Exploding NiCD battery!

[Scooter]

I recently got a Game Gear system for my collection. It came along with a PowerBack rechargeable battery. I was told it would hold a charge. When it arrived it was flat so I charged it. It seemed to charge up fine. The charge only provided about 30 minutes of power so I thought maybe it needed a couple of cycles to get back into good use. I put it on the charger this morning. About 3-4 hours later I heard a loud pop from the room it was in. It was at least as loud as a good sized firecracker. While looking around for the source of the pop I noticed some "fur" sticking out of the battery pack so I quickly unplugged it. As I was openning the case to investigate it popped again making my ears actually ring.

I quickly took the thing outside and removed the cell pack. I put it on the patio and it continued to smoke. After a while, I severed the connection between the cells to cut off any short circuits which may have been occurring.

I've never heard of a NiCD exploding unless it was drastically overcharged. I was using the proper wall charger. This was quite disturbing! I've just read that cadnium can be toxic so I've cleaned up all the residue, removed the trash from the house and washed my hands and the battery pack shell really well.

I'm now going to be paranoid of all NiCDs I have in the house!

Here's the destruction. The explosions were powerful enough to do the damage you see, when I severed the cells apart all I did was break the electrical connection, nothing more.

[Mamba Tabac]

Bloody hell!!!

Reminds me of my first AtGames MegaDrive when I screwed up the power supply - the room filled with smoke! Not good....

[JDB]

ka-boom.

I have no idea about the toxicity of cadmium, but if there are warnings make sure you clean up properly!

[VinnyT]

I'm immune from disposing of various phone batteries than I had to scrub the fuck out of my hands after tossing.

[bohokii]

oh man i got 2 powerbacks for my nomad they are nimh though one only plays for about 2 hrs and takes about 36 hours to charge the other lasts for 4 hours and takes 24 hrs to charge i sure will be keeping an eye on them

[Scooter]

Maybe I should sue Sega!

I've washed my hands so much my skin hurts.

The shirt I was wearing when the second pop occurred is in the laundry.

If you look at the photo, the top of the affected cell is what blew off in the first pop. The lower, and clearly larger explosion, was the lower portion of the cell. It was so strong it blew the battery case and two layers of plastic overwrap!

And to think, the first time I charged it, it was left unattended all day while I was at work!

[Scooter]

oh man i got 2 powerbacks for my nomad they are nimh though one only plays for about 2 hrs and takes about 36 hours to charge the other lasts for 4 hours and takes 24 hrs to charge i sure will be keeping an eye on them

Please only charge while you are in the house, do not leave them charging while unattended!

[Rusty Venture]

Those batteries should be easy to replace, they are the same/very similar to the ones used in R/C cars.

[Joe Redifer]

NiCD's are evil batteries. Do not use them. They serve no useful purpose to mankind and they have no friends.

[gamevet]

Maybe I should sue Sega!

I've washed my hands so much my skin hurts.

The shirt I was wearing when the second pop occurred is in the laundry.

If you ever get in contact with battery acid again, you can neutralize it with a can of coke or baking soda.

[Tanegashima]

Or pour more acid onto it, if it doesn't help, at least it will be cool.

[Scooter]

If you ever get in contact with battery acid again, you can neutralize it with a can of coke or baking soda.

Or pour more acid onto it, if it doesn't help, at least it will be cool.

I don't think there is any acid in a NiCd battery......

[Dirt Ball Gamer]

I get my healthy dose of cadmium from painting several times a week.

[Rusty Venture]

Mmmmmm...cadmium.