Can anyone identify my burnt battery charger?

[..]

I'd like to do a Google search to determine if there have been previous problems with this brand.

Any identifying marks have been obliterated.

[Joe Hummer]

That kind of looks like my old Schumacher Electric Corp Model SE-82-6 except the gauge is in a different place.  Apparently it is still being made but looks much different now.  I thought the Sears unit was of a similar construction. 



Joe

[..]

Hmmm. So I wonder if it's a generic unit with multiple sellers having their own brand imprinted on the unit.

Mine was red and black.

[MP]

A lot are sold under various brand names.  Hard to tell from the pic.

[3fan4life]

Hmmm. So I wonder if it's a generic unit with multiple sellers having their own brand imprinted on the unit.

Mine was red and black.

I'd say that you're onto something there:

[..]

Hmmm. So I wonder if it's a generic unit with multiple sellers having their own brand imprinted on the unit.

Mine was red and black.

I'd say that you're onto something there:

Getting closer

[Robert]

Usually on the inside bottom or back there are usually some kind of numbers stamped into the metal. This would require the disassembling and removal of the deposits and rust that is on it now with a chemical rust remover.

[BonS]

This is a very close variant of that charger. The switch below the knob is slightly horizontally offset.

Edit: Upon further examination of my photo there isn't a switch below the knob. Rather, it's just printing that I thought was a knob. That said, I believe that this is a generic Schumacher enclosure that was made into several models. There are two cutout slots for slider style switches and a knob cutout. Most likely any one model either had the two switches or a switch and a selector knob - but not two switches and a knob. The three holes in the chassis were exposed when the front faceplate/label was burned away. Normally only two of the three would be visible.

This chassis could be made to look like the Schumacher charger photo posted by 3fan4life or the one below.

[G-Man]

Ever research mattress prices.  The manufacturers put different names on the SAME mattress for different sellers.  Sealy calls it the Backsupport 180 for Sleepys and calls the same product Ultraspine for Mattress.com.  I don't think they even change the stitching, just the name. 

[..]

I've now found quite a dew web sites/forums/links that have info about fires caused by battery chargers/maintainers so please be aware ourselves of the possible dangers.

[GiG]

I've now found quite a dew web sites/forums/links that have info about fires caused by battery chargers/maintainers so please be aware ourselves of the possible dangers.

That's why I put a lamp timer in line - the charger can only come on for 1 - 2 hours.
Enough time to keep the Battery charged - but not so long to overcharge the Battery and start a fire 

[Patrick]

I kinda hate to bring this up and probably shouldn't as I don't want to rub salt in a wound.

A battery charger should never be left alone unattended.

That said, I leave them unattended all the time. I usually have numerous batteries all parallelled at any one time. The charger though is always set on the concrete all by itself, just in case. I had a charger 'blow-up' decades ago. I use low amp chargers, not tenders.

[..]

I kinda hate to bring this up and probably shouldn't as I don't want to rub salt in a wound.

A battery charger should never be left alone unattended.

That said, I leave them unattended all the time. I usually have numerous batteries all parallelled at any one time. The charger though is always set on the concrete all by itself, just in case. I had a charger 'blow-up' decades ago. I use low amp chargers, not tenders.

Mine too was on a concrete floor.

First time and last time I'll leave one.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I kinda hate to bring this up and probably shouldn't as I don't want to rub salt in a wound.

A battery charger should never be left alone unattended.

That said, I leave them unattended all the time. I usually have numerous batteries all parallelled at any one time. The charger though is always set on the concrete all by itself, just in case. I had a charger 'blow-up' decades ago. I use low amp chargers, not tenders.

Mine too was on a concrete floor.

First time and last time I'll leave one.

Was it determined if the charger caught fire or the battery ?

[..]

I kinda hate to bring this up and probably shouldn't as I don't want to rub salt in a wound.

A battery charger should never be left alone unattended.

That said, I leave them unattended all the time. I usually have numerous batteries all parallelled at any one time. The charger though is always set on the concrete all by itself, just in case. I had a charger 'blow-up' decades ago. I use low amp chargers, not tenders.

Mine too was on a concrete floor.

First time and last time I'll leave one.

Was it determined if the charger caught fire or the battery ?

Seems it was the battery.

The insurance fire investigator showed me the internal part of the battery connected to the positive terminal. It had what looked like little "arc weld" marks.

I'm an electrical ignoramus so I nodded my head wisely.

[GiG]

I kinda hate to bring this up and probably shouldn't as I don't want to rub salt in a wound.

A battery charger should never be left alone unattended.

That said, I leave them unattended all the time. I usually have numerous batteries all parallelled at any one time. The charger though is always set on the concrete all by itself, just in case. I had a charger 'blow-up' decades ago. I use low amp chargers, not tenders.

Mine too was on a concrete floor.

First time and last time I'll leave one.

Was it determined if the charger caught fire or the battery ?

Seems it was the battery.

The insurance fire investigator showed me the internal part of the battery connected to the positive terminal. It had what looked like little "arc weld" marks.

I'm an electrical ignoramus so I nodded my head wisely.

That type of charger is not a "Smart" (sensing) charger.
When the battery terminal arced internally, the charger did not sense it and continued charging until it caused a fire.
"Smart" chargers are supposed to limit current, theoretically preventing this type of event.
Adding a timer greatly reduces the opportunity for this event to take place.

[old2soon]

The Chicago Electric brand I belive is Harbor Freight. I have a H/F tender I no longer use. I bought a charger from wally wurld that has many variables in the charge mode. Paul-hope you are able to track down WHAT brand it was and further track the number of bad reports your model has generated. And if any one else has had catastrophic results like yours. RIDE SAFE.

[Patrick]

I kinda hate to bring this up and probably shouldn't as I don't want to rub salt in a wound.

A battery charger should never be left alone unattended.

That said, I leave them unattended all the time. I usually have numerous batteries all parallelled at any one time. The charger though is always set on the concrete all by itself, just in case. I had a charger 'blow-up' decades ago. I use low amp chargers, not tenders.

Mine too was on a concrete floor.

First time and last time I'll leave one.

Was it determined if the charger caught fire or the battery ?

Seems it was the battery.

The insurance fire investigator showed me the internal part of the battery connected to the positive terminal. It had what looked like little "arc weld" marks.

I'm an electrical ignoramus so I nodded my head wisely.

Well, there has to be ' an internal part of the battery connected to the positive terminal'.  There may have been a defect/ intermittent open and connection to that terminal, but, I'm wondering if or why the fire traveled directly down the wire to the charger. Or, maybe the charger just got caught up in the rest of the fire.

How long was the battery on the charger ? And at what amp rate ?  I don't like to see chargers left for more than a few hours.

Regardless I feel bad about this.

[Black Pearl's Captain]

It seems many have the same basic form. We have one like this. the picture is from another site and that is NOT the charger's box.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I kinda hate to bring this up and probably shouldn't as I don't want to rub salt in a wound.

A battery charger should never be left alone unattended.

That said, I leave them unattended all the time. I usually have numerous batteries all parallelled at any one time. The charger though is always set on the concrete all by itself, just in case. I had a charger 'blow-up' decades ago. I use low amp chargers, not tenders.

Mine too was on a concrete floor.

First time and last time I'll leave one.

Was it determined if the charger caught fire or the battery ?

Seems it was the battery.

The insurance fire investigator showed me the internal part of the battery connected to the positive terminal. It had what looked like little "arc weld" marks.

I'm an electrical ignoramus so I nodded my head wisely.

That type of charger is not a "Smart" (sensing) charger.
When the battery terminal arced internally, the charger did not sense it and continued charging until it caused a fire.
"Smart" chargers are supposed to limit current, theoretically preventing this type of event.
Adding a timer greatly reduces the opportunity for this event to take place.

Good to know  I don't have "smart sensing" anything (including myself).  I have left mine on vehicles overnight unattended for years. I'll look around for a timer. I think I have a couple around.

[..]

It seems many have the same basic form. We have one like this. the picture is from another site and that is NOT the charger's box.

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!!!

[..]

For those who think "it could never happen to me".

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=BATTERY++charger+HOUSE+fire

[The emperor has no clothes]

It seems many have the same basic form. We have one like this. the picture is from another site and that is NOT the charger's box.

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!!!

Used that one for 20 years or more. Until I lost it out of the motor home 

[Jess from VA]

Properly working smart chargers sense a full charge and shut down (go to float), and all I know are fused (10A?). 

I lost one smart charger (BT Plus), it just stopped working, it didn't runaway charge with no shutoff.

I have a big car charger (.3-2-10-50A); it only gets used on a timer.   Even the .3A will run forever if you let it.  I don't think it has a fuse either (unless internal, think not).

[Patrick]

As a youngster I thought nothing of resurrecting old batteries. I would just wash them out, fill them with water, charge the crap out of them to try and de-sulfate them, rinse them out again and re-acid them. No one had any money back then and I'd use them and give them to friends cuz they didn't have any money either.
That is until one blew and I was in its way. Ruined a pair of jeans and I hosed myself down as fast as I could. I couldn't get to that hose quick enough.
I had one charger blow up for seemingly no reason. So since then I only charge for a few hours while present or put them on a timer. I have to use a timer when away for the winter because new cars won't keep a charge when stored for very long.  2 amps for 2 hours.
I had one other battery blow on a truck [twin batteries] while installing the metal cover. While handling it I apparently let it touch something I shouldn't have. That battery blew and I hung on to the cover [ I wasn't about to let it go] and it sent me tumbling. They don't fool around, they get serious real quick.

[GiG]

... That battery blew and I hung on to the cover [ I wasn't about to let it go] and it sent me tumbling. They don't fool around, they get serious real quick.

Once, at a battery facility where I used to work, a battery pack accidentally got overcharged while undergoing tests in an environmental chamber. Chamber was large, like 8' x 6' x 6', made of steel.
When that battery pack blew, it took the chamber door with it. I guess that door weighed ~600lbs, it flew across the entire laboratory and smashed through the opposing brick wall.
Yeah, it was serious.... 

[Thunderbolt]

Glad you found it Paul.  And to steal your thread but for a good cause, please don't ever use any object to bang on your battery terminals in your car/truck to get it to make a better connection.  A heard a loud boom one day while working beside the road on some phone equipment.  A lady started screaming so I jumped in the truck and went to her house a few hundred yards away.  Seems she had been hitting her battery terminal with a glass soda bottle and she drove the post down far enough to short out the battery and the hydrogen gas exploded.  She had made her way to her house and was washing her face and hands with water.  I tried to convince her to go to the hospital but she said she would be alright.  Blew the whole top off the battery and of course acid was everywhere.

[Super Santa]

Mine was an old Schumacher unit also but the meter was in the middle.

Sure looks like it could be that manufacturer though.