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Rechargable Batteries Sizzling?
Ayulin
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I couldn't find much on Google about this, but I could just be using the wrong terms. I just bought a Energizer 15-minute Battery Charger, which came with some 2500mAh rechargable AA batteries (Energizer branded, of course). However, when I plug the charger in, the light on the charger turns red (to indicate charging, according to the instructions), but after a moment there's a noticable sizzling sound coming from the batteries.
Since I've no idea if this is normal (and I have a feeling it isn't), I just unplugged the battery charger straight away. The instructions mention nothing about any noises, only that it's normal for the batteries to become warm when charging.
Should I exchange the charger + battery set for another, or is this normal? This is the first time the batteries are being charged, and I have no prior experience with rechargable batteries.
Since I've no idea if this is normal (and I have a feeling it isn't), I just unplugged the battery charger straight away. The instructions mention nothing about any noises, only that it's normal for the batteries to become warm when charging.
Should I exchange the charger + battery set for another, or is this normal? This is the first time the batteries are being charged, and I have no prior experience with rechargable batteries.
Ayulin on
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Since it only takes 15 minutes to charge, so you should be able plug it in and keep an eye on it for the whole charging time. If nothing happens, I wouldn't be concerned that anything is wrong. If the magic smoke gets let out, though... make sure you know where your breaker box/fire extinguisher is ^^
Yeah; the fan starts up, but then after a bit there's a sizzling.
I tried just letting it be, and the light turned red, then changed to green after a few seconds (no noise was heard at all, this time.) The instructions said to let the batteries charge for a bit more after the light turns green, so I left it for about 5 minutes, and nothing happened. I guess all is well; thanks!
Those quick chargers are really hard on batteries (and will never fully charge them). If you look on the positive terminal of the battery (specifically around the part where the it protrudes from) you should see a small dark area. That lets the battery vent gas instead of building up and potentially exploding, so that sizzling sound might be the gas venting.
A battery's internal resistance increases as it charges. As it gets closer to being fully charged more of the energy being put into the battery is dissipated as heat instead of being stored. AFAIK a battery shouldn't start venting that early in the charge cycle (if it is doing that you'll eventually see a white buildup around the vent), but after a point heat inhibits its ability to accept a charge and that venting is releasing some of the battery's electrolyte (especially hydrogen), so the battery's service life will decrease.
Some batteries are made to be quick-charged, but the recommended charging rate for NiMH batteries is 1C. C is the battery's capacity in mAh so a battery rated for 2,000 mAh should be charged at the same current as its capacity, which means that the battery will be charged in approximately an hour. You also shouldn't charge a NiMH battery at a lower rate than 0.5C because it might not produce an end-of-charge signal that is strong enough for a smart charger to detect.