Battery gets noticeably warm while charging

15 Dec 2011

It is normal for the battery to get fairly warm while charging in the Allegro. The battery can get even more noticeably warm in the following conditions.

• The pins/terminals in the USB / Power Dock accessory and/or on the bottom of the Allegro are worn or have become recessed, leading to poor connection on the charging pin/terminal. Cleaning (such as with a pencil eraser) or replacing (such as ordering our PN: 13055 dock pins kit) the pins/terminals may help.
• Frequently removing and inserting the Allegro in the dock (or detaching and attaching a direct power supply) in less than 20-25 minute intervals can prevent the Allegro software from detecting over-charge conditions. Though you would have to do this continuously for an excessive number of times.
• Charging the Allegro in a vehicle that has circuitry which cuts off power to accessory charging ports (like cigarette lighter plugs), such as whenever the vehicle is turned off, and not having the Allegro in Vehicle Mode, can prevent the Allegro software from detecting over-charge conditions. Though you would have to do this continuously for an excessive number of times.

   

The Allegro has several integrated mechanisms to prevent heat damage to or over-charging of the battery. These include a full battery software detector, Vehicle Mode, and heat / over-charge protection circuitry (including a polyfuse in the battery itself). So the Allegro and battery should be protected from any heat related damage and most potential over-charging conditions. Though potential remains for over-charging if the Allegro is left continuously trickle-charging the battery for an excessive period of time (weeks to months). This can potentially reduce the overall charge capacity of the battery. That is why we recommend charging the battery to full, saving the system, and removing the battery from the Allegro if it is not going to be in use (placed in storage) for an extended period of time.