Found out a battery "vented" on me

[godale03]

I took a couple of packs to the LHS this weekend to get some help rewiring the packs so that they would fit in the Emaxx a bit better. I didn't do the work, but when I picked the batteries up he told me that one of the batteries had vented. What does this mean? He said he cleaned the cell up and tested the voltage and all seemed ok. Should I be concerned?

Tom

 

[Karl M]

How would he know it vented? Was there some sort of residue, and wouldn't that mean leak? I don't know if I would trust it, but then again I really haven't done my homework on batteries.

Does this help? http://www.batteryuniversity.com/print-partone-9.htm

 

[FastEddy]

Venting is when a battery while being charged or discharged will "Vent" gas from the inside. As the battery is being actively used (charged or discharged) it builds up gas on the inside. If the pressure becomes to great, the battery will vent the gas. Its not necessarily a bad thing. As a battery peaks you can hear small little pops or a faint bubbling sound.

If it starts spewing acid all over the place its a different story.

I had my first ever battery pack issue this weekend. From the beginning of the race I didn't have the power I thought I should. As the race went on my throttle response got flat and I started loosing power fast on the last lap or two. After the race I looked at the car and it was smoking. Rob grabbed the temp gun and hit the battery's with it cell by cell. 5 of the 6 were 120 or so (Normal after a race) and the middle cell was well over that. I forget what it was but I believe it went well over 300. It melted the solder right off the battery bars and the shoe goo was dripping off the pack.

Back to the point. it had acid all over it. That kind of venting is not normal.
A 4200 should peak out and not go over 140.

 

[godale03]

Thanks for the info guys. Ed, I feel a bit better about this now. I am also a little wiser as well. Thank you.

Hey Ed, I know I have probably asked this question before... but how exactly do you care for your batteries? To be completly honest with you, I am sure I am not doing all I should. I store my batteries in a battery box, seperate from each other in a cool dry place, but other than that they are in the same condition that they left the track in... in various stages of charge/discharge. I know this may seem like a cop out, but when the race day is over, I am usually needed to start filling my domestic duties. Meaning I come home, unload the truck, and I am off to be a husband and father. I have never had the chance to cycle my packs, and to be honest I am not sure how that feature of my charger works yet! LOL I am just not able to devote the time I am sure it takes to properly care for my packs. I am sure I am not the only one who has kids and a wife at home either. I guess I was just wondering if there is a system for guys like me that don't seem to ever get the time to "Do it by the book"

Tom

 

[FastEddy]

I posted a great link a few weeks back. Ill dig it up.


Edit:
Look up!
Its a sticky in the Electric Talk forum.
https://www.rcnitrotalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48879

 

[godale03]

I posted a great link a few weeks back. Ill dig it up.


Edit:
Look up!
Its a sticky in the Electric Talk forum.
https://www.rcnitrotalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48879

If it were a snake it would have bit me.