Contamination-Oil in 20 volt battery

[AC-WC]

Accidentally spilled chain oil in a 20 volt rechargeable battery. I've tried draining it, wiping excess, spraying with cleaner into the holes.
Should I even try charging it or just write it off?

 

[dnschmidt]

Oil typically doesn't have a problem with electricity. All power line transformers are filled with oil and your automatic transmission immerses electronics in ATF. I don't think it will affect anything except catch dirt.

 

[u3b3rg33k]

i'd be more worried about spraying cleaners in the pack than the oil, myself.

 

[AC-WC]

I used Mass Air Flow sensor cleaner for cars. Assuming it was safe for 'electrical' stuff.

 

[PCustoms]

I don't think I've seen a battery case have any openings got a picture?

 

[AC-WC]

I've kept it this side down since yesterday and it's still oozing after 2 healthy doses of MAF cleaner today.

 

[Beerhippie]

Blow it out with an blowgun on your compressor. Oil shouldn't hurt anything in a battery--just be messy.

Just be glad it wasn't beer!

 

[AC-WC]

Yeah beer and chain saws don't play nice together. I cut about 60 ft of honeysuckle along mom's 1/4 mile driveway. 1280 ft to go Maybe it will go into the charger easier.
Thanks guys!

 

[Beerhippie]

Yeah beer and chain saws don't play nice together. I cut about 60 ft of honeysuckle along mom's 1/4 mile driveway. 1280 ft to go Maybe it will go into the charger easier.
Thanks guys!

Speak for yourself.

 

[david3921]

I would open it up and clean it out. It's basically three components; top, bottom, and battery pack. Just don't have any metal nearby to short anything.

Hyper Tough?

 

[Snip's]

I've used this to clean out electric motors that were gunked up...
Designed for and works while the motor is up and running...
Would think it might be a good consideration for your situation...

 

[MOS3522]

Is it worth the risk over a battery worth 50-150 bucks? There are many many stories of lithium tool batteries burning down homes without the added risk of having flammable liquid residue inside the battery case.

 

[Rabid Badger]

1) Open it up.

2) Spray it down with electrical cleaner.

3) Blow everything off with compressed air.

4) Reassemble.

Is it worth the risk over a battery worth 50-150 bucks? There are many many stories of lithium tool batteries burning down homes without the added risk of having flammable liquid residue inside the battery case.

 

[Beerhippie]

I've used this to clean out electric motors that were gunked up...
Designed for and works while the motor is up and running...
Would think it might be a good consideration for your situation...

That stuff will absolutely destroy many plastics! I used some to try and clean out a dirty USB charging port on an MP3 player and the case crumbled afterwards.

CRC makes an Electrical Contact Cleaner that is plastic-safe.

 

[Snip's]

Yeah, This would be the better choice... https://app.salsify.com/catalogs/7d8c7379-cdab-4620-9101-e4b70cc5c5eb/products/1003717

 

[AC-WC]

I will try that this weekend, unintentionally booked for the next 3 evenings. I did notice the screws on the bottom of the battery thanks for the video.

 

[AC-WC]

Update-It was still daylight when I got home so worked on it tonight. David 3921-that's the same battery and amperage! I pulled the screws out and sprayed/wiped about 4 times including blowing out with the air compressor. Still has oil but got the lions share out. I thought they had some kind of circuit board and that is what I was afraid of goofing up. Put back together, stuck it in the saw, functioned like normal, stuck in the charger and it's still OK. I will mark this one to make sure I don't leave it charging while I'm not around just to be super safe.

 

[Beerhippie]

Update-It was still daylight when I got home so worked on it tonight. David 3921-that's the same battery and amperage! I pulled the screws out and sprayed/wiped about 4 times including blowing out with the air compressor. Still has oil but got the lions share out. I thought they had some kind of circuit board and that is what I was afraid of goofing up. Put back together, stuck it in the saw, functioned like normal, stuck in the charger and it's still OK. I will mark this one to make sure I don't leave it charging while I'm not around just to be super safe.

Oil is not an electrical conductor--unless it was really dirty. The amount of combustibles a film of oil will add to a lithium fire is insignificant.

I'd think of it more as corrosion prevention.

 

[xjfish]

I've done this many times, unfortunately, with zero long term issues thus far. (batteries and tools) I do use electric contact cleaner liberally, followed by compressed air. Let it sit to allow evaporation. Plastics may become discolored, depending on what cleaner used.