VisorCentral.com - Can I use NiCD charger with NiMh rechargeables?

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-- Can I use NiCD charger with NiMh rechargeables? (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=10604)

Posted by vciorici on 01-05-2001 12:52 PM:

Hi. I am from Moldova and I can't find NiMh charger in my country. So the alternative is to use NiCd charger with NiMh. Or, is better to use NiCd rechargebels? Are this NiCd so wrong??
What is better to use normal Alcaline batteries or NiCd rechargebels???

Posted by nitehawk on 01-05-2001 03:38 PM:

From what I've learned the answer is a definate mabie!?!
Depends on the charger circuitry...

Can't hurt to try... you'd only be out the cost of the batteries and mabie loss of data if they failed. (it's not likely that they would leak or damage your pda) Check out this link to a technical desc of nicads and nimh.

http://www.moltechpower.com/techdat...tion_Manual.htm

Posted by ProjectZero on 01-05-2001 05:37 PM:

The general answer for a fast-charger is.... No. Many NiCad-only fast/quick chargers do not have the correct charge and detection circuitry to determine when a NiMH has reached full charge-- resulting in overcharging.

Which can lead to leakage, premature wear, or explosion (in the worst case scenario).

I believe there are some FAQs on this topic over at http://www.thomasdistributing.com

However, for a 100% slow/trickle/overnight charge, there are exceptions. If the slow charger can deliver C/10 or less of the battery's current rating, then you can use the slow charger to charge NiMH. If the charger's rating is less than C/10, then it'll take longer to charge than 10 hours. Note: The charger must be 100% slow-- no fast charging involved. Those NiCad-only chargers that state they quick charge then switch to trickle...do not count.

Posted by vciorici on 01-05-2001 06:58 PM:

I don't know what is this c/10 but I can tell you that I saw a charger by UNOMAT for NiCad for two AA and two AAA. There was written that for AAA I need to recharge for 11-13 hours. So what is this? there was no any button to switch bettwenn normal and fast charge.

If yiu can't answer at this so tell me are NiCd better to use than normal Alcaline baterries like Duracell, Energize. Will this NiCd be more cheaper in cost than a lot of normal bateries??
Sorry for my English please??

Posted by ProjectZero on 01-05-2001 08:42 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by vciorici
I don't know what is this c/10 but I can tell you that I saw a charger by UNOMAT for NiCad for two AA and two AAA. There was written that for AAA I need to recharge for 11-13 hours. So what is this? there was no any button to switch bettwenn normal and fast charge.

If yiu can't answer at this so tell me are NiCd better to use than normal Alcaline baterries like Duracell, Energize. Will this NiCd be more cheaper in cost than a lot of normal bateries??
Sorry for my English please??

C/10 represents:

Battery Current Capacity
(divided by)
10 hours

The UNOMAT _appears_ to be a slow/trickle charger. Since I do not know what that charger looks like, you will have to be our eyes on this.

Do this: On the UNOMAT charger, look for anything that states some type of output or DC specifications. For example:

DC: 3.0, 45 ma

Output: 3.5vdc, 40ma

Charge: 6.0vDC, 40ma

Or something along those lines. If the UNOMAT charger charges 2 AA or 2 AAA batteries for 11-13 hours, I would expect the charging specifications to be around 3 volts DC with a current level of 40 to 50 ma (milliamps) for the AAA.

If you can't find any specification listed, then it is Buyer Beware. Chances are it's a slow charger, but from the type of questions you're asking, I would not take the chance with NiMH, especially if it going to be used in your Visor.

As for your other questions: Is it better to use NiCads than Alkaline batteries? Is using NiCads cheaper than using Alkalines?

Is it Better? That's a subjective question with a lot of different answers. It can be better from an environmental point of view-- you're not disposing the regular batteries as frequently as the NiCads or NiMHs.

It can be better from a money point of view-- although the initial cost of rechargables are higher than the regulars, you can reuse the rechargables many hundreds of times (and more if you take good care of the rechargables).

But, if you do not take care of your rechargable batteries, they may not last as long. You'll probably save money in the long run regardless but you might not get as many uses as the next guy.

The runtime of rechargeables can be less than regular-- maybe 1/3 less than Alkalines.

You have to use a recharger with the NiCads/NiMH. And you have to keep a second pair of AAA charged when it comes time to change batteries.

The "shelf life" of a fully charged NiCad/NiMH is shorter than the "shelf life" of Alkalines. NiCads, I believe, has a discharge rate of 1/30 of its total current capacity every day-- which means, it'll run out of current all by itself in a month sitting by itself. I forget what the discharge rate is for NiMH but I seem to recall it's different.

But on Alkalines, it can have a shelf-life of years.

It's really up to you as to using rechargables or Alkalines. They each have their pros and cons (and followers).

Posted by vciorici on 01-05-2001 09:24 PM:

Thank you for all responses. You are very amiable!!! Sorry for my English please, it is not my native language.
So please advise me finally what to do in this situation:
I found in all my country only to good chargers: Unomat and GP. Both are for NiCD recheargebles. I didn�t find for NiMH. From rechargeables found EVEREADY NiCad, GP NiCD an GP NiMH, and BASF NiCD.
Tell me please what of this are better for Visor if you know.
And tell me please what is better to buy each week two Duracell Ultra for 1 US dollar each or to buy a charger for 6 US dollars and rechargeables for 2 US dollars each???
I think the second choise is better, am I right??
Tell me also if you can, how many hours will Visor work with Duracell Ultra or other normal alkaline batteries, for example when I am writing or reading something on Visor.

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