Hydrogen Sulfide death in vehicle...

[LTC8K6]

I know this has got to be rare, but more and more batteries are inside the passenger compartment now.

Anyway, it looks like these folks put the wrong battery in their Porsche, and that probably killed them. Possibly supposed to be an AGM and they used a standard vented battery?

I see a lot of people online who don't want to pay for an AGM battery.

Just a warning reminder if you have a battery inside the passenger area.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...ln-dead-hydrogen-sulfide-20161004-story.html?

 

[LTC8K6]

At 100–150 ppm the olfactory nerve is paralyzed after a few inhalations, and the sense of smell disappears, often together with awareness of danger.

From Wiki...

 

[drnickriviera]

Battery under the driver seat? I cant imagine that is an easy replacement

edit, looks like the seat is on a platform and the platform hinges.

 

[lxskllr]

VW beetle batteries were under the rear seat, and I never heard of people gassing themselves. A/C on recirculate maybe?

 

[freeskier93]

Vented batteries are pretty old school... pretty much everything these days is at least valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) or sealed/maintenance free.

A VRLA can still vent but at worst it would only be a little bit of hydrogen and oxygen. I think the only way hydrogen sulfide could form is an a serious overcharge situation.

 

[PottedMeat]

looks like overcharging causes H2S to be released -

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/health_concerns

[Over-charging a lead acid battery can produce hydrogen sulfide. The gas is colorless, very poisonous, flammable and has the odor of rotten eggs. Hydrogen sulfide also occurs naturally during the breakdown of organic matter in swamps and sewers; it is present in volcanic gases, natural gas and some well waters. Being heavier than air, the gas accumulates at the bottom of poorly ventilated spaces. Although noticeable at first, the sense of smell deadens the sensation with time and potential victims may be unaware of its presence./QUOTE]

maybe they bought a (badly)reconditioned battery?

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

Possibly supposed to be an AGM and they used a standard vented battery?

That very well could be. The charging system in my car has a variable voltage alternator that can charge at up to 15.9 volts and the charging system monitors metrics about the battery state to decide how to charge it. It was designed for AGM batteries and requires them.

I think the only way hydrogen sulfide could form is an a serious overcharge situation.

Imagine if you put a lower voltage liquid filled or vented battery in and the charging system always thought it needed to be charged more than it does due to the voltage difference and potentially dropped nearly 16 volts into it?

 

[DrDoug]

That very well could be. The charging system in my car has a variable voltage alternator that can charge at up to 15.9 volts and the charging system monitors metrics about the battery state to decide how to charge it. It was designed for AGM batteries and requires them.

Imagine if you put a lower voltage liquid filled or vented battery in and the charging system always thought it needed to be charged more than it does due to the voltage difference and potentially dropped nearly 16 volts into it?

I have two lead-acid batteries in the back of my car but they are sealed off from the passenger area and vented outside. The most you want to dump in to a lead acid battery is 14.5 volts, at 16 volts that puppy would be boiling and off-gassing. With the way cars are sealed today, run the air on recirc and that's pretty much it.

Sad story, that's for sure.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

That story made my stomach hurt. What a tragedy.

 

[master_shake_]

gmc acadia, chevy traverse, buick enclave all have a vented battery under the rear passengers feet.

but there's a vent that goes through the floor.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

gmc acadia, chevy traverse, buick enclave all have a vented battery under the rear passengers feet.

but there's a vent that goes through the floor.

Sure, and it's also presumably the battery the charging system was designed for. The article says they had the wrong type of battery.

 

[master_shake_]

Sure, and it's also presumably the battery the charging system was designed for. The article says they had the wrong type of battery.

my post was to contrast this

Vented batteries are pretty old school... pretty much everything these days is at least valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) or sealed/maintenance free.

A VRLA can still vent but at worst it would only be a little bit of hydrogen and oxygen. I think the only way hydrogen sulfide could form is an a serious overcharge situation.

forgot to quote.

 

[Rifter]

If you run a vented battery inside the passenger compartment well you deserve what you get, dont cheap out on something that can kill you.

 

[master_shake_]

If you run a vented battery inside the passenger compartment well you deserve what you get, dont cheap out on something that can kill you.

unless it was installed by someone who didn't know better.

i doubt this poor lady put it in herself.

 

[hanoverphist]

wow, thats sad stuff there! H2S is nothing to fuck around with, ive seen it degrade gold pins to the point where they dropped out of connectors. also turns everything nonmetal black, and corrodes the copper as well.

hopefully the battery issue gets worked out, if its the wrong type then hopefully it isnt intentional. id feel bad for the dad if he did it to save a few bucks and didnt know the consequences.