Battery terminal short
 

While replacing my battery tonight, a pair of pliers accidently got
knocked across the positive and negative battery terminals while both
of the battery cables were connected to their respective battery
terminals. A few sparks occured, but I managed to remove the pliers
quickly. When I started the car, all electrical devices appeared to
function properly, and the alternator warning light went out as
normal as well. Could the pliers across the terminals cause damage?

Battery terminal short
 

Paul wrote:
>
> While replacing my battery tonight, a pair of pliers accidently got
> knocked across the positive and negative battery terminals while both
> of the battery cables were connected to their respective battery
> terminals. A few sparks occured, but I managed to remove the pliers
> quickly. When I started the car, all electrical devices appeared to
> function properly, and the alternator warning light went out as
> normal as well. Could the pliers across the terminals cause damage?

Probably not except to the battery.

Battery terminal short
 

« Paul » wrote:
> Paul wrote:
>
>>While replacing my battery tonight, a pair of pliers accidently got
>>knocked across the positive and negative battery terminals while both
>>of the battery cables were connected to their respective battery
>>terminals. A few sparks occured, but I managed to remove the pliers
>>quickly. When I started the car, all electrical devices appeared to
>>function properly, and the alternator warning light went out as
>>normal as well. Could the pliers across the terminals cause damage?
>
>
> Probably not except to the battery.

And the pliers...

Battery terminal short
 

Paul wrote:
> While replacing my battery tonight, a pair of pliers accidently got
> knocked across the positive and negative battery terminals while both
> of the battery cables were connected to their respective battery
> terminals. A few sparks occured, but I managed to remove the pliers
> quickly. When I started the car, all electrical devices appeared to
> function properly, and the alternator warning light went out as
> normal as well. Could the pliers across the terminals cause damage?

We;ve all probably done something similar through the years. The normal
reaction is usually so fast that the only consequences are the sparks
and a spike in one's blood pressure. The quick discharge won't damage
the electronics in your vehicle. If you could have made a good solid
connection between the terminals, the battery might have self
distructed in your face.

Battery terminal short
 

Al Bundy wrote:
> Paul wrote:
> > While replacing my battery tonight, a pair of pliers accidently got
> > knocked across the positive and negative battery terminals while both
> > of the battery cables were connected to their respective battery
> > terminals. A few sparks occured, but I managed to remove the pliers
> > quickly. When I started the car, all electrical devices appeared to
> > function properly, and the alternator warning light went out as
> > normal as well. Could the pliers across the terminals cause damage?
>
> We;ve all probably done something similar through the years. The normal
> reaction is usually so fast that the only consequences are the sparks
> and a spike in one's blood pressure. The quick discharge won't damage
> the electronics in your vehicle. If you could have made a good solid
> connection between the terminals, the battery might have self
> distructed in your face.

I have seen a battery go in someones face due to dumb people not
thinking about the battery and the battery charger....Luckly i have not
had this happen to me. I have done the infamous
wrench-across-the-battery bit. Definitely an increase in blood pressure.

Battery terminal short
 

Al Bundy wrote in message
:

> Paul wrote:
>> While replacing my battery tonight, a pair of pliers accidentally got
>> knocked across the positive and negative battery terminals while both
>> of the battery cables were connected to their respective battery
>> terminals. A few sparks occurred, but I managed to remove the pliers
>> quickly. When I started the car, all electrical devices appeared to
>> function properly, and the alternator warning light went out as
>> normal as well. Could the pliers across the terminals cause damage?
>
> We've all probably done something similar through the years. The
> normal reaction is usually so fast that the only consequences are the
> sparks and a spike in one's blood pressure. The quick discharge won't
> damage the electronics in your vehicle. If you could have made a good
> solid connection between the terminals, the battery might have self
> destructed in your face.

I know someone that this happened to. Even several years later, you can see
the acid scars on his cheeks and forehead - and very obvious unsullied
patches of skin round his eyes where his glasses protected him. He showed me
the screwdriver which had caused the short. It was in two parts: the shaft
had melted through at one point. I think the problem was that the
screwdriver spot-welded itself to the terminals so although his reflexes
were fast he couldn't knock the screwdriver off the battery.

Battery terminal short
 

"Knifeblade_03" > wrote in message
...
>
> I guess the message we all should stay with, :) , is that putting any
> metallic objects, on or around the battery should be avoided. Real
> problems may or can occur with that.

A wedding ring is one of the worst. If you get that caught between
battery connections, you can lose a finger.

Lots of newbies never think about it. Lots of us old dudes forget it.