a123 charging and possible damage

[warx23]

I recently purchased some A123's for a p7 mag mod I built. Direct drive 1 cell in a cut down mag D. Ive used the light for a month or so. I thought I would charge the battery. I hook up my battery junction charger ( like this one ) up to 1x A123. After about maybe 45 minutes I heard a slight pop. The Battery is warm and the negative end can is so slightly popped.
I was recommended this charger to use with the A123's so what went wrong?
thanks

 

[Mr Happy]

Did you try to charge a single A123 cell with that charger? The description seems to say that it is only designed for charging two cell 6 V packs:

• Smart Fast Charger (1A) For any 6.0V ( 2 cells, 7.6V cut-off ) LiFePO4 Battery Pack
• It can charge any 6V LiFePO4 rechargeable battery >= 1000mAh

I'm guessing -- I'm afraid -- that you overcharged the cell by using an incompatible charger, since a single cell is only 3 V.

 

[warx23]

yes I charged one battery.

I assume I should have purchased this one?

 

[rizky_p]

fortunately you were using LiFe not LiIon.

 

[Jarl]

fortunately you were using LiFe not LiIon.

Exactly what I was thinking!!

 

[Flipside]

I'm liking those A123's more and more every day...

 

[James35]

A123 Systems has chemically designed these cells so that they can't explode. They are patenting their design. These safe cells just saved your flashlight and possibly more harmful damage.

I love the fact that you can charge them a 1000 times and only lose 5% of your initial capacity. They are a hot item in the electric car world. Their reports to car manufacturers say they can be charged 7000 times!
And like other Lithium based batteries, they hold their charge extremely well. They will hold 70% per year. Nice!

 

[BVH]

When one of mine "vented with pop", it discharged a bit of an oily substance. Can the cell continue to be used normally or has fatal damage been done by venting?

 

[James35]

Don't be tempted my friend. Capacity will be way down and unreliable. Take it to your nearest Radio Shack to be recycled. (or can these be thrown away?)