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Re: OH NO! I left the charger ON!!!
You might be in luck and the charger will trail off sometime during the night. As others have posted, a charger of this type is designed to provide current by having a slightly higher potential then the battery your are charging. As the battery comes up to charge, the two voltages get close and the current starts to go down. Unfortunately as these batteries reach full charge, any additional current is turned into heat and that is bad for a gell cell.
When you get in in the morning, be aware of the state of the battery. First thing, don't move it, it will likely be hot. Shutoff the charger or unplug it. Look for signs of over temperature, i.e. bulging case, cracks, oozing liquid, or smoke. If none of those are present, place your hand near the case and see if you feel any heat, if so, let it cool down for an hour or so. Once cooled, then check for popped seals on the top and for signs of electrolyte on the case. If it has any stuff oozing out of it, handle with rubber gloves and clean up the rest with water and a little soap. The electrolyte is sulpheric acid which is nasty to delicate tissues, (eyes, nose, and more tender areas) can also destroy metals and clothes. Be sure everything is cleaned.
In the event the battery is not hot and maybe only a little warm, let it rest for a few hours and try it on your robot. It may be OK. Recycle a battery that was very hot, leaking or cracked. As a battery outlet like NTB or Battery America for advice on how to transport.
Good luck.
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Good Luck All. Learn something new, everyday!
Al
WB9UVJ
www.wildstang.org
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Storming the Tower since 1996.
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