Battery handles

James-Alex

James-Alex

Free Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2020
Posts
567
Likes collected
1,905
Location
Bath. Somerset
Funster No
76,519
MH
Autotrail excel 640G
Hi folks! Have you often struggled to pull your batteries out to charge them externally? It’s something that I’ve struggled with a while so designed a handle.

If anyone struggled let me know and will make one for you too...
0B1712ED-3417-476C-99BC-BE58514DC8E4.jpeg
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
What worries me most, is that some folk will try this..........especially some of the member here🤪


......they walk amongst us you know😳
 
Upvote 0
James-Alex said:
Hi folks! Have you often struggled to pull your batteries out to charge them externally? It’s something that I’ve struggled with a while so designed a handle.

If anyone struggled let me know and will make one for you too...
View attachment 439497
Click to expand...
James-Alex
Seriously
Are you prepared for the consequences of someone copying that ?
 
Upvote 0
I remember my Dad telling about his car in the 1950's, one of the few in the village that would reliably start on the battery rather than hand cranking. Needed to lift the battery so wrapped insulated flex around the terminals and heaved. Of course halfway out the rubber cut through and the cable quickly became a heater, he managed to get the battery out and on the ground then sat there picking burnt rubber off his fingers.

I am sure the OP has used an insulating plastic strap just backed up with two shorts bits of metal.
 
Upvote 0
Nice to see all the positive responses. I would have thought that this design would have generated negative comments! 😜
 
Upvote 0
Maybe it should be put on Jim’s AGM to see if we can get a motorhome approved design
 
Upvote 0
68c said:
I remember my Dad telling about his car in the 1950's, one of the few in the village that would reliably start on the battery rather than hand cranking. Needed to lift the battery so wrapped insulated flex around the terminals and heaved. Of course halfway out the rubber cut through and the cable quickly became a heater, he managed to get the battery out and on the ground then sat there picking burnt rubber off his fingers.

I am sure the OP has used an insulating plastic strap just backed up with two shorts bits of metal.
Click to expand...
Ah yes but this one is not rubber coated so should be OK
 
Upvote 0
Ukeman said:
Why so much resistance to a blokes good idea, I arse ?
Click to expand...
Just encase not everyone realises its a wind up
You will short out the batterie
At best you will get a few sparks and realise somethings wrong very quickly
Worst case the batterie explodes and blinds you
Having spent a few years on the tools I witness more than one explode due to a dead short.
 
Upvote 0
Garfields said:
Just encase not everyone realises its a wind up
You will short out the batterie
At best you will get a few sparks and realise somethings wrong very quickly
Worst case the batterie explodes and blinds you
Having spent a few years on the tools I witness more than one explode due to a dead short.
Click to expand...
This is what really happens:

"A while back there was a thread about batteries exploding due to ignition of the hydrogen/oxygen mix produced when they're on charge. The discussion centred around the care needed and I was one who contributed. Well ........................... this afternoon I was doing some routine maintenance on the van & decided to top up my batteries. They're under the drivers seat and I've found that by unbolting it from the base box & tipping it onto the steering wheel there's nearly enough room to access the cell caps. As an aside my Banner batteries need a broad & thick (14x1mm) blade to unscrew the caps so there was a delay whilst I made one. They're very tightly screwed down.

Anyway with all the caps released on the first battery I pushed the battery clamp out of the way so I could top them up. The clamp made contact with the +ve post of the battery which sparked & ignited the gas in the nearest two cells. The explosion took out half of the left wall of the battery and part of the top cover that's over the two cells nearest the +ve post that sparked. The battery clamp is a strip of angle aluminium and near one end is a stud used as a common earth point - hence the spark.

I caught most of the spray-back on my chest, face, and glasses, which elicited a race to the kitchen sink removing clothing as I went. I used a spray bottle of bicarb solution to find & neutralise any acid on the carpet & upholstery and so far all seems good - I found very little. I'm OK, the van is OK, I only need a battery, so luck was on my side.

So I now have first-hand knowledge of how to do it in case anyone else wants a go. I can confirm that all it takes is a confined space, an idiot, a piece of metal, and total disregard of the essential safety precautions. Do as I say - not as I do!"
 
Upvote 0

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top