John_F wrote:
Well lets say you are a hot shot mechanic and disconnect the hot side
of the battery first with your handy dandy metallic wrench. Some
sweet young thing walks by and distracts you for an instant and the
wrench handle contacts the battery box or some other part of the
airframe. There will be a big flash as a couple of thousand amps
flows in the wrench handle. A hole will appear in the aluminum
airframe or battery box where the wrench contacted it . This is bad
but what happens next is worse. The flash is next to a battery vent
cap and the O2 and H2 gas inside the battery ignite and blow the top
off of the battery spraying battery acid in your eyes and all over
the airplane.
Need I say more?
John

On Mon, 06 Dec 2004 16:48:03 GMT, zatatime wrote:

On Mon, 6 Dec 2004 06:15:07 +0000 (UTC), David Lesher
wrote:

Or pull the alternator [disconnect the battery ground FIRST, please..]


Why is this important? What will happen if you don't disconnect the
ground first?

Also thanks for the link on understanding the alternator!

z

It happens all the time. Most people have no appreciation for how much
energy you get out of a shorted battery.

I know of two neighbors in the block who've blown up their car batteries.

I taught generator (as in skid mounted power) repair for a while in the
Army and got real tired of hauling nimrods who ignored the warning
down to the aid station and filling out accident paperwork.

A good friend who knows better but thought he could get away with a quickie
on his motorcyle welded his watch band across the battery and frame and got
a 3rd degree burn half way around his wrist.

A guy my wife works with was out of work for a week to heal after a "simple"
fix on his car without disconnecting the battery.

While I was working in an avionics shop, a newbie melted a hole in the cowl
of a Cessna. Battery didn't blow on that one but the hole really ****ed off
the owners (shop and A/C).

I've got more if anyone isn't convinced by now.

--
Jim Pennino

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