Battery Maintainers Accident!
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Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 307
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From: Saskatoon
Battery Maintainers Accident!
For everyone that uses a device to maintain their cars battery while in storage, last week in the news, a garage fire destroyed 3 cars including a C5. They said the cause of the fire was an electrical device connected to the battery! Is anyone else out there nervous about using these on their cars, or is this such a rare occurance that I should not worry. I am using a CTEK battery maintainer that is out in the open, so it shouldn't build up heat, but after hearing this, I don't know. Are there any stories of these things lighting up?
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From: Manassas Park VA
St. Jude Donor '07-'08,-'13-'14, '16-'17
For everyone that uses a device to maintain their cars battery while in storage, last week in the news, a garage fire destroyed 3 cars including a C5. They said the cause of the fire was an electrical device connected to the battery! Is anyone else out there nervous about using these on their cars, or is this such a rare occurance that I should not worry. I am using a CTEK battery maintainer that is out in the open, so it shouldn't build up heat, but after hearing this, I don't know. Are there any stories of these things lighting up?
BTW, it will get "warm"
Peace
Chip
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I got mine from Chip and no worries. Not sure about the other deivces but overall....you have to make sure you're reading and following the instructions.
Melting Slicks
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From: Des Moines Iowa
I have the Schumacher brand battery maintainer that is available from places like Auto Zone, Walmart, and Sears, to name a few.
I use the cigarette lighter / accessory adapter device, and cut and added about 3' of length to the cord. Now I can have the actual unit sit outside the car, on the concrete floor, so that in the unlikely event something goes wrong, and it shorts out or overheats, it's not sitting on carpet or the seat, where it might possibly start a fire.
I use the cigarette lighter / accessory adapter device, and cut and added about 3' of length to the cord. Now I can have the actual unit sit outside the car, on the concrete floor, so that in the unlikely event something goes wrong, and it shorts out or overheats, it's not sitting on carpet or the seat, where it might possibly start a fire.
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From: Belleville Il
At any given time ANY electrical or mechanical device CAN fail and cause a fire!! including your house heater ,water heater,and electrical service!! BUT the odds are almost infinitesimal !! Prudence would dictate an occasional check,,but don't loose any sleep over it!! Anyhow it didn't say WHAT brand it was,,and there are millions in use this time of year (all types and makes),,and only 1 reported fire! I'd say really good odds in your favor,,considering the reputation of Cteck!!!
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Denver Colorado
i have 7 harbor freight battery tenders running in my garage, have used them for many years and have never had a problem with them, they are 7 bucks each....
don't get caught up with the crap that the price dictates the quality on a tender because they all do the same thing, doesn't matter if you pay 5 bucks or 100 bucks....and this is fact
don't get caught up with the crap that the price dictates the quality on a tender because they all do the same thing, doesn't matter if you pay 5 bucks or 100 bucks....and this is fact
Last edited by 34RedRage; Jan 22, 2009 at 04:55 PM.
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From: Manassas Park VA
St. Jude Donor '07-'08,-'13-'14, '16-'17
I have the Schumacher brand battery maintainer that is available from places like Auto Zone, Walmart, and Sears, to name a few.
I use the cigarette lighter / accessory adapter device, and cut and added about 3' of length to the cord. Now I can have the actual unit sit outside the car, on the concrete floor, so that in the unlikely event something goes wrong, and it shorts out or overheats, it's not sitting on carpet or the seat, where it might possibly start a fire.
I use the cigarette lighter / accessory adapter device, and cut and added about 3' of length to the cord. Now I can have the actual unit sit outside the car, on the concrete floor, so that in the unlikely event something goes wrong, and it shorts out or overheats, it's not sitting on carpet or the seat, where it might possibly start a fire.
Peace
Chip
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I have a float charger 'Battery Butler' from lectricLimited and I doubt it would or could catch fire. The electric out in my garage is on a circuit breaker and even so, the wires going to the battery are very light grade and would melt off before a fire started. The only thing I've noticed is the box the plugs into the wall socket gets slightly warm if the charger is in charge mode.
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From: Not on either liberal coast.
Use common sense and do not leave any float maintenance charger near anything flammable.
It would be interesting to see who the manufacturer of that charger was.
I've been using only the BATTERY TENDER PLUS since '95 w/o any issue or failure.
I've seen some say they keep theirs inside their car. They do get warm, but CTEK and BATTERY TENDER PLUS has internal safeties.
I mounted my BATTERY TENDER PLUS to one column of my lift and keep it connected anytime the car is not in use. It's plugged into a surge protector.
It would be interesting to see who the manufacturer of that charger was.
I've been using only the BATTERY TENDER PLUS since '95 w/o any issue or failure.
I've seen some say they keep theirs inside their car. They do get warm, but CTEK and BATTERY TENDER PLUS has internal safeties.
I mounted my BATTERY TENDER PLUS to one column of my lift and keep it connected anytime the car is not in use. It's plugged into a surge protector.
Last edited by hotwheels57; Jan 22, 2009 at 06:06 PM.
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I've used a Battery Tender Plus for well over five years and not one problem. As with any electrical device, there are always those instances where an accident can happen.
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