Fire using battery charger?

badbilly · 02-09-2003, 10:35 AM

Hello,

I work with a young fellow that had just hooked a charging device (a popular brand that charges, then maintains the battery) to his garaged (pristine condition) original-year 600 Hurricane. He went inside and came back about "10 to 15 minutes later," to find his bike was a "ball of flames."

His entire garage was burned and the adjoining wall of the house, so he had to evacuate the place. He lost the Hurricane, YZF426 Yamaha, a year-old Dodge Intrepid, and another Suzuki dirt bike, not to mention all his tools parts, etc.

The battery was a sealed type.

Wondered if anyone has experienced such a ghastly scenario as this from such a seemingly benign device as a battery charger?

Later, BB

jclark · jclark's Garage

Nope.

Joe · Joe's Garage

I know some Buell guys that would like to buy that charger.

Dave Hopkins · 02-09-2003, 01:43 PM

Joe
That was classic!

Kurt E. · 02-10-2003, 04:02 AM

I've used 'em for years with no problems. Currently have three - one on my "S", one on my Honda and one on my Miata.

I can't imagine how this could start a fire, unless there were other extenuating circumstances (fuel leak, wiring short, etc.). My guess is that something else was going on that led to the fire. An original 600 Hurricane is 15+ years old: fuel lines dry out and crack, wires can chafe, etc.

Dave Hopkins · 02-10-2003, 07:20 AM

Kurt
Good point, I will add, polarity reversed? Or positive clip touching ground? On that note I have a friend who's cell phone charger started a fire in the home so?

badbilly · 02-10-2003, 06:00 PM

Joe, That was good, but why am I laughing, I owned a Buell.

Kurt and Dave. I haven't had the heart yet to my ask my buddy if the fire investigator has made any determination on cause yet. And yes, the bike was an '87 (?) I think.

Just raising the issue in case I, or some other members, might be at some unknown risk in plugging a Battery Tender in to a dealer-installed auxilliary port?

Later, BB

Steve Br · 02-10-2003, 06:44 PM

Sorry to hear about your buddy"s loss. Thought I would refer to the Owners Manual for my Better Half's 02 Yamaha XT225 when its battery (sealed) required a little mid winter charge. The manual suggested that a sealed or MF type battery requires a constant voltage charger and that if the owner didn't have access to a "sealed- type (MF) battery charger, have your Yamaha dealer charge your battery". I went ahead and used my Battery Tender but kept an eye on it and had the green light within an hour. Curious however and will will make further inquiries as the sealed units look as if they will someday be the norm.
Cheers Steve

badbilly · 02-10-2003, 07:02 PM

Steve, Thanks for the reply. Yes, I forgot to mention--both my bikes-the Rep and my old stand-by 700S Nighthawk--have sealed batteries.

Didn't know if there is some "squirrel in the woodpile" regarding the charging of sealed-type batteries. I have had the 700S since '89, but have only used the Battery Tender on it for about the last four years.

BTW, here in the desert, batteries drop like flies (never had battery problems in Denver). My old Buell held some kind of record in that it was still working after three years--as my Honda went through a battery every year like clockwork, I got tired of worrying about the Buell and finally replaced it!

Later, BB

MarkC · 02-11-2003, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by badbilly
Steve, Thanks for the reply. Yes, I forgot to mention--both my bikes-the Rep and my old stand-by 700S Nighthawk--have sealed batteries.
....
Later, BB

Are 03 model S bikes now equipped with sealed batteries? I've read on another forum that the twin-spark head equipped Oilheads will come with sealed batteries, but I didn‘t expect the current S to have them.
If your S didn’t come with a sealed battery, why did you replace it? Isn’t your bike but a few months old?

MarkC

flynbmw · 02-11-2003, 02:05 PM

I think the newer Battery Tender Plus is safe for sealed batteries.

Steve,

My better half has a 95 Yamaha XT225 also and I use the "BT+" on it. No problems so far. I just plug it in once a week and get the "green light" in an hour or so. The battery in the XT is tiny!!!. It takes the "S" about 4 hours to charge if I have not ridden it for awhile.

Harold

badbilly · 02-11-2003, 03:51 PM

Mark,

You're right, it did not come with a sealed battery. My Buell (traded it in) was the first bike I had with a sealed battery.

Because of the excellent life (at least for me here in the desert) and the way the S battery is burried the bowels of the body work, I asked the dealer to replace the OEM unit with a sealed battery and install an auxilliary port for connecting a charger. (Iron Horse BMW in Tucson, great folks!)

So far so good. But my friends horror story with the battery charger got me thinking.... Or perhaps I'm getting adult on-set paranoia?

Later, BB