The Danger of Leaving a Car Battery Charger Unattended

4/13/2021 (Permalink)

During the frigid, North Dakota winters, it is common to come across a dead car battery. When temperatures dip below zero, car batteries can struggle to turn over the engine, preventing a vehicle from starting. The two remedies to get the vehicle to start are to: replace the battery or charge the battery, either through jumping with another vehicle or using a battery charger powered by an outlet.

While using a battery charger, it is important to monitor the progress of the recharge. Most modern battery chargers provide indicators that tell how far along the recharge is. Once a battery is full, starting the vehicle should be attempted, and if successful, the charger removed. If the vehicle does not start, even after having a charger on for a period of time, it means a battery is beyond saving and should be replaced with a new one from an auto parts store.

Continuing to leave a charger on a vehicle can have some bad consequences. Recently a Minot home was damaged when a charger was left on a vehicle, unmonitored, sparking a fire. Although it is suspected the charger or battery may have been compromised, there is a risk of fire with functioning equipment when left unmonitored.

Once the fire started, it quickly enveloped the vehicle that was charging and spread throughout the garage. Although the fire was extinguished, there was significant damage to the property left behind. Smoke and soot were prominent throughout the home and the garage, with damaged contents throughout.

SERVPRO of Minot is continuing to clean this property and working with the homeowner and the insurance provider, we hope to quickly complete a full restoration of the home and get it back to normal.