If you've looked at the different articles on our site, you know two things. The first is that it is a very important piece and yet, it needs to be changed fairly regularly.
You also know that a good maintenance allows to push back this limit, but that despite all the efforts you can put in to make sure that you save as much life as possible, you may still have problems.
By the way, if you landed on this article, it is because you are currently having big problems. Indeed, you have an exploding motorcycle battery and you find yourself in an unprecedented situation to say the least.
A rare situation, but not impossible and if you ever find yourself in it, you better know how to go about it to protect yourself and your motorcycle. But don't panic, we'll help you.
Indeed, in this article, we will guide you step by step on the procedure to follow to react well when you have a motorcycle battery that explodes in order to minimize the risks and damage as much as possible.
Step 1: get to safety with an exploding motorcycle battery
An exploding motorcycle battery causes damage. But if the property damage is replaceable, there is one thing that isn't, you! So the first thing to do is to get to safety.
Turn off the ignition or disconnect the charger from an exploding motorcycle battery. Thus, you will ensure that it is no longer requested, which will subsequently prevent you from making the problem worse.
Then, if ever acid has been sprayed on you, rinse thoroughly with water and in case of reaction, do not hesitate to call 15 for information or to go directly to the emergency room.
This is for example the case of a projection in the eyes which could be catastrophic. If this happens, rinse with plenty of water and then go to the emergency room as quickly as possible for treatment.
If ever you haven't been thrown, you can tackle the problem, but then again, you need three things before you get going. Gloves to protect your hands, protective glasses, a filter mask and ventilate the room as much as possible.
As you can imagine, acid fumes are not necessarily good for your lungs, so you need to ventilate the room so they can escape instead of ruining your health.
Step 2: clean the battery acid on your motorcycle
The second thing to do when you have an exploding motorcycle battery after removing all power and protecting yourself is to try to limit the damage caused by the acid.
Whether on your motorcycle or in your home, acid is, as its name suggests, corrosive. Therefore, it can cause great damage if you ever let it. It is therefore necessary to stop its operation immediately.
For that, it is necessary to make go up what one calls the PH with the reverse of an acid product, which one calls a basic product. Among this category, we find for example soda which is found in many household products.
Sodium bicarbonate works too. As long as you have one of these basic products, it will need to be applied to helping tasks. This will bring up the PH. Then rinse thoroughly with water.
If you do it quickly, the acid shouldn't have time to do too much damage. However, be prepared that it may have attacked the paint on your motorcycle and need to be repainted.
Step 3: a regulator fault can be the cause of an exploding motorcycle battery
Now that all danger is over after you've had an exploding motorcycle battery and you've done your best to limit the damage, it's obviously important to find the cause.
Indeed, a battery that explodes is unusual and in general it is due to too much voltage which inflates the battery and which eventually ended up exploding it. This overvoltage may be due to the regulator.
Indeed, it is this part which will be responsible for controlling this tension in your motorcycle and if it ever came to let go, there would be no more control. The battery then inflated and eventually exploded under pressure.
Step 4: remember to check the operation of your charger
The second reason that could explain why you have an exploding motorcycle battery is the charger. Indeed, it is supposed to give a continuous and regular flow to recharge your battery.
Except that if ever this is not the case, your battery may start to swell and you know the rest. By the way, speaking of a swelling battery, never pierce it otherwise you will explode it.
Indeed, the pressurized gas will take advantage of this small hole to try to escape and you will end up with battery acid in your face, which as we have seen recently is dangerous for your health. Therefore, just dispose of the battery in an approved center such as a recycling center.
In summary, when you have an exploding motorcycle battery, you must:
- Move away from it to avoid projections
- Contact the 15 and rinse thoroughly with water if there is any projection.
- Equip yourself with gloves, goggles and mask
- Clean the projection areas of your motorcycle or your home using baking soda
- Buy a new battery
- Test that the regulator is functioning correctly
- Test that your charger is working properly
Know your motorcycle batteries inside out
If you are not particularly versed in motorcycle batteries, it can be beneficial to know at least how it works and for that we have established a complete guide for you on another article.
On it you will find not only how a motorcycle battery works, the different types that you can find in the trade, but also buying advice. In short, enough to be knowledgeable on the subject!
