Battery terminal short

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Paul - 29 Jun 2006 01:48 GMT

While replacing my battery tonight, a pair of pliers accidently got
knocked across the positive and negative battery terminals while both
of the battery cables were connected to their respective battery
terminals. A few sparks occured, but I managed to remove the pliers
quickly. When I started the car, all electrical devices appeared to
function properly, and the alternator warning light went out as
normal as well. Could the pliers across the terminals cause damage?

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=AB Paul =BB - 29 Jun 2006 02:14 GMT

> While replacing my battery tonight, a pair of pliers accidently got
> knocked across the positive and negative battery terminals while both
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> function properly, and the alternator warning light went out as
> normal as well. Could the pliers across the terminals cause damage?

Probably not except to the battery.

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M.M. - 29 Jun 2006 03:06 GMT

« Paul » wrote:

>>While replacing my battery tonight, a pair of pliers accidently got
>>knocked across the positive and negative battery terminals while both
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Probably not except to the battery.

And the pliers...

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Al Bundy - 29 Jun 2006 14:52 GMT

We;ve all probably done something similar through the years. The normal
reaction is usually so fast that the only consequences are the sparks
and a spike in one's blood pressure. The quick discharge won't damage
the electronics in your vehicle. If you could have made a good solid
connection between the terminals, the battery might have self
distructed in your face.

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thecombustionkid - 29 Jun 2006 15:13 GMT

> > While replacing my battery tonight, a pair of pliers accidently got
> > knocked across the positive and negative battery terminals while both
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> connection between the terminals, the battery might have self
> distructed in your face.

I have seen a battery go in someones face due to dumb people not
thinking about the battery and the battery charger....Luckly i have not
had this happen to me. I have done the infamous
wrench-across-the-battery bit. Definitely an increase in blood pressure.

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Martin Underwood - 03 Jul 2006 19:03 GMT

Al Bundy wrote in message
1151589179.570533.191940@x69g2000cwx.googlegroups.com:

>> While replacing my battery tonight, a pair of pliers accidentally got
>> knocked across the positive and negative battery terminals while both
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> solid connection between the terminals, the battery might have self
> destructed in your face.

I know someone that this happened to. Even several years later, you can see
the acid scars on his cheeks and forehead - and very obvious unsullied
patches of skin round his eyes where his glasses protected him. He showed me
the screwdriver which had caused the short. It was in two parts: the shaft
had melted through at one point. I think the problem was that the
screwdriver spot-welded itself to the terminals so although his reflexes
were fast he couldn't knock the screwdriver off the battery.

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Knifeblade_03 - 03 Jul 2006 20:24 GMT

I guess the message we all should stay with, :) , is that putting any
metallic objects, on or around the battery should be avoided. Real
problems may or can occur with that.

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Knifeblade_03

http://www.automotiveforums.com

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HLS@nospam.nix - 10 Jul 2006 17:39 GMT

> I guess the message we all should stay with, :) , is that putting any
> metallic objects, on or around the battery should be avoided. Real
> problems may or can occur with that.

A wedding ring is one of the worst. If you get that caught between
battery connections, you can lose a finger.

Lots of newbies never think about it. Lots of us old dudes forget it.

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