Battery issue. Overheating GoKart battery whilst on charge.

haplesshacker

haplesshacker

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I have a GoKart. The battery remains on charge permanently as recommended. Today I noticed that the charge indicator light on the charger was red, when it should be green. The battery has been on charge for a week.

I touched the battery and literally burnt my fingers, it was that hot!

I know we have a battery expert in here, but cannot remember they're name!

Any ideas please?
 
Can't see leaving the battery permanently on charge as being good for the battery Hapless.
It must be bubbling like mad inside!
Click to expand...




This normally isnt an issue as they are equipped with a trickle charge....What happens is when the battery reaches its required Voltage then the transformer sleeps until it detects a drop in voltage in the battery in which case it re charges again until the required voltage is reached again....And the cycle goes on......
Im open to criticism here but i wuold get the transformer checked first....That may be the issue and not the battery.
 
Dont put it on charge again.........batteries can blow if they have a damaged cell. Homers right, oh you should never need to have it on charge that long. Overnight should be fine and if the battery is in good nick it will not loose it's charge and should be good for at least a week.
 
Had exactly the same thing this morning. I put my battery on charge after playing 9 holes yesterday afternoon. Came down this morning and the light was still red, thought it a bit strange, went to check the connection where the charger plugs in and found the battery was stupid hot! Will be calling Sandy later.
 
You need to look at the cells if it has any? And fill up with distilled water! If they are cell less and think your battery is dead!!
 
there are several sorts of charger, I don't know which the GoKart has but if the recommendation is to leave on charge then it must have a step function of some sort.

most basic, and definitely not recommended for leaving on, just provides a constant charging current.

next is as kid2 described, but sounds more like a pulse system, on-off-on etc

a trickle charger will detect when the battery is charged then reduce to a 'keep alive' voltage, enough to maintain the charge without having to step back up to charging current level.

it's unlikely that the charger is delivering too high a current, it's more likely that the charging detector has packed up and it's delivering the full charge for too long.

as tommo says, a battery should be able to maintain enough charge over a week, especially at these temperatures (though any battery will start to drain immediately the charging current is removed due to its internal resistance).
Cold weather is a different story but providing its not left in an unheated garage/shed over winter (ie below freezing), once a month should be enough to keep it alive.
 
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