What happens if you short circuit a car battery

Email Address: you will also be emailed a Cc: [carbon copy] of this message. The route has been tried in the past by the likes of John Dunne but the overhanging groove held out until May when Craig made the first Short-circuited car battery. New Topic Reply to Topic. This topic has been archived, and won't accept reply postings. Matthew B 01 Mar Anybody ever had the misfortune to short circuit their car battery? Stopped to help somebody jumpstart on the way into Glen Clova last week, and didn't notice they had the leads the wrong way round at their end until plumes of smoke were rising from the plastic terminal covers about a minute.

Yesterday, car was dead as a dodo wouldn't even operate the central locking , but it had gotten us back okay from Glen Clova that evening. Is it likely to just be the battery that's gone some kind of delayed chemical reaction, as it started okay that same day?

I would have thought if it was something like the engine manangement or a fuse, that it would have been dead immediately, not a few days later? In reply to Matthew B: Connecting the jump leads to another car correctly or incorrectly will not Short circuit the battery, drain it, possibly. I would have expected imediate problems though. Have you checked the condition of your battery? Is it possible that it has drained and it is just coincidence that it is a couple of days since helping jump start someone elses car?

The easy way to tell if you have short circuited a healthy car battery is the destruction, of either the short circuit Wire, screwdriver, etc or the battery. Just a couple of thoughts. Cheers Jonathan. I'm pretty sure it is practically short circuiting them though, as you're effectively hooking them up in series with only the internal resistance of the batteries which I would think is pretty low for a car battery?

Next time it is a good idea to add a fuse as close as possible to the battery terminal, and use a fuse that not just blows when the wires already red hot, use one which is rated for the application. Short circuits not only happen mechanically by accidents, anything wrong can happen in the circuit you experimenting with. This is especially true in prototyping.

It is also a good safety practice to always disconnect any power if you leave the area. The sole exception is long-term testing, but that should be done after thorough pre-testing and already thought out and operational safety systems. The bigger the power you working with the importace and complexity, cost Typical 12 volt lead-acid car batteries can be discharged to about 9 volts and be recharged, so you're in the clear.

Discharging a lead-acid car battery below 9 volts reduces the battery's capacity but it doesn't cause explosion or anything dangerous like that.

Cars pulls hundreds of amps and their batteries aren't exploding. I'm guessing your wires didn't make very good contact otherwise they would have welded together. This can be dangerous and you should be careful of this.

If the wire is thick enough, it will weld and stick. If it is thinner, it will weld and then melt away, like a fuse. Well, a such wire can draw at most 50 amps for two or three seconds before melting, but a car starter can draw from 90 to amps, depending of the type, so for me the only risk is that molten metal touches the battery case and penetrates the battery, making an internal short circuit.

Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group. Create a free Team What is Teams? Learn more. Ask Question. Asked 5 years, 3 months ago. Active 1 year, 6 months ago. Due to the increased electrical demands on the battery, little warning is given before failure. Pre-emptive battery replacement can help eliminate many of the costs and problems associated with a flat or end of life battery.

Before testing a battery, it is important that the battery is fully charged. Even a slightly discharged battery can give a false reading and deem the battery faulty when all that is required is a recharge.

There are many different types of testing equipment available. A digital battery tester is the preferred option as they are safe, easy to use and offer a quick diagnosis of the condition of the battery. Fixed and adjustable load testers, voltmeters, hydrometers and discharge testers can also be used, however correct training is required prior to using any of these testers to prevent personal injury or damage to the vehicle.

Adjustable load testers are a reliable method to determine the starting capacity of a battery as the test applies a real load similar to when cranking the engine.

This load however does create a spark risk if leads are connected to corroded or loose terminals. If the voltage reads above 9. The standard interpretation of the result is that if, at the end of the 15 second test, the loaded voltage reading is between 9. If the result is under 9. Discharge testers are a simple method to check the capacity of a battery and are commonly carried out on Deep Cycle batteries.

The tester works by discharging the battery at a pre-set current Amps until it drops to a pre- set disconnect voltage. The biggest concern with this type of tester is the time it takes to perform the test. As an example, if you were testing a Ah Ampere Hour battery at 5 Amps, it could take up to 20 hours to complete the test. Charging a lead acid battery is the process of replacing the energy removed during discharge, plus EXTRA to compensate for any charging inefficiencies.

The amount of energy necessary for complete recharge depends on the depth of discharge, rate of recharge and temperature. Before attempting to charge a battery with an external battery charger, it is important to be aware of the safety precautions when charging batteries and follow the instructions outlined by the charger manufacturer.

Dangerous explosive gases are generated during the charging process that can be ignited by a variety of sources including, sparks, naked flames and static electricity. It is highly recommended to wear PPE Personal Protection Equipment including safety glasses, chemical resistant gloves and overalls. Lead acid batteries should be charged in 3 stages; constant current boost , constant voltage absorption and float charge.

When choosing a battery charger, it is important to select a charger that delivers the specified charging voltage and current to suit the battery type. Flooded, Absorbed Glass Mat AGM and Gel battery types require different charging specifications to provide optimum performance and service life. Monitoring battery voltage during charging is extremely important to reduce the risk of overcharging and to check the progress of the battery during recharge.

Always keep inside the parameters outlined in the below table. Failure to do so can result in permanent damage to the battery.

The above specifications are for 12 volt lead acid batteries. When charging 6 volt batteries, half the voltage specifications provided. In addition to following the battery charging voltage guidelines, selecting the correct charging current Amps for the battery size is crucial to provide performance and service life. For example if you want to charge a Ah battery, the recommended charger current for this battery would be 10 Amps.

Slow charging is the best way to recharge a lead acid battery. Fast charging a lead acid battery by increasing the recommended amperes may cause undue stress and shorten battery life. Always use an approved battery clamp to limit vibration. Century batteries are built tough, using robust internal components to resist damage through abrasion and puncture from vehicle vibration.

Ensure your battery is properly tested before replacing a battery. A slow starting engine is sometimes an indication. Equally, if an engine area becomes overheated in very hot weather and the battery is under strain from air conditioners it may fail. Regular battery checks are always advised. Get more out of your marine battery with a Century battery charger and maintainer. Like us on Facebook to check out the latest news, events, battery tips and more from Century Batteries.

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