Battery Spill Kit Contents

[Bill_B]

The kit is mentioned in several places and there are a few clues about suitable contents. I'm sure baking soda, rubber gloves are in there. Let's hear about what else would make sense to have quickly at hand in case of battery case fracture.

[Alan Anderson]

An appropriately large and sturdy ziplock bag.

[DampRobot]

I've heard my electronics friends joke many times that despite all the fuss FIRST makes about battery spills, they essentially never happen.

[CastleBravo]

Originally Posted by DampRobot

I've heard my electronics friends joke many times that despite all the fuss FIRST makes about battery spills, they essentially never happen.

Happened to us... so even if it's unlikely, you should still be prepared.

[Dale(294engr]]

Originally Posted by DampRobot

I've heard my electronics friends joke many times that despite all the fuss FIRST makes about battery spills, they essentially never happen.

Never is perhaps a poor choice of words. Rare yes, Never no!

I've been involved with FIRST teams, competitions and workshops 15 years.

*** SAFETY FIRST ***

1. Most frequent problem is SHORTED Battery terminals or cables bypassing 120A circuit breaker via robot frame or mechanism pinch cut thru taped terminals or heavy wire insulation, causing local &internal overheating =smoke
ref: Team 362 at ATL CMP a few years ago.

2. Battery pierced by sharp conductive on-board or another robots mechanism (aluminum/steel) bypassing batteries over-current protection plus acid leak

Battery sides are very thin, pierced easily, shorted cell bypasses cell to cell fusible link creating instant local heating up to ~1000 amps, enough to melt plastic case and metal that pierced it -- aluminium, copper & Pb.

Like solder, if molten metal spews on human skin, it sticks.

unfortunately It won't shake off!!! it is pretty much an instant bond.

Biggest molten threat is working in pit, competition queue line & robot shop:
screwdriver or other metal tool falls across battery terminals:
keep both Batt term mtg's fully covered even double insulated, always wear safety glasses. Eyes are especially vulnerable & irreplaceable

Caution:
Wiping only smears molten metal over a larger skin area. Permanent scarring is unavoidable. Molten metal will penetrate most common clothing instantly.

Possible additions to emergency kit:
Thicker non synthetics hold up best like welding gloves & aprons
Heavy sturdy cloth to wrap battery especially if it's hot, even if it's not
Heavy duty Fireplace log scissors to handle hot battery at safer distance
Burn ointment (heat & neutralize acid), impact activated coolant packs

#1 occurs when robots get vertical (ref: this years ramp), or tumble and battery bounces around inside due to ineffective battery straps. Velcro should NEVER be used as sole heavy battery support. Velcro is better used to hold a rigid 3 point Z-shaped material (top part overlaps battery edge, one could be the rectangular block in this years kit, but needs supplemented with hard overlapping case stops to prevent impacts from popping battery up off block breaking 1/2"W Velcro loose from full weight + leverage.

Best strap and one I recommend is snap action web belt such as used on grocery carts for child restraint, back packs, etc. 2 straps =best (safe 2nd)

Smoking, Pierced, Leaking SLA Battery Summary:
Fear here is good. No one wants or should approach a smoking Batt situation.
Heated acid contents even bound in AGM, Absorbed Glass Mat still represent great danger. (AGM uses less liquid acid & less free than flooded liquid types)

Knowing a pressure valve should vent &/or fusible Pb cell interconnects should melt open around 800-1000A (if short lasts long enough) should not lead to a false sense of confidence that such a Batt is SAFE or adequately "protected".

An internally shorted fully charged battery could remain hot a long time.

Immersion in tub or flush with water &treating diluted solution may be safest
i.e. treat cause of heating most quickly (acid dilution and cooling)

[colin340]

Originally Posted by DampRobot

I've heard my electronics friends joke many times that despite all the fuss FIRST makes about battery spills, they essentially never happen.

yes yes they do get a battery analyzer or ask folks down to your local "NA-PA" ( that's how we say it in oswego)

[Ether]

Originally Posted by DampRobot

I've heard my electronics friends joke many times that despite all the fuss FIRST makes about battery spills, they essentially never happen.

Never say never.

[vhcook]

I'd also recommend an apron and shoe covers. Tyvek-coated polyethelene single-use products should do. Generally the cleanup process for the neutralized material is messy (particularly if you are using loose baking soda as the neutralizing agent) and you really don't want to get any of it on your clothes or shoes.

I work with large quantities of a higher capacity version of this type of battery, and while spills are quite rare, being prepared for immediate action if one occurs is very important.

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by Ether

Never say never.

Came here to say the same thing. I've seen spills, and I've also seen the intensely-scary bulging battery more times than I'd like. Even small bulges are concerning, but if you're able to watch the plastic bubble out rapidly from ~10ft away, it's pretty nerve-racking to be one of one the volunteers that need to hold the crowd back until facilities gets there. (Been there, done that - three times.)

What we did to get it safely out of the arena was place it in one of those paint buckets (with a lid) and bring it someplace safe- in our event's case, out to the loading dock so the University's facilities staff could handle it. I recommend keeping a bucket like that handy somewhere in your pit just in case you start to see some bulging. It is not a permanent fix but it at least keeps the contents of the battery from going too far should the casing fail.

Be careful, be mindful, keep an eye on your batteries. If something seems off, don't use it or handle it. Put it in a safe container, mark it off, and talk to someone about it immediately.

[philso]

Originally Posted by bennyd

I would put a small shovel or sturdy broom in my spill kit for those bigger spills. I would also use a professional absorbent product rather than baking soda. I heard SpillFix is better for battery acid spills than some other absorbents but I haven’t had a chance to try it yet myself.

The SpillFix product may be better but the baking soda is more available for most teams. The best one for neutralizing the battery acid is the one you have on hand at the time.

Originally Posted by Ether

Never say never.

Our battery cabinet was knocked over at a scrimmage and several batteries fell out and hit the concrete floor. No visible damage was found at the time. Weeks later, we found some batteries leaking.

[tsaksa]

And place it all in a Tupperware or similar hard plastic container large enough to hold the battery in the bag and any contaminated baking soda or similar consumables for secondary containment for transport.

[boris1020]

Your Battery Disaster Pack should be a medium-sized plastic bin, the thicker the better. Inside that bin should be a pair of rubber gloves, paper towels (these don't necessarily have to be stored in the bin) and a box of baking soda. Should your battery spill, put on the gloves and move the battery to the bin. Pour baking soda on the spilled fluids and on the inside of the bin to absorb the leaking fluids. Once soda-tized, the acid will be in two non-caustic components (I don't know what they are, I just know they're non-caustic) and can be cleaned up with the paper towels. Go safety!

[cgmv123]

You should also have a plan to dispose of a leaky/deformed battery, since they shouldn't go in the trash.

[Bill_B]

Originally Posted by cgmv123

You should also have a plan to dispose of a leaky/deformed battery, since they shouldn't go in the trash.

In a tournament setting, whom should be contacted for such disposal? If it's my own shop, it's clearly my problem, but I suspect that there must be a structure in place at tournaments to handle these situations.

I expect to combine and edit the advice given here, print it, and paste a copy inside the lid of that battery-containing plastic box. Is one box of baking soda enough?

[cgmv123]

Originally Posted by Bill_B

In a tournament setting, whom should be contacted for such disposal? If it's my own shop, it's clearly my problem, but I suspect that there must be a structure in place at tournaments to handle these situations.

I imagine Pit Admin would know what to do.