nicad nimh batteries and chargers

[MaxxRunner]

Can anyone tell me the difference between a charger for nicad batteries vs. one for nimh? Can you charge nimh on a regular charger? I guess i don't understand the difference. I currently have a Piranah CX-15 charger and a older home made charger both seem to charge both style of batteries. is there anything i need to look out for doing this?

MaxxRunner

 

[MaxxRunner]

17 views and no one has an opinion!!!

Maxx runner

 

[lykan]

I got the same question, i have no idea either /\shameless bump/\

 

[MaxxRunner]

Back to the top, somebodyhas to know the answer to this

 

[mcvickj]

I do not know the reason why but I have been told never to charge Ni-Mh packs on a Ni-Cd only charger.

 

[Chevy-SS]

NiCD (Nickel-Cadmium) and NiMH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) are two very different types of batteries. Both types must be handled differently from one another in regards to charging and discharging procedures and philosophies.

In general, NiMH batteries cannot handle the high rate of charges or discharges (typically over 1.5-2 amps) that NiCAD batteries can. Many modelers use high rate, peak detection or time-based chargers to charge NiCAD batteries. Such chargers are NOT recommended for NiMH batteries (unless otherwise specified in the charger or battery literature) as they can cause permanent damage to the NiMH cells. Also, NiMH batteries will not perform well in high rate discharge applications, typically providing only a small fraction of the rated capacity in these instances.

NiMH batteries also have approximately twice the self-discharge rate of NiCAD batteries when in an used state. For example, when your radio is off, a 1650mah NiMH battery can discharge itself nearly twice as quickly as a NiCAD battery, typically within one week. Therefore, you must charge your NiMH batteries the night before each use.

When handled correctly though, NIMH batteries can be very beneficial, providing much longer run times than comparably sized and weighted NiCAD batteries.

Information taken from: http://www.servocity.com/html/nicad_vs__nimh_batteries.html

I race carpet oval modified spec class. I will tell you that some guys I race with use old style Nicad-only chargers with brand new Nimh batteries. Problem is, you have to baby-sit the charger (to make sure it doesn't cook the batteries), and watch the voltage by connecting a voltmeter.

 

[MaxxRunner]

Thanks Chevy SS I do watch the meterwhile charging and I also do a temp check also so i assume I am alright to keep on charging like this. It does make me a baby sitter but at the moment a new charger is not in the picture.

Maxx Runner

 

[Chevy-SS]

The top guys at my track are all using the Novak Millenium Pro charger. I just bought one myself. I like it but it is a little complicated to get properly set up. However, once set up, it will retain up to 5 charging profiles in memory, so it's very easy to use after initial setup. It charged my battery packs up very nicely and cut off at just the right time, when the packs were about 115 degrees.

Contrary to what I read in ALL of the RC magazines, all the big guns at my track drain their NiMH batteries after each race night. They usually have enough packs so that they use each pack only once during the night (4 packs is enough in my class). I was not draining my NiMH packs, but I have started doing it, just to see if there is a difference. Last night was my first night using drained packs and I did feel like I had plenty of juice, but my motor needs comm cutting and brushes, or just new motor.

One nice thing about the Millenium Pro charger is that it will tell you how many MaH's it pumped into each battery pack. That way, you can tell which battery pack has a little more capacity and you can save that pack for the big race.

 

[HumboldtBlazer]

I run Ni-MH. The don't have memory!!!! No need to discharge them like the Nickle Cadium. Both are WAY better than akalines
.