Have I killed it??

[andyspencer]

Just had a battery loco running around the garden which has a manual control powered by 8 low discharge AAA cells, when it suddenly stopped... Got to the loco and found all the wiring melted and the battery hissing and so hot I couldnt touch it! Its still got voltage in it but looks a mess. Would it be safe to charge?

 

[mike]

er no

 

[andyspencer]

Was thinking that would be the answer Still not sure what caused it to go. No sign of a short before everythin melted...

 

[sir haydn]

It was either a short or you may have over loaded the motor

 

[bobg]

Re:Have I killed it??

Was it steam outline?









If so...................................................................................... it's chuffed!

 

[stockers]

Re:Have I killed it??

could be an internal short. Sounds dead to me - I wouldn't risk a perfectly good charger on it.

 

[andyspencer]

Re:Have I killed it??

It was steam outline, the smoke was coming out the tender thou...
Fuse and the charging socket was the next job as I was testing the setup as I'd already had problems with it. faulty pot which was replaced. Motor still operates so its not that thats failed. Either the new pot has gone or the chip. Its bolted down to a big enough piece of aluminium thou and with heat sink compound.

 

[Rhinochugger]

Re:Have I killed it??

Speaking from experience - a lucky escape where I could have caused a major conflagration

ALWAYS INSTALL AN IN LINE FUSE - FIRST - AS CLOSE TO THE BATTERY AS POSSIBLE.

I was lucky, I managed to rip out some of the glowing wires with my hands and only burnt a couple of finger tips. Trashed the battery pack, though.

Oh, the loco was indoors at the time, being charged, and sitting on a wooden worktop

 

[andyspencer]

Re:Have I killed it??

Def an experience! Annoyingly the fuse holder is sat on the bench ready to go in. All my other loco's have them fitted and never had an issue. think i'll get a meter on the cells in the morning and see if their all the same or not. But it may well be going in the bin...
Anyone techy enough to tell me what the hissing was?

 

[Rhinochugger]

Re:Have I killed it??

Anyone techy enough to tell me what the hissing was?

Probably sizzling and giving off some noxious gas - nothing to worry about though

 

[nicebutdim]

Re:Have I killed it??

More than likely escaping gases from within the cooking batteries. At worst hissing is usually followed by a loud bang and then a trip to casualty.

 

[mmts]

Re:Have I killed it??

More than likely escaping gases from within the cooking batteries. At worst hissing is usually followed by a loud bang and then a trip to casualty.

Sounds about right....

Best leave them outside under a tin bath till the morning (deffo not in the house or workshop.....)

 

[mike]

Re:Have I killed it??

put it this way.. RUN

 

[andyspencer]

Re:Have I killed it??

They are currently in the kitchen. all sizzilling has long stopped now! when I ripped them out, was ready to duck and/or run for cover!

 

[mike]

Re:Have I killed it??

if in dought, send wife in.... well they say women and children 1st!!

 

[Rhinochugger]

Re:Have I killed it??

I got my battery pack to the point where the connecting tabs between each cell were glowing red

The insulation on much of the wiring for the rest of the circuitry had melted, and the two switches were trashed.

Lighting diodes survived, loco body escaped unmarked by the heat (body was nickel silver)

Fingers damaged :brokeheart:

 

[KeithT]

Re:Have I killed it??

I think I will stick with 230V AC much safer....