Smoking hot battery

Geo-TH,In · Oct 13, 2016

I put a battery in my dewalt 1/4 impact. Must have installed it a little sideways. The positive terminal of battery was forced against the negative terminal some how. I saw smoke coming from battery and impact. Instantly removed battery,

I Ordered a new impact, it fried the terminals inside. Will save old impact for parts. Took battery apart and saw all sorts of hot spots. Not sure if there are any good cells, but battery is toast too. Sure smelled up the pole barn. I left the battery and impact outside last night.

This is the first time I've lost a battery and impact at the same time. Good think the battery was my oldest 18v Ni-Mh battery and the impact was old too, about 15 years.

When I saw smoke, I thought of Samsung Li-ions catching on fire. Has anything like this happened to you?
geo

David G · Oct 13, 2016

Is this a battery that you rebuilt?

Geo-TH,In · Oct 13, 2016

I repaired it. Many times the buss bars between cells break.

guido · Oct 13, 2016

Hello Geo-TH,In

Must batteries do not die a natural death.......They are murdered! I have seen my share of smoke outs,

Guido.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 13, 2016

Well this is my first smoke out. Are there toxic chemicals in NiMh batteries?

guido · Oct 13, 2016

Hello Geo-TH, In,

From what I recall when the NiMh came out they are much better all the way around. The hydride is comhined with the nickel. It is in the hydrogen (H) family, melting point is around 1500C*?. The hydrite is combined with an electrcpositive element. The hydrogen absorbers the alloy. I don't think your pack got hot enough to separate the two. Smoke if any would be the wrap or separator wrap. Anyway you are still here, so all is well?

Guido.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 13, 2016

Guido,
Is it true that Ni Cd melt down do produce toxic chemicals?
geo

Charles in Aus. · Oct 13, 2016

Power pack proudly made by Samsung

guido · Oct 13, 2016

Hello Geo-TH,In

Cadmium is found in zink ore, and is associated with kidney damage as I recall. I would think is why they replaced the NiCads with the NiMh. Buy the way NiMh do suffer from memory effect like the NiCads although to a lesser degree. You need to get then discharged way down to keep each cell better matched. I don't think you can parallel NiMh. I don't recall were I read it, and no trickle charge as a top off-maintenance charge, or you WILL let all the smoke out!,😯

Guido.

David G · Oct 13, 2016

You remind me of my wife's uncle.

Did not want to buy new wheels for push mower so laced on old bike inter tube around wheels to make re-treads.
Had a microwave oven from the 80s that required the wired jiggled once in a while, would get bit reaching in sometimes.
Has faucets that need to be in just the right position so they do not leak.

I could go on forever.

Guy is worth millions, makes a sport out of not getting new stuff, guess that is why he is worth millions.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 14, 2016

David G,
You are right, I like making things out of recycled materials. I used the case of the burnt battery to repair another battery with a bad case. I'm always looking for ways to repurpose things, like keeping old impact for spare parts.

And I like saving money, but that's not my fault. I inherited the German cheap gene from my Grandpa. He had a can of rusty bent nails.
geo

pete 23 · Oct 14, 2016

My sister in law brought a trail camera over because they could not get it to work. After trying to follow the instructions for camera and getting it to set the date right and appear to be powered up ok, I noticed the charge indicator in corner, which book never even mentioned, was showing silch. I pulled the batteries and noticed one of the eight was in backwards. I tested all batteries and they all tested good except that one now showed a full two volts on a 1.5 volt alkaline battery. Put in a new battery and camera worked fine. Days later I tested that battery again and it still showed high voltage. Strange to say the least.

Smoking hot battery

Geo-TH,In

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David G

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guido

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