When is a nicad fully charged?

[daveem Dave M]

Does any one here know the best method I can use to tell what state of
charge my Nickel Metal Hydride or Nickel Cadmium batteries are in?
With a led acid battery, a simple voltage check can give a fairly close
indication, but to the best of my knowledge, a voltage check is useless
on nicads. Perhaps one indicator would be to charge a nicad with a given
voltage, and see how much current is absorbed, due to the fact that a
low battery consumes much more current.
Thanks, Dave

 

[Bob Adkins]

Does any one here know the best method I can use to tell what state of
charge my Nickel Metal Hydride or Nickel Cadmium batteries are in?
With a led acid battery, a simple voltage check can give a fairly close
indication, but to the best of my knowledge, a voltage check is useless
on nicads. Perhaps one indicator would be to charge a nicad with a given
voltage, and see how much current is absorbed, due to the fact that a
low battery consumes much more current.
Thanks, Dave

Good question!

There are inexpensive "delta peak" chargers that can do that for you. They
usually charge at c/10, and detect the peak voltage, which may be anywhere
from 1.40-1.48v per cell... depending on brand and cell condition.

Bob

 

[someonesimple]

Good question!

There are inexpensive "delta peak" chargers that can do that for you. They
usually charge at c/10, and detect the peak voltage, which may be anywhere
from 1.40-1.48v per cell... depending on brand and cell condition.

Bob

I pump mine up to 1.65v when charging w/ gen. They've been happy for years.

 

[Bob Adkins]

I pump mine up to 1.65v when charging w/ gen. They've been happy for years.

Wow...

I use Sanyo cells, which are recognized as the best. If I ever measured a
cell with over 5v, I would think I was in the twilight zone. I have seen
defective cells, Panasonic IIRC, that exhibited voltage over 5v. When
tested, their capacity was near zero.

Bob

 

[someonesimple]

years.

Wow...

I use Sanyo cells, which are recognized as the best. If I ever measured a
cell with over 5v, I would think I was in the twilight zone. I have seen
defective cells, Panasonic IIRC, that exhibited voltage over 5v. When
tested, their capacity was near zero.

Bob

errr......

we're talking wet cell here - not disposable recharge stuff

 

[Bob Adkins]

errr......

Don't you growl and hurl dots at me, you barbarian.

we're talking wet cell here - not disposable recharge stuff

Why didn't you simply say so?

Bob