Lang Elliott wrote:
> Walt:
>
> here's the description of the new RayoVac charger:
>
> http://www.rayovac.com/products/recharge/recharge.shtml
That's not at all like the older one I have, more closely resembles my
current chargers.
If it's truly charging at the 1C rate, some NIMH are not rated for that
fast a charge, though most of the newer generation ones are. Expect
battery temps in the order of 45 degrees centigrade, maybe higher. The
charge will also not be as complete as slower charges. It will be
pumping in nearly two amps into a cell to make it in a hour. The cell
will probably come out too hot to hold. I'll be interested to hear what
you find.
My older Maha chargers take about 2-3 hours to charge, though that's the
fast part, it will indicate charged, but a little more can be put in, it
then switches to trickle charging to finish the last 5% or so of the
charge. To be absolutely, completely charged takes 3-5 hours total
depending on the residual charge the battery had. The new one has a
switch. You can go 1 hour or 4 hours. Four hours will give much better
battery life than 1 hour. The new Maha has a microprocessor controlled
pulse system for fast charging that breaks up the gas that forms at the
plates during fast charge so it gets closer to full charge, and at lower
temps. It also then switches to trickle. It's unclear if the rayovac is
doing the same. So many of these chargers have the same thing inside, it
might. Though the fact it's designed to charge the rechargable alkalines
would indicate not.
I've never found a need for really fast charging, and have my new
chargers set on the 4 hour setting. That will give me a longer battery
life. The two hour fast charge was warm enough. Though with the pulse
charging the one hour is not that much hotter. The four hour pulse
charge hardly warms the batteries.
In fact I mostly charge the Portadisc's batteries with it's internal
charger, which is much slower. I've had no problem keeping up with my
recording rate.
Walt
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