need some advice

OK, this is really off the wall, but I really can't think where else I would get straight answers. Last month I shipped two 18vdc DeWalt batteries to a client in Trinidad. These are not cheap, add in shipping, 35% import duty, 15% VAT tax, and this guy paid over 200.00 for them. He called today and said that both batteries "smoked" when he put them in the charger! I need to find out what happened. First thought would be the charger, putting out too much voltage. This could have caused the failure of the previous batteries as well. Or, a short in the charger could cause overheating real quick. Other than that, I don't know. Anybody here have any ideas about the cause? Any similar experiences? Thanks

Have you done a google search or contacted DeWalt to see if this is a common (or semi common) problem?

Is Trinidad running the same US style outlet plug. Could he have reversed the polarity. Are they using 110 volts?

What voltage/frequency do they use, and was the charger designed for that? (110V/60HZ? or European spec?)Inverters aren't always the answer.

In Saudi Arabia in 1990, the AC power was so bad - unstable voltage AND frequency - that we had to run our trailer mounted mainframe computer on generators 24/7.

Assuming that batteries w/o charger were sent I'd look at the compatibility of the batteries w/ his charger. I have 2 each of both conventional and XRP DeWalt 18V batteries and have used them interchangeably w/ both chargers, but I'm not an expert.

Also, while I'm pretty sure the chargers are universal input, it worth looking at the charger vs. local power issue.

I have asked him to send me model numbers and serial numbers for everything. Did not find anything on Google about battery problems. I'm also wondering about compatibility problems. DeWalt has a good warranty, but shipping will be tough. I asked him if DeWalt has a rep there.

I'm betting he's got a bad transformer in his charger.

Trinidad is 115V 60Hz, so there should not have been an issue.

If one battery was bad, I'd blame the battery. Not both.

DeWalt's chargers should read the batteries and not overcharge them (so incompatible charger is likely ruled out). If he had a 24V charger and 18V batteries, it shouldn't have hurt anything.

Tell him to put an electric tester on the charge pins of his charger and see what voltage it is outputting. I'll bet it's a full 115V.

Some DeWalt chargers are not rated for the 18V batteries (although they fit)... only goes up to the 14.4V versions. I have one of these... rather annoying.

I'd say he needs a new charger.

Just got some new info from him. Turns out the batteries were smoking when in his drill! Not in the charger. His old battery ran down while he was using it, he put in one of the new ones- Joe Lucas showed up and smoke was released. The other new barrery did exactly the same thing. This has to be some kind of a compatibility issue. These were brand new batteries I bought from Amazon. In the DeWalt packaging. If they were Chinese clones they sure looked good.

Sounds like the drill has a short.

Then why did the old battery work? This is weird. I'll cal a local DeWalt repair shop in the morning and see what they say.

If the drill was overburdened/overheated previously and melted the insulation on the armature it may have an internal short. Seems like the smoke would come from the vents onthe drill and not the batteries though.

Drill died, took old battery with it. Took new battery #1 with it. Took new battery #2 with it.

Humm. Maybe he just needs more batteries.

This is not one of my prize clients, but I do want to take care of him. This is definately his problem, not mine, but still...... For me to fix this, all parts have to come up here. Oh well.

I've had a dewalt charger kill batteries. Again - I figured it was the battery, so I put the other one in, and it got cooked too. Fale.

I will try to get more info from him. It has to be by e-mail- his accent is so strong that I have a hard time understanding him, and I speak Trini!

Well, I think the problem has been diagnosed, and ECM for the win. Talked to a DeWalt factory service rep. Seems that when the switch goes bad, smoke happens. He told me that it is not uncommon. Part costs 45.00, so that's a lot less than new batteries or a new drill. Funny, he told me that the drill had recently been serviced. Wonder what they screwed up when they were inside it.