Quote:
Originally Posted by roverbarmy
I've seen batteries explode, covering somebody in acid due to "misplacement" of the leads. Luckily a dousing with a watering can saved the person's face and hands but his overalls and shirt literally dropped off him in shreds soon after!  |
Well… back in the 70s, my girlfriend and I used to sit in my Escort Sport by the side of Belfast Lough at night, smoking and drinking (yes, I know… it was a long time ago).
One night we suddenly realised that we’d run out of matches. This wasn’t yet in the days when motors came with cigar lighters as standard, so we had a major panic on our hands. Ever resourceful, I realised I had some welding rods in the boot, and figured I could get one of them red enough to light my smoke if I shorted it across the battery terminals
Don’t know if it was a bit of hydrogen, or the battery boiled a bit (the welding rod did turn VERY red very quickly), but there was a big bang, I guess the plastic strip which sealed the top blew off, and my face got sprayed with acid.
I was very fortunate that the sea was only a few yards away – I ran (in near-darkness) over the rocks without breaking an ankle, and stuck my face in the water.
Lucky not to end up looking like the phantom of the opera
I’m a bit more sensible in my old age
