Charging with GFCI

[stillnotsmoking]

I never leave home while charging batteries, but I don't baby sit them either. Would it be a good idea to use a gfci equipped outlet to plug my chargers into in the event of a catastrophic event? Or if something were to happen would the gfci be moot?

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[ubergeek922]

TL/DR: No.
A gfci would be useless. It is designed to detect and interrupt a Ground Fault. In simple terms it works by monitoring what goes out and what comes back. If 5 amps are going out on the hot, but only 3 amps are coming back on the neutral, the imbalance trips it because the other 2 amps must be going to ground through you or your equipment. A newer AFCI outlet, or even a surge protector would also be useless as the danger is in the battery, not an electrical failure of the charger itself. Invest in a quality charger and bag, check your batteries periodically, and know the limitations of your equipment.

 

[suspectK]

^what he said... I was on a robotics team in high school named "ubergeeks." lol. Multimeter is a must have with mod use.

 

[BigBen2k]

GFCI (Ground Fault Current Interrupt) outlets will make no difference.

GFCIs are designed to trip, in case you happen to be in contact with the live wire, while touching a ground (like, a metal sink). Neither happens in the normal operation of any charger.

The safety of charging cells comes mostly from the charger, and how you operate it.

-If your charger is capable of overcharging a cell, then you have the wrong charger; there's no reason, in this day and age, to not use a charger with an auto shut-off.
-Proper charging would require that you put the charger in a charging bag; not because of a possible overload, but in the eventuality that the cell has been physically damaged; it may vent out during charge.

You do well not to leave it unattended. Using a charging bag would let you get out of the house, as long as the bag is properly flame resistant, and sitting on a non-flammable surface, with no flammable elements around it. When a damaged battery vents out, it could be smooth, or very violent; they can easily fly across a room.

 

[r77r7r]

If you have a good lamp timer around, use that.

 

[stillnotsmoking]

THanks for the replies guys, I am careful with the batteries, they're all numbered and I keep tabs on them and my chargers are adequate although I am looking to upgrade. I always charge on a granite counter top away from anything flammable although not in a bag was just curious if the added protection of the GFCIs in my kitchen outlets added any protection in case of a battery vent or charger malfunction.

 

[BigBen2k]

... although I am looking to upgrade...

Many here can recommend a good unit.

A properly engineered charger will be designed so that if it fails, the charging circuit will be disabled. This is why cheap chargers are not advisable and sadly, there are still many of them on the market.

I use a cheap charger for my RC LiFePO4 batteries, but it never leaves my sight.

 

[Rickajho]

You don't have to spend a bazillion dollars to get charging bags either. Your ECF shopping tip of the day => Lithium Polymer Charge Pack 25x33cm JUMBO Sack

 

[Oomee]

As said it should be covered in the charger (fuses etc.) .

Applaud the granite worktop idea, but get a charge bag they are cheap enough, or at least put the charger in a heavy steel pan with heavy lid on .

Cheap chargers are just a serious .....ing joke!
Don't be silly, you should be using high quality equipment in such a critical application.
A friend got a charger with a vamo kit that plugs straight into the outlet!!!!!!
A fire in the charger might spread to the outlet, and this design of the charger stops you putting it in a closed charge bag.
That's a charger for the bin, or as Dave says "Don't turn it on, take it apart!".

So don't screw around with electrical fireworks.

I know little about chemistry, but something that I keep in mind is that the gases vented may actually be very toxic.
Not sure about this, perhaps someone with knowledge could post?

 

[BigBen2k]

...
I know little about chemistry, but something that I keep in mind is that the gases vented may actually be very toxic.
Not sure about this, perhaps someone with knowledge could post?

Definitely toxic.

You'd open windows and doors to vent out your place, as you leave, and stay out for a couple of hours.

Incidentally, that's also the same "proper" handling, for a broken neon tube, or CCFL (mercury vapors). Take it as you will. The mercury isn't present in a quantity that's going to kill you, but it will accumulate, and there's no cure for mercury poisoning.

Not trying to spread FUD here; there's no mercury in our batteries. I'm just pointing out that there's a logic behind these "radical" procedures.