KirkAllen
Member
Registered: 10/16/03
Posts: 309
Loc: Kansas, Illinois
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We responded to a Garage fire last week that gutted the inside and destroyed all the guys tools.
After the investigation it "appears" to be a Snap-On battery charger for a 19V drill. 
The homeowner said when he installs the battery it "always" sounded like a high pitch tone, similar to a tone of a hearing aid that is giving feedback. Once the battery was fully charged the noise quit.
We know the source of the fire is in fact at the point of where the charger is but without costy investigation we wont ever know for sure that it was the charger but all indications are that was the cause as it was the only thing plugged into the outlet and sitting on the work table.
Just thought I would share that in the event you have any battery chargers making noise while charging.
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www.sawmillandtimberforum.com
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Howardly
Member
Registered: 01/22/09
Posts: 2366
Loc: Long Island, New York
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Thanks for the heads up. I don't think I'll put my driver on the charger for an over nighter when I leave the shop again.
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Chris Billman
Member
Registered: 09/10/03
Posts: 4106
Loc: Ypsilanti Twp, MI
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A guy in my woodworking club had a house fire a few years ago due to a battery charger in his shop. I've since put my battery chargers on a circuit that gets turned off when I leave the shop.
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My super-geeky woodworking website (which has no ads & no sponsors)
"If you see something you've got nothing. But if you see nothing then you've got something." - Underhill
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Gerry in Belle River
Member
Registered: 10/11/06
Posts: 128
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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A friend of mine had a serious fire in his detached shop. According to the fire marshall cause was overheated battery charger for his drill. Fire Marshall said he sees 4 or 5 fires a year caused by these types of chargers and we are not that big of a town. Since then I only charge my batteries while I am in my shop and then immediately unplug the charger
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Jeremy s
Member
Registered: 06/28/08
Posts: 903
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a fire in my home or shop is my worst nightmare.
I too have my battery chargers on a switched power strip.
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med-one
Member
Registered: 11/22/03
Posts: 1035
Loc: Michigan
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A friend of mine had the same thing happen to him. His house burnt almost to the ground. Things I would recommend are: Don't leave a tool in a charger when not at home and watching, Put a smoke detector near your power tools and make sure you have separate Insurance policy for replacement costs on your equipment, have pictures of equipment stored off location. My friend had to replace not only the destroyed equipment (thru insurance) but they also replaced anything that was undamaged that was made of plastic as the smell can return at any time.
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Politics may not be the oldest profession in the world but the results are the same!!!
You mess with the bull and you WILL get the horns!!!
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woodhead
Cigar Aficionado
Registered: 03/05/03
Posts: 6987
Loc: West Islip, NY
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Thanks! My battery charger is always plugged in, but it is on a switched outlet with the radio. On when I'm in the shop, off when I'm not.
Al
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I turn, therefore I am!
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PartsGuy
Member
Registered: 10/25/07
Posts: 29
Loc: Marshall, Minnesota
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All three of my DeWalt chargers make that high pitched whine when I first insert the battery. It gradually subsides until about half way through the charging cycle when it disappears completely. Terry
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Nancy K
Survivor!
Registered: 06/13/04
Posts: 1943
Loc: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
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The family across the street from us had a battery explode a few weeks ago. It was the battery for an expensive remote control car, and it was being charged at the time of the explosion. My understanding is that the charger/battery were in the son's room, and that the explosion caused several mini fires. They had at least 2 fire trucks, 2 police cars, and an ambulance repond. The dad ended up going to the hospital because he got battery acid in his eyes.
Having said all of that, I'm not completely sure it was the fault of the battery or charger. That particular child loves to take things apart and put them back "together"...
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lambeater, about my new router table, July 25, 2009: Thats one way cool hippy chick style router table!!
Angus, Nov 1, 2009: Screw all the lists. I made a freakin SIGN 
www.MyShopTour.com
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PawPawOzark
Member
Registered: 02/18/08
Posts: 13
Loc: SW MO
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Just because a battery charger make a high pitched noise does not mean anything is necessarily wrong. Some of the better chargers will use a switched mode of charging which means a high current transistor is switching current on and off to the battery at a very fast rate.
On the other hand, if the charger never made noise and then starts that could be a problem.
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