[NSRCA-discussion] Batteries

[John Pavlick]

Paul,
 I normally charge new NiMH batteries at C/10 for 20 hours once, then I 
cycle them 2 more times while charging at C/10 for 16 hours. If you 
discharge at 500mA they should be at their rated capacity after all of this. 
You can then use them and charge normally (up to 2C charge rate). It doesn't 
hurt (in fact it may actually help) if you occasionally charge at C/10 for 
16 hours. Fast charging any battery is generally not good for it (except 
some of the R/C car cells) - slow charging is the preferred method if time 
permits.
I've found that it's important to use / cycle NiMH batteries on a regular 
basis or they may lose capacity or worse yet die completely. If for example 
you let your plane sit all Winter, you may be in for a surprise when you 
charge it up for the first time in the Spring. The batteries charge normally 
but you may find that they die in a few minutes (bad cells). I've had this 
happen on several occasions so I'm very careful about this.

John Pavlick
http://www.idseng.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul LaChance" <plachance at cox.net>
To: "General pattern discussion" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:22 PM
Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Batteries


> Hi all,
>
> Are MiMH still supposed top be charged at C/10 for the first charge?  I 
> bought a new battery and it no longer says to charge at the lower rate for 
> the first charge.  So what's the real story?  Is it gonna make the battery 
> have less capacity or not last as long if it is fast charged for the first 
> charge?  Thanks in advance.
>
> Paul
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