When your old Tekna Scooter becomes an improvised explosive device.

[MichaelAngelo]

I am currently out of diving while I recover from a shoulder operation so I haven't been posting much so imagine my surprise that I'd have something to post in incident forum. I own a UV 26 and an rebuilt Tekna Scooter I bought as a fixer up project. Since I can't dive and therefore not using the scooters I charge them once a month. While charging them tonight the UV 26 had no issues but the lights on the charger for the Tekna didn't light up. I reached down and jiggled the plug. The scooter then exploded in a ball of flame splitting the nose cone and ejecting the front half of the scooter forward luckily knocking my hand clear. Also luckily the housing spilt downward diverting the blast downward and knocking me clear. Other then a really loud ringing in my ear and some minor cuts in my hand I am ok. I can only assume that a buildup of hydrogen was ignited by a spark when I wiggled the plug. It should be noted i had added some new hydrogen absorbing plugs about a year or so ago.

[Squirrel Girl]

Good golly! Glad you weren't injured or killed!

[MORGAN]

Yikes! Scary! Glad you're OK.

[FW]

Had you been watching "The Cave", and converted it to Lithium

[gschaut]

Contact doctor if you have any concussion symptoms.

"The symptoms are often referred to as post-concussive syndrome (PCS), and include retrograde amnesia, compromised executive function, headache, confusion, amnesia, difficulty concentrating, mood disturbance, alterations in sleep patterns, and anxiety."

"Blast Traumatic Brain Injury has become the signature injury of the Gulf wars."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2958428/

Given that the casing was split open, there MUST have been a significant confinement of explosive gas/air mixture, resulting in a shock wave. AND given that you were 18" (arm's length) from the blast, there is at least a significant chance of blast injury to your brain.

[Kelly Jessop]

Glad you are okay. This used to be a fairly common problem when Tekna DV3Xs were common. Had a friend that had a UV18 explode, so be careful even though it is vented better than the DV3X.

[Diverlee]

Wow! Glad your ok. I have a Mako that looks similar. I always charge it with the cover off. It uses a motorcycle battery I think. Being stupid about these things I don't know it this could happen when I'm charging mine?


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[lord1234]

I hear there is a scooter out by Little River you can have for free. Glad you are ok.

[DarkCoffee]

I am currently out of diving while I recover from a shoulder operation so I haven't been posting much so imagine my surprise that I'd have something to post in incident forum. I own a UV 26 and an rebuilt Tekna Scooter I bought as a fixer up project. Since I can't dive and therefore not using the scooters I charge them once a month. While charging them tonight the UV 26 had no issues but the lights on the charger for the Tekna didn't light up. I reached down and jiggled the plug. The scooter then exploded in a ball of flame splitting the nose cone and ejecting the front half of the scooter forward luckily knocking my hand clear. Also luckily the housing spilt downward diverting the blast downward and knocking me clear. Other then a really loud ringing in my ear and some minor cuts in my hand I am ok. I can only assume that a buildup of hydrogen was ignited by a spark when I wiggled the plug. It should be noted i had added some new hydrogen absorbing plugs about a year or so ago.

Attachment 17684

Wow! Glad you are ok. Sounds like the nose cone was still on? Wondering how. My tekna 100 requires the cone removed to expose the connectors for charging. Its been a few years since I replaced the H pucks but I usually have a fan circulating air in the area of the Tekna when its charging.


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[MichaelAngelo]

Wow! Glad you are ok. Sounds like the nose cone was still on? Wondering how. My tekna 100 requires the cone removed to expose the connectors for charging. Its been a few years since I replaced the H pucks but I usually have a fan circulating air in the area of the Tekna when its charging.


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This Tekna nose cone is bolted on with a plug thru port. I believe that's the original design until the Mako version was designed to quick release. It should be noted that when I had the scooter rebuilt that it would void the warranty if I removed the nose cone. I had doubled the amount of the hydrogen absorbing biscuts and as normal I plugged it into the scooter then turn on the power. I charge in an explosion proof box. I just mind farted and didn't think when I jiggled the connector when the charger's lights were off. Truthfully I don't know what I was going thru my head (thankfully it wasn't the top of the scooter) but maybe because the lights were off that there was no power going to the scooter. I certainly didn't expect the scooter cherry bomb. Frankly I am shocked I wasn't injured and still have my fingers.