Has anyone else experienced this?

[rengic]

I have a month and half old manual VX2 batt that has served me well since I got it...until now. Here's the deal...After losing my original charger a little over a week ago I ordered a USB VX2 charger. I was able to recharge this batt for about a week and then suddenly *poof* I had plugged the batt into the USB charger and without warning it produced a white cloud of smoke. At first I thought it was somehow emitting vapor until I smelled the stench of electrical burn. Since then the battery no longer flashes when I plug it in to the USB charger and subsequently does not take a charge.

So here's my question (Doc, maybe you can help me out with this). Is my problem a bad USB charger or bad battery? Aside from the fact that the little plastic piece that rests atop the LED fell off at some point, the battery operates typicaly (in that it gives me the rapid flashes to suggest it needs power). I just don't know if I should spring for a new battery or a new charger.

Ugh! If I were still working I'd just pick up both but alas! I've relegated myself to that of a starving student.

 

[happily]

ohm meter or volt meter...........but I'd guess your batt is toast

 

[rengic]

UPDATE: So I plugged my battery into the charger and the LED did its little blinky routine as if it were charging but it doesn't seem to be taking it. I tried hitting the button and it just flashes as if it were dead.

 

[LoBo]

I'd contact whoever you got the charger from, sounds like something shorted out. I wouldn't trust charging another batt with it. it probably fried your batt

 

[Meltbanana]

I had a wall charger do this to two of my vx2 manual batteries. I haven't plugged another battery into it since. Using a pcc and no problems.

 

[RobNJ74]

All electronics are built with that white smoke, once released the electronics cease to function.. Give the battery a proper burial..

Seriously though it sounds like the protection circuit took a dump. Nothing that can be done about it really, though as suggested by another I would not use the usb charger again.

Rob

Actually I stand corrected, if you search you can buy those boards (like$2 a piece) and if your feeling up to and can solder they can be replaced if you can figure out how to dismantle the battery.

 

[rengic]

I'm inclined to think the battery is toast as well. I'm just not sure if it fried in its own right or as a result of the USB charger. I'd hate to order a new battery only to have it go poof within a week!

 

[rengic]

I'd contact whoever you got the charger from, sounds like something shorted out. I wouldn't trust charging another batt with it. it probably fried your batt

That's what I'm afraid of. I just don't feel right about bugging Shawn with this though. The battery is out of warranty, the charger is probably close to being out and I'm not even certain whether it was the battery or the charger that caused it.

 

[RobNJ74]

Shawn is a very nice guy, I would take a moment to shoot him an e-mail if nothing else just to ask his thoughts on it.. He may have a different opinion than you do.

 

[thebluemeanies]

UPDATE: So I plugged my battery into the charger and the LED did its little blinky routine as if it were charging but it doesn't seem to be taking it. I tried hitting the button and it just flashes as if it were dead.

this happened to my first batt.(auto) i found out it was the charger and Shawn replaced it for me (i had the wall charger not usb) good luck but it sounds like its dead im sorry to say.