Lipo balance wire short

[dolby]

So I removed my six lipo batteries from the parallel charging board after a charge and noticed a puff of smoke when i removed one particular balance lead from the parallel board. I examined the relevant battery and did not notice anything unusual except the smell of the smoke. I then measured the voltages across each of the cells and all was ok. I then did my daily trip and went to recharge later that night. Upon connecting the balance lead of the same suspect battery to the parallel board I noticed a lot more smoke from the battery and I quickly pulled out the balance lead which stopped the smoking battery. I then realized that there must be some sort of short on the battery that was only present when this balance lead was plugged in.
The state of the battery is that the black wire had all of its insulation burnt away from the back of the balance connector to the solder connection on the battery. I also noticed that the white wire next to the back wire has its connector nearly falling out from the back of the connector. I suspect that this loose white wire was responsible for the smoking battery. Does this sound correct?
The lipo battery in question is a Zippy 6S 5000mAh 25C.
How difficult is it to resolder a new balance lead and plug to the battery? Have I done potential permanent damage to the battery and therefore would it be better to replace the battery? The voltages across the cells still measure ok?

 

[Racer_X]

[youtube]G0kBx8moZ94[/youtube]

I would recommend you eventually get a bulk charger.

 

[dogman dan]

Peel the shrink, just from the very top. Most likely you will find some obvious problem. Likely a crossed/shorted wire or something, so a 4v balance lead is getting connected to one that is 8v. (and shouldn't be) Easy fix to solder new balance wires to the solder blobs on top.

Not likely you damaged the battery, as long as the tabs didn't vaporize.