I just bought a tool and when I plug the battery charger it into an elect outlet it sparks and they are quite visible. It is being plugged in Properly.  I won't name the MFG of the tool, it might not be their fault. It charged the batteries OK. 

 

Preston

If I remember correctly my Dewalt does that.

Was the battery in the charger when you did so?

4 minutes ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

Was the battery in the charger when you did so?

No it wasn't. I tried in 3 different circuits and it still sparks. I agree about plugging something in that is turned on and instantly picking up power.

 

Preston 

Okay I tried 4 different brands of chargers, with battery and without. In the dark all had a slight spark. If I listened closely I could hear an audible click.

 

So based on these results I am going with the opinion nothing is wrong. Normal operation.

 

Never paid attention before though.  Now I don't plug mine into the wall. I have a timer with switches to each charger. So I hit the timer, toggle proper charger and walk away. Here at work don't have pictures.

32 minutes ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

Okay I tried 4 different brands of chargers, with battery and without. In the dark all had a slight spark. If I listened closely I could hear an audible click.

 

So based on these results I am going with the opinion nothing is wrong. Normal operation.

 

Never paid attention before though.  Now I don't plug mine into the wall. I have a timer with switches to each charger. So I hit the timer, toggle proper charger and walk away. Here at work don't have pictures.

That makes me feel a little better. I also have 5 palm sanders plugged into a multi plug that has a lighted toggle switch. I flip the switch and then the sander I want to use. Then shut it off when done. I start out with the course and work my way up to the finer grit to finish. I have all sanders in a chair next to my lathe. I use then on pen blanks and I have had good luck so far. I have done 50 or so pens. I don't have to have to change sand paper all the time. I use my pressure blower after each grit and blow the pen blank and the sandpaper clean and move on. I will take a picture and post it. I have all 5 plugged in all the time but only use one at a time. I don't have enough hands for more.

 

Preston

Pictures

 

 

That's why they say, if you smell gas, don't plug in or remove plugs. Not always visible but that doesn't mean there was no spark.

Steamshovel seems to have designed a new electric chair.

4 minutes ago, Al B said:

That's why they say, if you smell gas, don't plug in or remove plugs. Not always visible but that doesn't mean there was no spark.

I know someone who smokes while he is on oxygen. So far he has been lucky.

Basically if there is a load on any cord being plugged in, there will be a spark. Every time you flip a light switch on, and there is a working light attached to it, there is a spark, but it’s inside the switch, you don’t see it. Have a shop vac running and unplug it without turning it off, you can see a BIG spark. I would say it is the design of the charger, and there is always a load on the circuit. Wouldn’t bother me to use it.

I forgot to say this. I go to garage sales and that is where I get sanders on the cheap.

 

Preston

1 hour ago, Artie said:

Every time you flip a light switch on, and there is a working light attached to it, there is a spark, but it’s inside the switch, you don’t see it

But when i start HEARING the spark in that switch i know it's time to go pick up a new commercial grade and replace the cheapy homeowner grade they put in my home.   Probably done half of them by now. 

5 hours ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

Here at work don't have pictures.

This is my charger set up with a timer.  This way when the timer goes off all the charger has no power so no topping off using up a charge the battery did not need.

 

Battery chargers have a transformer inside. Anytime you unplug

a transformer the magnet field collapses creating a EMF or reverse

electric charge back through the line. This is what makes your car

spark plug coil work.

Vacuum cleaner motors are brushed universal motors that can

also be a generator. So when you unplug one it generates eclectic

current back through the wire until it stops turning.

  

55 minutes ago, Kevin Beitz said:

Battery chargers have a transformer inside. Anytime you unplug

a transformer the magnet field collapses creating a EMF or reverse

electric charge back through the line.

 

If I am understanding what you are saying then based on this when the timer turns off, the battery discharges in reverse thus depleting the battery?

No...

 

When the electric is on there is a magnetic field around

your transformer. When you pull the plug the magnet field 

collapses creating a short magnetic back feed to your plug...

41 minutes ago, Kevin Beitz said:

No...

 

When the electric is on there is a magnetic field around

your transformer. When you pull the plug the magnet field 

collapses creating a short magnetic back feed to your plug...

Okay so the unit stays plugged in, the timer has power all the time but does not let it flow to the chargers unless turned on.  I checked this afternoon and found nothing coming back out of the charger.  Did not check the internals of the charger to see if the battery backfeeds through the transformer.  Kinda doubt that happens the batteries seem to have full charge when used.  

Edited March 1, 20206 yr by Woodbutcherbynight

I think what Kevin is saying, when the charger is unplugged, if it is in charging mode, there will be a magnetic field that is dissipating as you unplug it, and this will lead to a spark as the prongs clear the receptacle.

A back e.m.f.(also called a Counter e.m.f.) is an emf created across an inductor by the changing magnetic flux around the conductor, produced by a change in current in the inductor.

 

Your car coil....

Points close making a magnetic field around the coil. 

Points open magnetic field collapses making high voltage

that goes to your spark plug.

 

Battery charger....

Plug it in and electric goes to your transformer.

Unplug it and magnetic field collapses making high voltage

back through your plug...

 

Both is a one time short spark each time electric is 

applied and removed.