Overcharging

I'm kind of new to RC and have a question. If I had a 7.2V 700mAh battery that's suppose to be charged for 4 hours charged for 7 would it like...explode of burst into flames? I charged it for 5 hours, my car got somewhat "faster" but the battery was really warm when I had taken it off the charger and was kind of worried that it'd explode if I charged it too long.

is this a lipo or just a regular nimh or nicd

You should be fine if you don't run it right after you get it off of the charger. Let it cool off, then drive. Dizzyinzo, it has to be a NIMH since it's 7.2v = 6 cell.

the only way they will catch fire is if you short them out...

Masatoshi,

It sounds like you have a "dumb" charger that doesn't automatically shut off after the battery is full. This could be a NICD or NIMH based on what you've told us. The battery should have a recycling label on it that would confirm which chemistry it is.

Either way, do not charge past the 4 hour mark if that's what the battery and charger are rated for. You can get more power but you are damaging the battery and eventually it will fail.

There is also a risk of a fire from over heating. NIMH and NICD's will pop like grenades when overcharged!

i dont think its possible to have a nihm to explode... but lipos, theill explode if you dont charge them properley