Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Sooooo, yesterday after working on the X3 and pulling down the battery a bit (didn't realize the parking lights were on while I was working on it) I decided to throw my good old Harbor Freight 2amp trickle charger on it for a bit while I settled down to watch the football game. I keep a trickle charger on the Datsun while it hibernates and used the same one. The plan was to check it at halftime...

40 minutes later my neighbor is pounding on my door saying the car is on fire! We emptied 2 extinguishers followed by a tremendous battle with a garden hose but it was way too late and she burned... bad. While upset, I know it could have been so much worse as it was parked next to the garage, and next in line was the Datsun. If my neighbor had not been driving by things would have been really really bad, so I'm extremely thankful.

I really don't know what happened. The battery is in the rear and BMW has a hot post and a ground specifically for jumps/charging under the hood and that's what I was hooked to. I don't believe it was grounding on the hood but it's a possibility, however the damage is so bad there's no telling where it started. No house fuses blew. Long story short, I won't be using a trickle charger again. BMW uses an AMG battery but this was a 2amp charger so I didn't think it was an issue. No comprehensive insurance on this $5000 car, so I'm out. Ya, it had just turned over 200k but I really liked it and it had gone 15,000 miles for me without issue, being a good replacement for the Mazda 3 hatch that gave its life for me in the head-on 2 years ago. I'm getting $207 and a free tow away from a salvage yard.

So, will probably be out looking for something soon in the under $10k range... something reliable, useful, fun-ish to drive and reasonable to work on... not ready to saddle myself with a heavy car payment and insurance. I'm open to suggestions and experiences! Thinking Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Subaru... and NO TRICKLE CHARGERS.

Be well all! Hug your Datsuns. Sorry the pics are upside down... right side up when clicked...

Yikes!!!

I trickle charge all the time but use the NOCO smart chargers that shut themselves down if they'res something wrong with the power draw.

You were very lucky you didn't lose the roadster! You owe your neighbor big time!

The only time I've seen that type of fire damage was from a fuel rail fire on a Porsche 944 at Spokane Raceway road course, guy drove it off the track with flames coming out under the hood and several extinguishers eventually put it out but the engine bay was melted.

Good luck on your search for a replacement daily, not sure what to recommend.

I've seen something online with it being bad /a problem , I've a 9 ot 10 yr hf old one luv it
The problem one I think had a green lite up tab
Maybe it is putting AC current in instead oF DC

AGM batteries charge at a higher rate than lead acid so perhaps it was trying to draw too many amps. Generally though an AGM battery will just not fully charge if the charger is not rated for AGM. I would guess that you just had a charger failure not related to the battery type. BatteryTender has an inexpensive model that automatically switches from lead acid to AGM. I’m glad that it was contained to just the BMW Greg, if the car was in your garage you could have lost your house or even your lives!

Who won the football game?

Greg…glad you are ok, house is ok and datsun is A ok so sorry on the Bimmer.
Steve

My condolences, Greg. I'm glad you, your house, and Datsun are alright.
Mike

I found this online, but I would think that most chargers have some reverse polarity protection.
Charging an AGM battery backwards can potentially cause a fire due to the extreme heat generated when the current flows in the wrong direction, which can lead to the release of flammable hydrogen gas and potentially cause the battery to explode if the internal pressure becomes too high.

Car fires are scary, and hard to put out-- glad that you, the house, and the roadster are ok...

-m

Thanks for all the well-wishings! I've been watching the horrible fires in CA like many of us and know I am truly fortunate. Yes, once the plastic was lit and combined with the closed hood it was very difficult to extinguish. I've posted to my BMW site and I'm sure I'll be "flamed" for something I did. I don't think I hooked it up backwards as I had literally just taken it off the Datsun and put it on the BMW, and the little green light said we were connected and I'm pretty aware, but who knows... could have shorted on the hood too. Regardless, a serious learning experience!

The Rams won (like you didn't know!). Vikings collapsed. I don't really like any of the teams in the playoffs except maybe Detroit or Washington. Hey, maybe the car was doing it's best impression of a Viking funeral pyer...

The BMW site didn't flame me and did suggest that it could have been an extra high draw or a short, but also noted that there are higher quality tenders and trickle chargers that can sense issues and shut themselves down.

So to my Roadster friends, two things: Get at least one fire extinguisher you carry in your car(s), and don't use things like chargers that don't have feedback systems to monitor for issues! I carry a small halon extinguisher in the Datsun (fits on the glove box) but I'm going to get another to carry in the trunk as well. This fire laughed at the two powder extinguishers we used, partially because the hood was closed, but I was blasting water into the front while the tires were exploding and it was very hard to put out. Notice in the pics the entire front of the car melted off, including the rad and front bumper bar.

Be well all!

All kidding aside Greg, you are the third person that I know of who has had a Harbor Freight battery charger start a fire. I would have to say when it comes to electrical items that you leave unattended, you should have all of the safety features possible so it doesn’t end in ashes.

Yikes. Recall?

Never had an issue with CTEK 0.8A, 4.3A or 7A tenders/chargers on the 'fleet', or a 100A NOCO jump box in a pinch.

david premo wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2025 2:41 pm All kidding aside Greg, you are the third person that I know of who has had a Harbor Freight battery charger start a fire. I would have to say when it comes to electrical items that you leave unattended, you should have all of the safety features possible so it doesn’t end in ashes.

Well NOW ya tell me Dave!
Yes, very much a lesson learned! The idea of "Oh, it's just a little 2 amp trickle... what could happen?" is nieve at best!

GFI install