Rolo2
Baldwin, NY
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Joined: 06/26/2004
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We have a 2010 forest river Sierra. When we started to put the slides out, the battery exploded. anyone ever hear of this and possibly why this happened? thanks.
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YC 1
Yuba City Calif.
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Joined: 01/11/2005
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Yes, it has happened to me. Batteries are full of hydrogen gas and off gassing batteries are a Hindenberg disaster waiting to happen. One spark and you now know first hand how important safety goggles are when you work around them. The battery may have been getting tired and offgassing more than normal. One little loose connection and then a heavy load such as trying to put a slide out causes an arc in the loose connection. Keep those battery terminals clean and tight.
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harold1946
Surprise Arizona
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It is usually caused by a dead short internaly. It can also happen when hydrogen gas is ignited when there is no ventilation in the battery storage area.
Harold and Linda
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tvman44
Southwest Louisiana
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A loose connection and the off gassing becomes a small bomb.
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greende
Syracuse,NY
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Very common for batteries to explode. It's one of the reasons the instructions say to put the ground side of your jumper cables to an engine or frame ground ( spark near/across the battery). Back in the 50's we had farm tractors with batteries under the seats. They would periodically short & explode on someone. One of the reasons we never replaced them once they went bad.
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Mile High
Denver, CO
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Joined: 02/05/2008
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It doesn't have to be a loose connection. At least on mine, the batteries are in the cabinet with the landing gear motor and the reversing solenoid for the slide pump, neither which are intrinsically safe (meaning they may arc under normal conditions).
Curious if your batteries were in a battery box ventilated to the exterior? They are supposed come that way from the factory, but I've even seen Dealers give them a toss if they are in the way.
If they are in the box with the lid secured it should minimize the potential, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.
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texasjayco
Texas Hill Country - west of Austin
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Wow, scarey. So, was there damage to your coach?
Mine is in a box with the lid secured with screws and vent to outside. As someone said, I would think that would minimize damage and injury.
Mark
2010 Sierra 355 QBQ
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kakampers
Fulltimer
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Another reason we will be replacing with AGM batteries...they do not outgas...
2013 Heartland Landmark Key Largo with Mor Ryde IS and disc brakes
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RoyB
King George, VA
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And guess what is in the compartment just above the pass-thru storage bays - YUP the bedroom... And the Propane tanks are on each side of the pass-thru storage in my fifth wheel... Good venting is a definite requirement to have in place... Hope no one got hurt....
Sometimes like on the travel trailer versions everything that can hurt you in sitting on the front tongue area... Might give you a couple more minutes to get out of harms way. Number one rule is learn not to burn I guess...
My Posts are IMHO based on my experiences - PM me
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Mile High
Denver, CO
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The battery box should have natural venting out the top and the bottom of the box. Hydrogen should not be allowed to build up in the cabinet.
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