Reasons my car is better than yours #682: The battery explodes

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee) 06/16/2020 at 16:11 • Filed to: None

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Wait, no, that came out wrong. What I mean to say is that that black tumor on the positive terminal there is an explosive battery quick disconnect . In the event of an accident, a tiny explosive charge immediately severs the high power circuits to the alternator and starter. This is done to reduce the likelihood of a fire if the crash shorts one of them out. Low power systems like the hazards and car phone are kept online so they can be used in the immediate aftermath. The whole sequence takes 30 milliseconds

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 06/16/2020 at 16:30

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All of which potentially makes a small fender bender much more irritating. Someone needs to introduce the designer to the concept of why breakers are better than fuses.

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 06/16/2020 at 16:32

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This is interesting. Is BMW first to this tech or did another manufacturer come to market first?

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 06/16/2020 at 16:34

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Many Fords have (or had) an impact-triggered breaker at  the fuel pump for similar reasons. But--key point--you could just reset those. Didn’t need to replace parts.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 06/16/2020 at 16:35

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I think it only deploys if there's an airbag deployment, in which case there's already gonna be a substantial refit of the car if not a complete totalling

MM54 > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 06/16/2020 at 16:35

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To be fair, for a safety system you want a fuse since they will interrupt power much, much faster than a breaker (which needs time to heat up, though still on the order of milliseconds ). Still a pain in the ass if it goes off when it oughtn’t, though.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 06/16/2020 at 16:37

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BMW's been using it since the mid 90's

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 06/16/2020 at 17:25

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That’s better at least.

Future next gen S2000 owner > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 06/16/2020 at 18:14

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I prefer my car to finish me off the job in the event that I attempt to end its life.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 06/16/2020 at 18:42

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On the subject of exploding BMW batteries I’m recalling  my last BMW which, for reasons inexplicable, had a bright red cable coming off of the negative terminal on the battery...

facw > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 06/16/2020 at 19:28

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Meanwhile I have a UPS that does actually explode batteries once in a while. I don’t actually here them go off, but I notice it not working in failure, pull the battery, and find that the battery casing has been violently blown open . I’m not sure if it’s defective, but I have another very similar one which doesn’t see battery failures like that.

HammerheadFistpunch > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 06/17/2020 at 20:56

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and only ~$600 to replace