Battery charger hand tools

[Jimmydog]

Since more and more of you folks are using battery operated tools I thought I'd relate something that happened to me the other day; incase it happens to one of you or even better prevent it from happening. Was in a hurry and went to swap out the discharged battery with the charged one (we're talking Dewalt 20v 5Ah) wasn't paying enough attention apparently and didn't get it seated properly. After discharging the new battery I went to retrieve the one on the charger only to find that it and the charger were almost to hot to touch and the charge indicating light wasn't on. The battery had not charged. Turns out the increased resistance generated considerable heat. I thought I fried the unit but after everything cooled down and I made sure the battery clicked into the socket all the way it worked fine. Anyway, just a heads up guys and gals make sure you get that battery clicked all the way in.

My public service announcement for the day.
JD

 

[Dennis Minn]

Jimmydog,

I always appreciate it when someone else experiences something, first. Makes me glad I don't have to take everything on-the-chin.

D.

 

[timcasbolt]

(quoted from post at 12:06:30 07/31/21) Since more and more of you folks are using battery operated tools I thought I'd relate something that happened to me the other day; incase it happens to one of you or even better prevent it from happening. Was in a hurry and went to swap out the discharged battery with the charged one (we're talking Dewalt 20v 5Ah) wasn't paying enough attention apparently and didn't get it seated properly. After discharging the new battery I went to retrieve the one on the charger only to find that it and the charger were almost to hot to touch and the charge indicating light wasn't on. The battery had not charged. Turns out the increased resistance generated considerable heat. I thought I fried the unit but after everything cooled down and I made sure the battery clicked into the socket all the way it worked fine. Anyway, just a heads up guys and gals make sure you get that battery clicked all the way in.

My public service announcement for the day.
JD

y Dewalt 20V charger was unusually fussy about getting the battery seated J U S T right. Bought an aftermarket charger and have had no further issues.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

The lithium batteries has a bad reputation of catching on fire either through
charging, discharging or you poke a hole in them

I thought of making a fireproof box to put my charger in. Never got around to it.
Any ideas what would make a good fireproof box so if it does catch on fire, the fire
won't catch your shop on fire? Eventually the GFCI would trip if box were made of
metal and grounded.

 

[Ark68SS]

Any ideas what would make a good fireproof box so if it does catch on fire, the fire
won't catch your shop on fire? Eventually the GFCI would trip if box were made of
metal and grounded.

Maybe adapt one of these products? I know it's against your redneck engineering, but you do like to get stuff from Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=homemade...amp;tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_97fqmke32_e
BillL

 

[Bret4207]

(quoted from post at 14:43:14 07/31/21) The lithium batteries has a bad reputation of catching on fire either through
charging, discharging or you poke a hole in them

I thought of making a fireproof box to put my charger in. Never got around to it.
Any ideas what would make a good fireproof box so if it does catch on fire, the fire
won't catch your shop on fire? Eventually the GFCI would trip if box were made of
metal and grounded.

Jeeze! Thanks George, I'll never sleep worrying about that now!

 

[1948CaseVAI]

(quoted from post at 22:32:47 07/31/21)

Any ideas what would make a good fireproof box so if it does catch on fire, the fire
won't catch your shop on fire? Eventually the GFCI would trip if box were made of
metal and grounded.

Maybe adapt one of these products? I know it's against your redneck engineering, but you do like to get stuff from Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=homemade...amp;tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_97fqmke32_e
BillL

Don't think I would put it in a bag with no air to circulate and cool it. A clay flower pot with no combustibles over it (for at least 10 feet) works fine. In fact the last radio controlled helicopter I bought recommended using a clay pot.

 

[Jimmydog]

Dennis, yep, like they say experience is a lousy teacher, she gives the test before the lesson.

 

[Jimmydog]

Tim, not the charger's fault, operator error. If it weren't for nepotism that guy wouldn't even work here (not that he does that much work anyway). He's married to the owner and thinks he's the boss.

 

[Jimmydog]

George, I got a pile of left over ceramic tiles, thinking I just found a use for them. By the way this happened a couple days before we went on vacation, you can bet I made sure ALL them chargers were unplugged before we left.