Kodak Pre-charge leak with 1 hour charger

[gokusay99]

I have an old Energizer 1 hour charger that can charge 4 cell independently (CH1HR) and used it to charge the Kodak Pre-Charge AA I bought at Walmart. But I noticed after 2 cycles of use, the Kodak after charge was kinda too warm and there was leaking some kind of white stuff at the top of one the cells, and some liquid too.. I've returned 2 bad packs of Kodak back already and I'm scare to use anymore cell on the Energizer charger. Do you guys think the 1 hour charger was working too hard on the Kodaks or it was just the bad Kodaks can't handle the current ? Should I invest in a better charger ? Since then, I bought a pack of 4AA Eneloop with a slow charger (MN05) for $16 at Walmart. Is it ok to use the Eneloops cells on the 1 hour charger ? I don't want to ruins my precious Eneloop

 

[Black Rose]

I assume your Energizer 1 hour charger is for NiMh cells.
What is listed as the per-channel output of the Energizer charger?

SilverFox beat the crap out of some Eneloops with a 15 minute charger and they didn't vent, so either the Kodak cells were bad of your Energizer 1 hour charger has issues.

 

[Mr Happy]

I've tested some Kodak Pre-charged cells and found them apparently to have a much higher internal resistance than say Eneloops. When I put them in the Energizer 15 minute charger they got so hot that I abandoned the charge and didn't let it finish.

Therefore I would recommend sticking with low charge rates for the Kodak cells, e.g. 4 hours or so. It seems that it would be best to avoid quick or ultra-quick chargers.

The fact that Eneloops can survive 15 minute charging so well is an indication of how exceptionally good the Eneloops actually are. That Eneloops can take such abuse does not necessarily mean lesser cells can do so.

 

[UnknownVT]

According to the pdf manual/specs of the Energizer CH1Hr -
it is an independent channel charger with a charge current of 1800mA for AA batteries.

This would seem to be very suitable for the Kodak Pre-Charged AA
(1800mA = 0.87C of the KP-C which is well within the oft recommended range of 0.5-1C).

This should be able to charge the KP-C from empty in about 1hr 22mins.

Partially charged cells obviously are a different matter - and should charge in less time.

It would appear that either -
(a) charger missed termination - so over-charged the KP-C - and with attendant over-heating.
Or
(b) there is a fault with your samples of the Kodak Pre-Charged.
I have two sets of 4 KP-C, and although as Mr Happy I have shown them to have higher internal resistance than eneloops (but then eneloops I'm beginning to suspect are "exceptional" cells) they have charged fine with about 0.5C which is 1050mA - they do get warm, but have not got hot.

Questions -
(1) what was the initial state of your Kodak Pre-Charged? (empty, partially charged?)
(2) how long did the charge last for?
(3) did the charger terminate the charge?
(4) were the batteries Hot during or at the end of charge?

FWIW - I suspect the Kodak Pre-Charged are clones or re-badged GP ReCyko - please see Post #12 in thread Kodak Pre-Charged NiMH (note: only my guess/speculation).

If this is the case - GP ReCyko AA tested well in SilverFox's Eneloop Self Discharge study