I have had a battery explode while  charging.  Truck hood was wide open at
the time.  The explosion spewed battery acid all over the engine
compartment and ruined the paint on the engine-end of the F-250.  Glad this
was in the wee hours, outside, while on an old inexpensive  charger.  No
clue about the cause of the explosion.

I've no love for the so called Smart  chargers that are all I have found
for sale lately.  I never can get those to work.  When the battery is dead,
they won't juice it, often...and on my deep cycle batts, their programs
aren't right, so they won't  charge unless the battery is "right"....
   And, I've got three cheaper " smart" chargers that never did
work.....for whatever reasons.....As a semi-hijack of the subject... If
anyone knows of an inexpensive basic charger without all the features that
always make em not work, please pass a link.  I be Googled it repeatedly,
but the only type I find have lots of features that I don't want to deal
with, or they are large expensive shop  chargers...
On Jan 10, 2015 3:26 AM, "Dennis Jowell" <dennisjowell@gmail.com> wrote:

> Good morning to all
> My 20 year old Sears craftsman battery charger went south yesterday trying
> to trickle charge my Westy main battery! Does anyone have a recommendation
> for a new charger? Reading all the reviews of all the ones out their sure
> is confusing. Many horror stories of the Chargers burning etc. batteries
> exploding etc. any thoughts? Any suggestions?
> Dennis
>
> Dennis Jowell
> Scotch Hollow Farm
> Newbury Vermont