A battery under normal conditions gives off a very small amount
of Hydrogen. Under strain, or a very heavy charge, a battery is a
bomb waiting for a spark to set it off. This is why jump starting
a car is very dangerous. It wonder why more people aren't killed
by these activities. 
 
            Eric                   86-VW4x4
            vw4x4@fyi.net          72-240z
            Pittsburgh, PA USA     1936-Chrysler
   

On Sat, 8 May 1999, [iso-8859-1] Bj�rn Ratjen wrote:

> Something to ponder:
> 
> My 78 Bus has recently been reactivated and was used for some trips and as
> an extra vehicle while my Syncro's rear end was being repaired. We have two
> batteries in the rear engine compartment, separated by a manual switch.
> (The idea is that you always have enough power to start even when you are
> camping for a longer period of time.) The main battery was deteriorating
> and did not hold the charge very well. On my son's recent trip it exploded!
> Pieces of the pattery housing were all across the engine compartment and
> acid had sprayed all over the place too. When we took the battery out you
> could see all the warped interior plates. All cells have been shattered and
> most of the lid of the battery as well as the side walls are splintered
> off. It must have been quite a violent combustion. 
> 
> The question is how could that have happened?
> 
> The battery was a black aftermarket battery sold under the label of CalVan.
> I am not sure about its age, I guess about 5 years.
> 
> My concerns is vanagon related because our batteries are mounted under the
> front seats. I have never seen such a violent destruction of a battery and
> I sure do not want to have it in the interior of the car.
> 
> Any thoughts?
> 
> Bj�rn
> 
> Bj�rn Ratjen, Ph.D.
> Mill Bay, B.C.
> phone/fax (250) 743-7575
>