Re: what's up with nicad batteries?

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Subject Author Date Re: what's up with nicad batteries? Chris Hill 10-11-2007  Re: what's up with nicad batteries? Eeyore 10-11-2007  Re: what's up with nicad batteries? Neon John 10-11-2007  Re: what's up with nicad batteries? Jim 10-12-2007
Posted by Chris Hill on October 11, 2007, 3:37 pm Please log in for more thread options On Thu, 11 Oct 2007 21:12:15 +0200 (CEST), Anonymous >We use a fair amount of batteries, mostly aa and aaa, to power various >gadgets. I would be willing to invest in nicad batteries if they really >worked, but the last time I did that about 5 years ago, they did not >hold a charge very well. > >Have things improved any? Does the kind of charger you use make any >difference? > >Any recommendations? > >Thanks >. They've been mostly replaced by Nimh batteries. Neither type were designed to hold a charge for a long time while setting unused. They are fine for things like cameras and other high demand devices, if you know when you're going to use the device or you can leave the batteries on charge until needed. For things that have a low power drain over a long period of time, such as remote controls, rechargable batteries aren't very useful. Posted by Eeyore on October 11, 2007, 4:12 pm Please log in for more thread options Chris Hill wrote: > Anonymous wrote: > > >We use a fair amount of batteries, mostly aa and aaa, to power various > >gadgets. I would be willing to invest in nicad batteries if they really > >worked, but the last time I did that about 5 years ago, they did not > >hold a charge very well. > > > >Have things improved any? Does the kind of charger you use make any > >difference? > > They've been mostly replaced by Nimh batteries. Neither type were > designed to hold a charge for a long time while setting unused. They > are fine for things like cameras and other high demand devices, if you > know when you're going to use the device or you can leave the > batteries on charge until needed. For things that have a low power > drain over a long period of time, such as remote controls, rechargable > batteries aren't very useful. For sure in the past, an alkaline battery would have been the best bet in such situations. There are a few manufacturers of improved NiMHs who are now selling them 'ready charged' just like alkalines. Apparently they will hold at least 50% of their charge for a year. Graham Posted by Neon John on October 11, 2007, 5:03 pm Please log in for more thread options >On Thu, 11 Oct 2007 21:12:15 +0200 (CEST), Anonymous > >>We use a fair amount of batteries, mostly aa and aaa, to power various >>gadgets. I would be willing to invest in nicad batteries if they really >>worked, but the last time I did that about 5 years ago, they did not >>hold a charge very well. >> >>Have things improved any? Does the kind of charger you use make any >>difference? >> >>Any recommendations? >> >>Thanks >>. > >They've been mostly replaced by Nimh batteries. Neither type were >designed to hold a charge for a long time while setting unused. They >are fine for things like cameras and other high demand devices, if you >know when you're going to use the device or you can leave the >batteries on charge until needed. For things that have a low power >drain over a long period of time, such as remote controls, rechargable >batteries aren't very useful. NiCads hold charge quite well. NiMH, much less well. NiMH is still at about 1%/day. The solution is simple. Store them on trickle chargers. That's what I do. One can buy large trickle chargers from the likes of http:/www.qualitychinagoods.com, http://www.dealextreme.com and other places that hold up to 16 AA cells. Select one that floats only a few ma of current. Simply store the cells in the charger until use. As for remote controls, who really cares how long they last? They last between 90 and 180 days, depending on the specific battery chemistry. No big deal to pop 'em out and pop in new ones. It's been almost a year since I did any serious testing and things have improved in the interval. Back then the green/black/silver printed Energizer AAs had the most actual capacity. Labeled 2500 mah, actual about 2450. John -- John De Armond See my website for my current email address http://www.neon-john.com http://www.johndearmond.com <-- best little blog on the net! Tellico Plains, Occupied TN Hell is truth seen too late. -Hobbs Posted by Jim on October 12, 2007, 5:01 pm Please log in for more thread options > On Thu, 11 Oct 2007 21:12:15 +0200 (CEST), Anonymous > >>We use a fair amount of batteries, mostly aa and aaa, to power various >>gadgets. I would be willing to invest in nicad batteries if they really >>worked, but the last time I did that about 5 years ago, they did not >>hold a charge very well. >> >>Have things improved any? Does the kind of charger you use make any >>difference? >> >>Any recommendations? >> >>Thanks >>. > > They've been mostly replaced by Nimh batteries. Neither type were > designed to hold a charge for a long time while setting unused. They > are fine for things like cameras and other high demand devices, if you > know when you're going to use the device or you can leave the > batteries on charge until needed. For things that have a low power > drain over a long period of time, such as remote controls, rechargable > batteries aren't very useful. I use them in all my remotes, and even battery operated clocks. The drain does not appear to occur if there is an actual load, no matter how slight, on the battery. I have had no problems whatsoever and couldn't be happier. Similar Threads Posted Re: what's up with nicad batteries? October 11, 2007, 3:32 pm Re: what's up with nicad batteries? October 12, 2007, 4:54 pm Re: what's up with nicad batteries? 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