That's the typical failure mode for lead acid batteries.
We call them "pregnant".
They are shorted internally and get hot while they are being charged.
If they don't have the optional flame retardant cases they burn like tires
if ignited.

Bob J. -- Ideal Computer Services
Hardware Support, Software Support
Disaster Recovery, Hosting
http://www.icsgroup.net (410)574-4911



Craig Lalley wrote:

>I had a interesting day yesterday.
>
>One of the ups's had an alarm on it and the computers all lost power.
>
>First indication of a problem is that the APC SmartUPS was installed in 1997, it had to external battery packs and was clearly overkill for the computers involved.
>
>The first attempt was to remove the primary battery.  No problems, every thing seemed normal, and the battery was indeed dead.
>
>I tried to extract the batteries from the external battery packs, it was a no go.  After much frustration, I disassembled the entire case to find... the internal sealed lead acid batteries hand expanded like a ballon, filling the cage.  There was no way to remove the batteries w/o cutting the metal frame.
>
>I never knew that could happen, and it happened to BOTH external battery packs.
>
>-Craig
>
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