richpeet wrote:
>
> I go by a much simpler set of rules.
>
> The only enemy of a rechargable is heat. Avoid heat-em up.
> Don't discharge, ever.
> Don't expect more than 365 charges out of a rechargable battery.
> Don't rapid charge.
> Nicad is a dead product and now is worth avoiding.
I'd add, if you use a certain number of cells in your equipment, divide
your batteries into groups of that many cells. From the day you buy them
keep them in a group, use the members of the group the same, charge them
the same, recondition them the same. Doing this you will find you can do
nearly as good as going the single cell route. Most of the problems of
unbalanced groups of cells is that the cells have different histories.
Also, each time you buy new batteries immediately mark the date on them.
I use a sharpie industrial marker. Do this if for no other reason than
to find out just how long they do last.
When you have a group fail as a group, then analyze the individual cells
and you may find some cells still have some life. Combine these with
cells of similar capacity from other failed groups to make some new
groups. I usually also demote such groups to less critical uses. The
trick is always to match cells of like capacity. And try to stick to
only one manufacturer in a group.
I agree, NiCad is no longer a viable battery. NIMH is now far better.
And Lithium Ion is the ultimate, though expensive.
Any old NiCads you have will still often give you good service in less
demanding uses, if you use a good reconditioner to insure proper
discharge before each charge. Don't discharge after use, but before
charging. And note that there appears to be little value in discharging
NIMH, though I still do once in a while.
For my working set of batteries before a trip I normally will recharge
any NiCAD that's more than a couple weeks after charge, and for NIMH any
more than a month. If I have more time I'll top up the rest of the
NIMH's and last the rest of the NiCads. I've found that NIMH's hold
charge much longer than NiCad's.
I often get far more than 365 charges out of rechargables, but I agree,
don't expect it. Though at my rate of usage that's several years. I have
some NiCads that defy the odds and are more than 10 years old. And I
also have had both NiCads and NIMH that seemed to die after only a few char=
ges.
If you rapid charge, do so only with a charger specifically designed for
the type of battery you are using. One with full microprocessor control
is pretty safe. Using mostly rapid charge will shorten the life of your
batteries a little even with the best charger, compared to 14 hour slow
charging. By using rechargables battery costs can be kept reasonable
enough that the loss of life due to rapid charging is not a big deal.
There is also still use for throw away alkalines. I find this to be
particularly true for emergency backup lights like my maglights. They
often go very long times between uses, but are critical when needed.
I also consider it a strong plus that a piece of equipment uses standard
cell sizes. I hate any kind of custom battery, rechargable or not.
Though often rechargable pacs are nothing but a case around standard
size cells.
Walt
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