Help: Charger smoked

[Tux4711]

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Hi, I hope you can help me with a battery/charger issue.

I was just about to charge the battery of my M8. After a few seconds in the socket, I heard a slight crackle and saw that there is light smoke coming from the charger. I quickly removed the device from the socket and put it aside. I don't know if the problem is the charger or the battery. I also do not dare to plug the device in again. Has anyone had a similar experience?

For background: I own the M8 for two years. The battery and charger are original parts and have always worked reliably.

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[dpitt]

I think it is the charger. Or maybe both i.e. the charger should be secured against a faulty battery that is drawing too much current. If it is the battery then your charger was faulty too. Most likely it is just the charger that has a failed component. Not sure if it can be repaired.

Edited September 1, 2023 by dpitt

[tommonego@gmail.com]

My M8 came with a huge charger, original. Is this the one that crashed on you? I bought a new smaller Leica charger from B&H,it was either an M8-2 or M9 charger. A little expensive but works well. 

[farnz]

Is the battery you put into the charger an authentic Leica badged battery or is it an after-market battery hat's manufactured by someone else? 

If it's an after-market battery then you need to be very careful because Li-Ion (Lithium Ion) batteries need to contain circuitry that regulates the charging current by telling the charger how much current to supply and also safety circuitry that will cut off the charging current if it rises beyond a safe level, for example, if there's a short-circuit. If the battery doesn't contain this circuitry - or the right circuitry - then Li-Ion batteries can catch fire or explode.  If a Li-Ion battery catches fire then you will not be able to put it out because Lithium burns at a very high temperature.  It's the reason that there are so many restrictions on Li-Ion batteries being carried on aircraft.

Authentic Leica batteries will carry the correct charging and safety circuitry.  After-market batteries ... might.

Pete. 

[Tux4711]

Thank you for your responses. The battery is an original one by Leica. The charger is the big one.
 

The battery seems fine; the charger is the problem. Even after two days, I can still smell a hint of smoke from the vents of the charger.

 

Everyone having the big brick charger: Please be careful and watch the charging process a little bit. 

[chris_livsey]

The charger, new style, is still available new from Leica.

https://leica-camera.com/en-GB/photography/accessories/chargers/charger-for-m8m9m-em-monochrom

The super compact USB Nitecore charger ULM9 seems discontinued, very useful for travel.

I do have some third party batteries one of which developed a split casing that I no longer use as a result, other than that they have been as reliable as the branded ones.

Without going back in time I recall several discussions on these and work to show who made what, fortunately I have seen very few battery issues reported and perhaps just as many original charger failures, none of the newer type I can recall. 

I agree that Li-ion recharging should always be under close supervision whatever the battery and charger origin.

[farnz]

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FWIW, as an example of the problems that can be caused by Li-Ion battery charging, the London Fire Brigade is reporting e-bike and e-scooter fires at record levels in 2023 owing to the use of cheap after-market chargers.  Up to August the LFB has fought 123 fires caused by overcharging or incorrectly charging Li-Ion batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters and 3 people have died.  Most cameras use the same battery technology.

Certainly this is 'the other side of the coin', ie after-market chargers rather than after-market batteries, but it illustrates just how dangerous poorly maintained or poorly charged Li-Ion batteries and chargers can be.  We all (me included) take Li-Ion technology for granted and plug Li-Ion batteries in everyday but they can very quickly burn your house down or worse so care is needed. 

PS, I'm not trying to scare the bejezus out of anyone but I am trying to raise awareness of a potential threat that flies under the radar until it's too late.

Pete.

[Graham (G4FUJ)]

Quite right Pete.   

I have managed to purchase both an M9 battery charger (same batteries as M8/M8.2) and also a ULM9 USB charger.  The ULM9 charger came from a supplier in China, but seems to be a recommended charger here.

Edited September 3, 2023 by Graham (G4FUJ)

[farnz]

1 hour ago, Graham (G4FUJ) said:

Quite right Pete.   

I have managed to purchase both an M9 battery charger (same batteries as M8/M8.2) and also a ULM9 USB charger.  The ULM9 charger came from a supplier in China, but seems to be a recommended charger here.

Since that's the ULM9 is that the Nitecore charger, Graham?  I've found my ULM9 to be very good - although I don't quite trust it enough to leave it charging when I'm out of the house.

Pete.

[Graham (G4FUJ)]

10 hours ago, farnz said:

Since that's the ULM9 is that the Nitecore charger, Graham?  I've found my ULM9 to be very good - although I don't quite trust it enough to leave it charging when I'm out of the house.

Pete.

Yes, Nitecore charger Pete.  They do seem to be very good. I don't trust any Lithium battery charging to be done unattended.  

[Tux4711]

vor einer Stunde schrieb Graham (G4FUJ):

I don't trust any Lithium battery charging to be done unattended.  

After my recent experience, I absolutely agree!