Almost really bad.

A.Justice · Dec 27, 2023

I dropped a key ring while I was leaning over to check the status of my batteries, The keys fell out of my pocket and landed just millimeters away from bridging my main two battery terminals. Lesson learned about giving the two terminals a little more space from each other. It's a 12 volt system, so I wasn't worried it too much about terminal spacing and arcing, lesson learned though, separate those terminals.

jimf909 · Dec 27, 2023

That'd be no fun. It's interesting how sometimes things fall and avoid harm or are easily found and other times they screw something up or disappear into the abyss.

Food for thought...

https://www.amazon.com/Fastronix-Stud-Terminal-Covers-Black/dp/B07NBKWT7Q/ref=asc_df_B07NBKWT7Q/?tag=&linkCode=df0&hvadid=390627094791&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4750389866042558876&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9057480&hvtargid=pla-827622508227&mcid=155341221eb53c44835b18a9bf335fd6&ref=&adgrpid=79773693493&gclid=CjwKCAiAs6-sBhBmEiwA1Nl8s-Cc9Y4xNkRcvK17p-mXZhh9Wi4nrh87TbjCs2m9qFHvCmywpKW67RoCeFMQAvD_BwE&th=1

Danke · Dec 27, 2023

jimf909 said:
That'd be no fun.

No kidding. Probably being impossible to replace/make copies of that key if it touched the other terminal.

LakeHouse · Dec 27, 2023

jimf909 said:
That'd be no fun. It's interesting how sometimes things fall and avoid harm or are easily found and other times they screw something up or disappear into the abyss.

Food for thought...

https://www.amazon.com/Fastronix-Stud-Terminal-Covers-Black/dp/B07NBKWT7Q/ref=asc_df_B07NBKWT7Q/?tag=&linkCode=df0&hvadid=390627094791&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4750389866042558876&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9057480&hvtargid=pla-827622508227&mcid=155341221eb53c44835b18a9bf335fd6&ref=&adgrpid=79773693493&gclid=CjwKCAiAs6-sBhBmEiwA1Nl8s-Cc9Y4xNkRcvK17p-mXZhh9Wi4nrh87TbjCs2m9qFHvCmywpKW67RoCeFMQAvD_BwE&th=1

View attachment 185330

Or at the very least, Kapton tape. Not as pretty, but cheap and effective.

SparkyJJO · Dec 27, 2023

Lessonn learned- cover everything! Glad it didn't go boom.

A.Justice · Dec 29, 2023

jimf909 said:
That'd be no fun. It's interesting how sometimes things fall and avoid harm or are easily found and other times they screw something up or disappear into the abyss.

Food for thought...

https://www.amazon.com/Fastronix-Stud-Terminal-Covers-Black/dp/B07NBKWT7Q/ref=asc_df_B07NBKWT7Q/?tag=&linkCode=df0&hvadid=390627094791&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4750389866042558876&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9057480&hvtargid=pla-827622508227&mcid=155341221eb53c44835b18a9bf335fd6&ref=&adgrpid=79773693493&gclid=CjwKCAiAs6-sBhBmEiwA1Nl8s-Cc9Y4xNkRcvK17p-mXZhh9Wi4nrh87TbjCs2m9qFHvCmywpKW67RoCeFMQAvD_BwE&th=1

View attachment 185330

I definitely need to grab a set of these, thanks dude. There's very little metal exposure on my terminals, but apparently there's enough to be an issue. I have something similar on my vehicles. Next on the prime list...

Danke said:
No kidding. Probably being impossible to replace/make copies of that key if it touched the other terminal.

Luckily that key was from a spare ring, and I have another copy, but yeah, it probably would have blown it into about nothing. Those batteries will easily put out a thousand amps during a short, Even with a class t, current would run for long enough to blow that key into molten steel. I have a knife that I completely blew the tip off of working on a spa, it's scary AF when metal starts to vaporize electrically.

A.Justice · Dec 29, 2023

LakeHouse said:
Or at the very least, Kapton tape. Not as pretty, but cheap and effective.

I've got a piece of electrical tape over them now, until I'm able to get a set of terminal covers.

OffGridForGood · Dec 29, 2023

If it was me:
Drop the keys,
keys hit the terminals,
arcflash takes a bite out of the keys,
second degree burns arm,
can't get to the hospital,
key doesn't work in the car!!

Good post, reminds us of how a simple inexpensive change can be far safer.

Hedges · Dec 29, 2023

You can repurpose rubber hose as tough guards for battery cables. Unlike tape, shouldn't get punctured by metal hitting it.
Just don't use for higher voltage, and don't leave conductive materials in contact because it may not be perfect insulation.

Fire!! Never cover LiFePO4 with wood!!!

Where did you come up with the "plan" (not sure what to call it) for the 3D printer? It's just a 3D model saved in the correct format.

diysolarforum.com

A.Justice · Dec 29, 2023

@Danke

I found the pictures of the exploded knife, that was just an arc across split phase hots.

And because I like that knife so much... Cut off the tip to make a tanto.

A.Justice · Dec 29, 2023

OffGridForGood said:
If it was me:
Drop the keys,
keys hit the terminals,
arcflash takes a bite out of the keys,
second degree burns arm,
can't get to the hospital,
key doesn't work in the car!!

Good post, reminds us of how a simple inexpensive change can be far safer.

That's actually an incredibly realistic and scary situation, I never even considered that. I tend to have bad luck also, so I'm glad that didn't happen.

OffGridForGood · Dec 29, 2023

A.Justice said:
That's actually an incredibly realistic and scary situation, I never even considered that. I tend to have bad luck also, so I'm glad that didn't happen.

I should have included:
Dead short takes out main Class T fuse,
Lights all go out,
Seeing stars from the arc flash,
Trying to find the keys in the dark,
Burn fingers picking up red hot keys,
...Murphy was an optimist!

OffGridForGood · Dec 29, 2023

I never tried it, but have wondered about using plasti-dip liquid = that stuff for tool handles.
I was thinking to get black and red, and then I can colour code as well as protect 'stuff'. Especially for awkward shapes.
I have seen online this stuff can be painted onto things that you can't actually dip into the can, and I think you could remove it when needed as well.

42OhmsPA · Dec 29, 2023

If you have a 3D printer you could easily scale these to fit the area your working with.

LiFePO4 Battery Caps by nate_syd

Caps to fit over the terminals of ~280Ah LiFePO4 Cells - they just sit on top & prevent shorts.

www.thingiverse.com

Something like this might work without any modifications.

AGM battery terminal cap 8mm by Goodmedalist

Insulation cap for AGM 8mm screw-type battery terminals. Printed upside-down without supports in flexible filament. There is a cut-out for the lug to pass through it. Increase the safety of your battery bank and help to prevent electrocution through touching or dropping a spanner or other tool...

www.thingiverse.com

I should go extrude some filament the suns coming out ?

Edit speliing

LakeHouse · Dec 29, 2023

OffGridForGood said:
I never tried it, but have wondered about using plasti-dip liquid = that stuff for tool handles.
I was thinking to get black and red, and then I can colour code as well as protect 'stuff'. Especially for awkward shapes.
I have seen online this stuff can be painted onto things that you can't actually dip into the can, and I think you could remove it when needed as well.

Liquid electrical tape comes in red and black, I think.
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/permatex-liquid-electrical-tape-118-ml-0388015p.html

justgary · Dec 29, 2023

A.Justice

Swears he didn't start that fire.

"Honest, it wasn't me! It was my keys!"

rustythorn · Dec 30, 2023

any good/cheap large lug covers? [eg 1/0, 2/0] when i built my homemade EVs i cut up an old bicycle tire tube into rectangles and zip tied them on as a cover flap over the lug but it would be nice to find a better solution

S Davis · Dec 30, 2023

A little tape takes no time and the amount of safety it adds is huge.

Hedges · Dec 30, 2023

rustythorn said:
any good/cheap large lug covers? [eg 1/0, 2/0] when i built my homemade EVs i cut up an old bicycle tire tube into rectangles and zip tied them on as a cover flap over the lug but it would be nice to find a better solution