Battery Explosion?

[mike@af]

I need new batteries, but I need money first.

I speed charged my battery today for 20minutes. I come back out and notice the covering had holes in it, these areas were melted away. It was pretty damn hot, but thats nothing out of the ordinary. Usually when I speed charge batts they get pretty hot.

I did run the battery right after charging it, not that I really thought it was going to create an explosion. It was a nice solid run too, lasted about 10-15minutes (these batteries are 15years old, well the battery that I just ran, I do have new ones).

Anyone think the batt will explode in the near future? I dont exactly want it to, but it would be kind of cool.

[Skillet]

I usually keep a fan on my batteries and charger to prevent overheating... I would monitor those batteries next time you charge them.. Personally I wouldn't use them but if you do watch them charge...

[Psman32@af]

What kind of amerage are you charging them at and what is the capacity rating of your batteries? They usually only explode when they get extrememly hot, or are forced with too much amperage or get shorted out. they shouldnt get much warmer than just warm to the touch when charging them.

[mike@af]

They get extremely hot. I cant hold them for more than a second without burning my hands. I can melt thin plastic by just laying a thin piece of plastic on top of the battery.

[Psman32@af]

That is way way too hot, if you keep charging them when they get that hot, u will damage then and i bet you already ahve damaged their charge adn discharge caps. they could explode if they are getting that hot. they should only be slightly warm to the touch.

[Skillet]

Dude if I was around when you charged those batteries I would evacuate.... They should be hot but no nearly that hot.. Don't speed charge them see if that makes any difference. Like the other post said they are probably damaged already so. charge them slowly and if you just cannot resist the speed charge put a fan on then and get away.. battery shrapnel might hurt a bit

[Psman32@af]

TO be sure its in a safe charging range, get a capacity rating and teh current its being charged at. for ni-cads the charging rate shouldnt be more than 3 times the rated capacity. Persoannly, i dont go above twice teh rated capacity though.

[mike@af]

The battery is 15 years old and was not properly treated for sometime. Surprising the battery is not shorted, I can still run it perfectly fine; in fact its one of my best batteries.

If it quits working I can always use it to make some eggs.

[Psman32@af]

If you want to get some cheap batteries, adn you arent too far from toledo, there is a huge r/c show coming up that is mainly retailers selling stuff for cheap. its coming up alter this month, you can get good indivual cells for cheap. its worth looking into it if oyu want some new ones.