Safety information about lead acid batteries

We have one lead acid battery in stock, the Rechargeable 12V Wet Battery, and if you have this battery, or one like this, then you should read this this safety information.

Lead acids batteries like this are perfect for electric fencing but are also capable of delivering an electric charge at a very high rate. For this reason, they do need to be handled with some caution. These batteries release gases when they are charging – hydrogen (very flammable and easily ignited) and oxygen (supports combustion), which can result in an explosion if not charged properly.

1. The battery can explode if it is subject to an overcharge ie left on charge even though the batter is full. Once the battery is fully charged, the electrical energy fed by the charger, which is supposed to be converted to chemical energy, starts to convert into heat energy. The hydrogen gas generated builds up pressure under the vent plugs which can cause them to pop up or builds enough pressure to explode the battery.
2. The battery can explode if an improper charger is used to charge the battery. When a battery is connected to a charger which is meant for a larger capacity battery, the charger starts charging the battery at a higher than recommended current. Our battery is a 75-amp hour(ah) battery, so make sure your charger does not exceed that ah. If you do, not only will the battery life be affected, but excess heat could cause an explosion. 
3. The battery can explode if sources of static electricity cause a spark close to the battery. Also naked flames or sparks of any kind near batteries whilst batteries are on charge can cause a fire or explosion due to the highly flammable hydrogen and also the oxygen that aids combustion. For this reason, it is also recommended that cigarettes should not be smoked near to where batteries are on charge.
4. The battery can explode if the batteries are on charge in an enclosed space or a room with poor ventilation due to the gasses it gives off. The hydrogen and oxygen gases do combine to form water, but not fully. If the hydrogen gas is produced to such an extent that the concentration of hydrogen gas is greater than 4% it can cause an explosion of the battery. Hence batteries should be charged in a place where the gasses can escape.
5. The battery can explode if the vent holes of the vent plugs are clogged due to battery being kept or used in a dusty/dirty environment. The batteries having such clogged vent holes will not allow gases to escape. This will cause a pressure build up which could lead to an explosion. Therefore, avoid keeping/using these batteries in dusty hay/feed rooms.