exploded under the pass. seat.  One cell leaked out
> completely, the others partially.  The plastic of the battery fell apart at
> places.
> Today, I was cleaning the whole thing up, POR 15, bedliner spray, cleaning
> ground, fitting with stainless bolt.
> Otherwise all is well.
> Zoltan
> 

----- End Original Message -----