By: Monte Leeper
Q. I have a problem that also affects many unaware homeowners who, like
Myself, charge and recharge car batteries at home for myself and for other
car, motorcycle, truck and landscape equipment owners.
As a homeowner, I would like to continue charging and recharging storage batteries continuously but want to be cautious, as questionable and new batteries are said to produce hydrogen sulfide, which easily and quickly accumulates in a confined area.
The hydrogen sulfide is said to be easily inflammable and batteries can
easily spark internally, igniting the hydrogen sulfide in the battery, the
flame of which can ignite the easily combustible hydrogen sulfide gas in my
enclosed recharging area. I am wondering if charging up to ten batteries
steadily, if one exploding battery can cause other recharging batteries to
explode as well. I noted the printed warnings on all storage batteries:
"Explosive gases ... can cause blindness, injury, death and ... property
damage as well."
Should I, and other property owners, refrain from charging
and recharging batteries at home? I wish to point out that I do not have
extra ventilation, but my basement is slightly drafty. I hope you can
respond on this, as I am certain other property owners read your column.
A. You remind me of the guy in a small Michigan town who decided it was a
clever idea to warm the gas before putting it into his cold car's gas tank
one winter. He put the fuel in a saucepan on his gas stove and "Kablooie,"
no more kitchen, no more house, no more car, no more man from a small town in
Michigan.
You really are taking quite a chance charging batteries in a semi- or unventilated area. It is a good thing (maybe) that you wrote me instead of the Fire Marshal's office, since I cannot arrest you or issue violations. Please follow the directions on the battery charger(s) and the batteries, for your own safety. An exploding battery is highly volatile and can cause the other batteries to ignite, explode and send acids and dangerous gases throughout the house. Find some other way to get a charge out of helping others, or move the whole project to a free-standing, well-ventilated building that does not have flammable liquids, gas-powered vehicles or combustibles nearby. You will not regret it, and you won't make the six o'clock news.
