charger issue ???

[emti56]

So, I get home from a T on Saturday and plug in my Minn Kota 2 bank charger and shortly after notice smoke coming from the battery compartment. Find Charger wires to batteries are so hot the fuses are red and burning. I unplugged the charger, and the wires are a little melted and the fuse holders are shot. So, the question is I keep my throw cushion in the battery compartment on top of my trolling batteries and am wondering if this could have possibly caused a short or is my charger done???Never noticed an issue with this before.

Thanks

[wmitch2]

Not unless your cushion is made of metal !! Strange, as the Fuses are supposed to protect against this happening. Was it both sets of leads ? Was it both black and red wires ? Were the wires already connected to the batteries or did you connect them each time you use the charger ?

[emti56]

LOL thanks. Yes, it was both wires on both sets of leads and connections are the same they have been for years without issue.

[Menacer]

Wouldn't cause a short but the wires and batteries do get warm when charging and the cushion could act as insulation and cause them to get hotter. Enough to start melting might be a stretch though.

[wmitch2]

Wouldn't cause a short but the wires and batteries do get warm when charging and the cushion could act as insulation and cause them to get hotter. Enough to start melting might be a stretch though.

It has to be caused by a short, but what is really strange is the fuse didn't blow. Unless, the fuses have been changed to too high an amperage.
Emti56 have you tested the batteries ?

[bobcoy]

In a closed compartment in warm to hot weather that charger can get hot enough to melt insulation. What exact charger and batteries? Bob