Aux battery short blew fuse

[MCtree]

Hi All,

I just wanted to post a recent issue I had with my LC in case it helps anybody out if they run into a similar issue.

Two weeks ago I was driving on a mountain road outside of Telluride Co when my LC died on me.
The engine stopped and power steering died. I was very lucky in that I was in a spot where I was able to drift and slowly steer off of the road to a safe parking spot.
I tried restarting and it would turn over but never catch.
I opened the hood and there was a small fire on my Aux battery.
Luckily and happily, I was able to blow out the fire with a couple of breaths.

Turns out, one of the bolts on the battery terminal had worked loose and was touching both the terminal and the metal plate holding my REDARC BCDC. This bolt was eventually cut in half by the arcing. See pic below.
Which is good since that stopped the short.

I had it towed to a nearby shop and they found that this short had blown a fuse of mine. I’m sorry that I didn’t pay attention to which exact fuse. My guess is it was the fuel pump, though.

But they replaced that fuse, replaced the bolt on my battery terminal and I was on my way.
I can’t complains about the $250 bill which included towing.

I guess the moral of the story is to check your battery bolts occasionally lest they slip out and cause larger issues.
Fires in your engine are never to be taken lightly.

And now I’m contemplating getting rid of the entire aux battery setup. It’s the second issue I’ve had with it. Yes, a bolt could come out of any battery, but the aux battery just is another thing that can break. Maybe simplicity is better.

 

[UPR LC]

Hi All,

I just wanted to post a recent issue I had with my LC in case it helps anybody out if they run into a similar issue.

Two weeks ago I was driving on a mountain road outside of Telluride Co when my LC died on me.
The engine stopped and power steering died. I was very lucky in that I was in a spot where I was able to drift and slowly steer off of the road to a safe parking spot.
I tried restarting and it would turn over but never catch.
I opened the hood and there was a small fire on my Aux battery.
Luckily and happily, I was able to blow out the fire with a couple of breaths.

Turns out, one of the bolts on the battery terminal had worked loose and was touching both the terminal and the metal plate holding my REDARC BCDC. This bolt was eventually cut in half by the arcing. See pic below.
Which is good since that stopped the short.

I had it towed to a nearby shop and they found that this short had blown a fuse of mine. I’m sorry that I didn’t pay attention to which exact fuse. My guess is it was the fuel pump, though.

But they replaced that fuse, replaced the bolt on my battery terminal and I was on my way.
I can’t complains about the $250 bill which included towing.

I guess the moral of the story is to check your battery bolts occasionally lest they slip out and cause larger issues.
Fires in your engine are never to be taken lightly.

And now I’m contemplating getting rid of the entire aux battery setup. It’s the second issue I’ve had with it. Yes, a bolt could come out of any battery, but the aux battery just is another thing that can break. Maybe simplicity is better.

View attachment 3790204

I would recommend you get a battery terminal cover for the positive terminal and exposed metal lugs as a minimum. Also, maybe consider installing a piece of plastic or other insulator between your battery and the metal bracket for your BCDC, that looks close and easy to short if a wrench touches something.

I think you could make some simple updates/improvements without needing to remove the system completely.

Glad your truck is safe and no major damage happened.

 

[MCtree]

I would recommend you get a battery terminal cover for the positive terminal and exposed metal lugs as a minimum. Also, maybe consider installing a piece of plastic or other insulator between your battery and the metal bracket for your BCDC, that looks close and easy to short if a wrench touches something.

I think you could make some simple updates/improvements without needing to remove the system completely.

Glad your truck is safe and no major damage happened.

Not a bad idea. Thanks for the suggestion!

I have certainly sparked it plenty when turning a wrench on that bolt. Consequently, I have taken to putting a plastic board down there when working in that area to prevent this - but I have been remiss in thinking such precautions are only important when working on it.

That said… who knows what problem will crop up next? Like I said, having this second battery is just one more thing that can break.

But then, I like the “safety” of having that second battery. So maybe those precautions you suggest are the best response.

 

[RET2]

I would recommend you get a battery terminal cover for the positive terminal and exposed metal lugs as a minimum. Also, maybe consider installing a piece of plastic or other insulator between your battery and the metal bracket for your BCDC, that looks close and easy to short if a wrench touches something.

I think you could make some simple updates/improvements without needing to remove the system completely.

Glad your truck is safe and no major damage happened.

Small piece of 1/4" Delrin from Amazon should insure separation if relocation isn't possible

 

[rlynch356]

Something like this can be used to isolate the terminal.

https://www.amazon.com/Fastronix-Military-Battery-Terminal-Covers/dp/B01068FSJI/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2G04QSZISASR9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jkvThvuugVdguTFJI6xVA8xvz7QFeOqU7Bj2ily1MXijtL6JEqDA_O31-TpiDxkdV9sAnTQOrzPMOm8z5JqdKbW8xXwGNVdLLcp6RPkeY5qQjhf2ZylMTOeZupcW5ytcBUN-4F95RuCLqjdyZ8WO4BulEFYLiaTEdgdbZ9BzgOCqaKQY_fjiWAtUDfbFSuxmQ8iZdakXs8aS6Xyupg2eUHzL0kKLFOp8fIzuGkR89jE.PDeipmBjF7TfZHFXoGW7o0beltV8F6E87BsVYAgz4rc&dib_tag=se&keywords=battery+terminal+cover&qid=1733943347&sprefix=battery+terminal+cover%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-8

that being said I am much more in the keep the Aux battery the back of the truck, secured with stout tied downs and do not have the clamp on car battery terminals on it (most LiPo4 batteries use M8 bolts).

 

[MCtree]

Small piece of 1/4" Delron from Amazon should insure separation if relocation isn't possible

Hmmm. How would you attach the delrin?

I was thinking of covering the metal plate with electrical tape. Think that would work or would the temps in the engine bay make it slough off?

 

[MCtree]

Something like this can be used to isolate the terminal.

https://www.amazon.com/Fastronix-Military-Battery-Terminal-Covers/dp/B01068FSJI/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2G04QSZISASR9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jkvThvuugVdguTFJI6xVA8xvz7QFeOqU7Bj2ily1MXijtL6JEqDA_O31-TpiDxkdV9sAnTQOrzPMOm8z5JqdKbW8xXwGNVdLLcp6RPkeY5qQjhf2ZylMTOeZupcW5ytcBUN-4F95RuCLqjdyZ8WO4BulEFYLiaTEdgdbZ9BzgOCqaKQY_fjiWAtUDfbFSuxmQ8iZdakXs8aS6Xyupg2eUHzL0kKLFOp8fIzuGkR89jE.PDeipmBjF7TfZHFXoGW7o0beltV8F6E87BsVYAgz4rc&dib_tag=se&keywords=battery+terminal+cover&qid=1733943347&sprefix=battery+terminal+cover%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-8

that being said I am much more in the keep the Aux battery the back of the truck, secured with stout tied downs and do not have the clamp on car battery terminals on it (most LiPo4 batteries use M8 bolts).

Thanks.
I’ll get a set of these. But I still need to do something about that metal plate.

And yeah, if I had to do it again, I would just have a battery in the back.
Especially since I already keep an Ecoflow back there to power my fridge.

 

[rlynch356]

3m VHT tape can be used to attach a plastic sheet to the metal bracket... but really the terminal covers should be enough unless things are moving around or the clamps will not stay tight. you could always change the battery clamps as well.

 

[UPR LC]

Hmmm. How would you attach the delrin?

I was thinking of covering the metal plate with electrical tape. Think that would work or would the temps in the engine bay make it slough off?

It looks like there is an unused mounting hole in the mounting plate, you could always use a plastic bolt in that hole and 3M VHB tape, shouldn't go anywhere. If there is another mounting plate hole, 2 bolts through a piece of plastic should do the trick. Its not structural.

 

[bloc]

VHB is the chuck Norris of tapes.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

You got off lucky.

+1 to having covers on positive terminals. Very important, and often overlooked.

I'm also a fan of keeping things simple, and have stated many times that unless you're going on multiple multi-week trips per year, an aux battery is absolutely not necessary. Most of us are better served with a portable, lithium battery that can be used when needed, and then easily removed & stored at home.

 

[hoser]

If you look at any stock battery configuration, they will almost never put the positive terminal next to a ground/chassis in case of an impact. Sometimes it is not possible though. @UPR LC had good recommendations. The positive cover is good but a plate would be better.... or relocating the BCDC bracket.