WARNING - Exploding Lidl Batteries.

chrisw

mark398 wrote:

My maplin Vanson which has 4 independent delta v circuits does get AAs or AAAs pretty hot, and I've had AAA's venting. I guess this is the crux - a decent battery *should* vent if it gets mistreated, or worked too hard, rather than building pressure until it explodes.

It is a Maplin's Vanson charger. Batteries do usually get quite warm which is why I wasn't unduly concerned that the first set were a bit hot, although they were noticeably hotter than usual. I have used it for a wide range of new and older batteries asnd never had a problem.

Perhaps it is a charger/battery incompatibility problem then?

dc

I would suggest that these these batteries were not meant to be fast charged. Fast chargers are for specifically for Fast charge batteries, which need extra vents to let gas out when charging. The faster the charge the more gas.
Maplin are cupable too.


Most expensive fast chargers have temperature sensors, because a battery getting hot is is a indication of reaching full charge. Methinks your charger cooked them, by charging at too high a rate. The original safe charging rate was one tenth (1/10) the capacity, that is the current that batteries can be left in the charger continuously. So for a 2000maH battery this means a charging current of 200mA, known as " trickle charge".

You were lucky, A friend of mine left a hairspray aerosol near a window, that exploded in the sunlight and set fire to the whole upstairs.

dc

odowdchr

mk-donald wrote:

- and always wondered why they made a feature of it having a 'safety lid' - I shall close it in future!

I think that's a designed cooling vent. It should always be closed, it'll probably keep the batteries cooler than if the lid's left completely open.

chrisw

Hmmm. The battery packaging says charge 450ma for 7 hours whereas the charger output is 700ma.
There's more to this recharging business than first appears. I might go back to the old chargers where you just left it plugged in for a day or so.

Lorian

Do you have the packaging for the batteries? It should say the maximum charge rate.

mark398

dc wrote:

I would suggest that these these batteries were not meant to be fast charged. Fast chargers are for specifically for Fast charge batteries, which need extra vents to let gas out when charging. The faster the charge the more gas.
Maplin are cupable too.


Most expensive fast chargers have temperature sensors, because a battery getting hot is is a indication of reaching full charge. Methinks your charger cooked them, by charging at too high a rate.

I think batteries venting is a fault condition even for fast cahrging, as I believe you are upsetting the internal chemistry and reducing the battery life when this happens. I think the Maplin fast charger (and probably lost of other cheap chargers that uses <4hour rate) should be used with caution.

LesD

chrisw wrote:

Hmmm. The battery packaging says charge 450ma for 7 hours whereas the charger output is 700ma.
There's more to this recharging business than first appears. I might go back to the old chargers where you just left it plugged in for a day or so.

Many thanks for this post Chris. Sorry about your problem but it's certainly highlighted that rechargeables aren't as easy as they sound!

I've just checked round my assortment of batteries and chargers and they are all different! You have to really read all the small print to find this out. And, even then, you need to understand the terminology of 'Pri' and 'Sec'!

I also think TS should be made aware of this. It may lead to better warnings apearing on all rechargeables!

Mushy

Chris, I think you should be extra careful with the black paste from the batteries as I hear that in some types of batteries it's very corrosive. So I would avoid getting even a tiny bit on your skin and if you do to wash it off straight away.

RightRevBod

dc wrote:

I would suggest that these these batteries were not meant to be fast charged. Fast chargers are for specifically for Fast charge batteries, which need extra vents to let gas out when charging. The faster the charge the more gas.
Maplin are cupable too.

Batteries should not need to vent. The venting is a safety mechanism to stop the batteries exploding if they do get too hot. If a battery does start to vent, then it is probably time to throw it away, because at the very least its capacity has been reduced.

The fact that these batteries exploded, rather than venting shows that they are probably faulty.

I would contact TS and also give Lidl a call on 0870 444 1234 to give them a chance to issue a product recall.

I was disapointed that I was unable to be at my local Lidl at opening time yesterday in order to buy some of these. Now with hindsight, I am quite glad that I did miss this offer.

BTW: You are not supposed to throw NiMH batteries in the bin. They should have special disposal due to the nature of the chemicals involved.

chrisw

BTW: You are not supposed to throw NiMH batteries in the bin. They should have special disposal due to the nature of the chemicals involved.

There weren't many chemicals left - most of it was spread in droplets up my bedroom wall. But yes you're right.