Is it Safe to Charge Battery That Gets Very Hot When Connected to Charger

Updated 08/01/2018 | Published 07/31/2018

Question:

charging 78 ah battery on van charger getting very very hot is this okOK

asked by: Brian L

Expert Reply:

It is not good for a battery that is being charged to get very very hot. An increase in temperature is normal but extreme heat could indicate the battery is old enough that it cannot take a charge anymore, or that it is low on water (if it is a lead-acid type) or that the charger is simply pushing too much power into the battery.

A very hot battery can pose safety hazards since it can contain explosive gases so do not continue to charge a battery that is very hot. The heat means that the incoming power from the charger is NOT being stored as usable power but is instead being converted to heat due to one of the issues noted above.

You may want to refer to the linked article on battery chargers for more information.

expert reply by: Adam R