Precedent caught on fire while charging

[fltekdiver]

Hello
We had an unfortunate lose of our club Precedent last night, while charging the golf cart with the E.R.I.C Smart charger
In our garage of our house, we heard what sounded like a shot gun shot , I thought something fell over in the garage.
I then heard a 2nd one about 5 seconds later and jumped out of bed a ran into the garage to see the batteries in flames.
Grabbed a fire extinguisher and immediately put it out

We were very shocked and shookended up by this last night.

Batteries were topped off with distilled water just a few days prior. We've owned carts now for 15 years, I know how to maintain them.

My question is what could have caused this? Batteries are 2020 Trojan Batteries
Looks like I'll have to put a homeowners claim in today, but in the future when we buy another cart how do I leave it on charge all the time and prevent something like this from happening again?

[simicrintz]

Scary stuff; glad you were able to confine it to just the cart.

I see a few tools laying there; were you working on something before it happened?

[Volt_Ampere]

I have seen batteries explode (hydrogen gas buildup and some spark) but I've never seen it cause a continuing fire like that. My guess would be that it was caused by a defective battery that sparked. Not sure what continued the fire burning like that though. Hydrogen generation is normal during the end of the charge cycle. Sparks are not normal.

[Nicko773]

That was great you were home and alert when this took place. Glad everyone is ok. Sad to see the cart though. Sorry for your loss.

[Warden902]

Sorry this happened. I am glad you took quick action to get it under control.

[Bama Brad]

It kinda of looks like the fire started with wiring in front of the batteries. Front of compartment looks like it had been burning for a while before batteries popped. I'm not sure batteries were the culprit.....sorry this happened and sure glad you heard the batteries pop. This could have be a disaster!

[fltekdiver]

Thanks everyone for the kind words. Here's some pictures during daylight today. Luckily, I stay on top of having a fully charged fire extinguisher in the garage hanging on the wall.
Defiantly agree, looks like the hot spot was the charging port, if you notice in the picture, I had the 48v to 12v reducer off to the side at the top above the front batteries. It got burnt, but you can see the really dark area at the bottom where the charging port is. Looks like it started there, popped 2 batteries before I put it out.

From now on I'm not leaving on the charger all the time and not charging the cart no longer in the garage which is attached to the house.

I'll charge the cart in the rear yard away from the house, when its complete pull the cart into the garage until we use it then top it off again

Here's some better pictures taken today

[SV1]

I am glad you are a quick thinker and everyone is OK. Thanks for the reminder, routine things can be dangerous and I need new extinguishers

[Bama Brad]

Originally Posted by SV1

I am glad you are a quick thinker and everyone is OK. Thanks for the reminder, routine things can be dangerous and I need new extinguishers

Me too! You don't think about them until something til you see something like this. Getting new ones today!

[expoman55]

Holy HE** Glad you were home and heard it. Mostly GLAD YOU ARE OK as is your home.

I am just now selling a FULLY CUSTOM Yami Drive Gas to move to Electric as my wife likes the quiet of an electric. Now I am a bit worried. Perhaps I need to convert the new cart to Lith batteries to avoid this. or part it outside.. I cannot imagine having a fire in my garage like that.

Love to know what you figure out caused it.