Short circuit current

[i=p/u]

3.6v, 4 ah , em batt pack shorted in my pocket and burnt a hole in jumper, what current was flowing or was it the discharge , smokey, thx wise one

 

[Rockingit]

I guess theoretically there's an almost infinite amount of current flowing for a very small amount of time, depending on the resistance of whatever it was that shorted the terminals, plus the terminals themselves - ohms law is ohms law after all. But it doesn't really matter, what matters is that it's too cold to have a hole in your jumper so you'd best get another one!

 

[DPG]

Batteries have a VERY low internal impedance. This, as Rockingit says, means a very large current can flow into a short circuit. I've had over 8 amps short term current from a short-circuited AAA cell, so that gives some idea of the current available from the pack you had! Daz

 

[Darkwood]

Yes as above you need to find the internal resistnce of the battery to calculate the short circuit, other factors will also come into play like the state of charge, the type of battery etc .... i had a faulty diode pack on my alternator and my car battery was reading 174amps and i dont eve think this was a dead short but close i guess.

 

[Bobster]

I've seen just over 1000amp pulled from a shorted car battery.

 

[i=p/u]

Well dropped everything in hands and jumped off lader to the insulation smoking/melting, ni cd 3x1.2v = 4ah, infinite resistance i know but can this info be found , would my multi meter read infinite resistance

 

[telectrix]

thou shalt not put charged batteries in pockets. here endeth the lesson.

 

[Darkwood]

How to test the internal resistance of a battery - YouTube

Quicker than explaning it!

 

[mark ju]

thou shalt not put charged batteries in pockets. here endeth the lesson.

I can second that....sat at my brothers wedding reception, remember when digital cameras used batteries like they were going out of fashion.
Well being a 'bright spark', decided to stave off any possibility of being sat there with a dead camera and put two AA batteries in my pocket ALONG WITH A HANDFUL OF CHANGE.
The resulting heat from the short circuit burnt a hole in my trousers and left a blister on my upper leg.
The worst was when i leapt to my feet like a loonie, everyone thought i was getting up for an impromptu speech!

 

[Guest111]

I can second that....sat at my brothers wedding reception, remember when digital cameras used batteries like they were going out of fashion.
Well being a 'bright spark', decided to stave off any possibility of being sat there with a dead camera and put two AA batteries in my pocket ALONG WITH A HANDFUL OF CHANGE.
The resulting heat from the short circuit burnt a hole in my trousers and left a blister on my upper leg.
The worst was when i leapt to my feet like a loonie, everyone thought i was getting up for an impromptu speech!

could have been worse matey, imagine if it had been at the wedding "if anyone knows of any lawful impedement why these two may not be joined in holy matrimony let him speak now"