4/29/2017 BU807:HowtoRestoreNickelbasedBatteriesBatteryUniversity

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BU807:HowtoRestoreNickelbasedBatteries

Discoverifmemoryismythorfact,andhowtopreventandeliminateit.

Duringthenickelcadmiumyearsofthe1970sand1980s,batteryillswereblamedonmemory.Today,thewordmemoryisstillbeingusedtoadvertisenewer
batteriesasbeingmemoryfree.Memorycomesfromcyclicmemory,meaningthatanickelcadmiumbatterycouldrememberhowmuchenergywasdrawnon
previousdischargesanditwoulddeliverthesameamountonrepeatdischarges.Ifmorewasdemanded,thevoltagewouldabruptlydropasiftoprotestagainst
imposedovertime.

MemoryoccurswhenkeepingaNiCdbatteryisovercharged.Theeffectcanbereversedwithapulsecharge,butitismoreeffectivelytoapplyafulldischargecycle.
Figure826illustratestheanodeofanormalNiCd,memorythatformed,andarestoredanode.

Newnickelcadmiumcell.Theanode(negativeelectrode)
isinfreshcondition.Hexagonalcadmiumhydroxide
crystalsareabout1micronincrosssection,exposing
largesurfaceareatotheelectrolyteformaximum
performance.

Cellwithcrystallineformation.Crystalshave
grownto50100micronsincrosssection,concealing
largeportionsoftheactivematerialfromtheelectrolyte.
Jaggededgesandsharpcornerscanpiercetheseparator,
leadingtoincreasedselfdischargeorelectricalshort.

Restoredcell.Afterapulsedcharge,thecrystalsare
reducedto35microns:analmost100%restoration.
Exerciseorreconditionisneededifthepulsecharge
aloneisnoteffective.

Figure1:Crystallineformationonnickelcadmiumcell.Crystallineformationoccursoverafewmonthsifabatteryisoverchargedandnotmaintainedwithperiodic
deepdischarges.

Themodernnickelcadmiumbatterynolongerhascyclicmemory,butitsuffersfromcrystallineformation.Theactivecadmiummaterialisappliedonthenegativeplate
andwithtime,acrystallineformationdevelopsthatreducesthesurfaceareaandlowersthebatteryperformance.Inadvancedstages,thesharpedgesoftheforming
crystalscanpenetratetheseparator,causinghighselfdischargethatcanleadtoanelectricalshort.

Whenintroducedintheearly1990s,nickelmetalhydride(NiMH)washailedasbeingmemoryfree,butthisclaimisonlypartiallytrue.NiMHissubjecttomemorybut
toalesserdegreethanNiCd.WhileNiMHhasonlythenickelplatetoworryabout,NiCdalsoincludesthememorypronecadmiumnegativeelectrode.Thisisasimple
explanationofwhyNiMHislesssusceptibletomemorythanNiCd.

Crystallineformationoccursifanickelbasedbatteryisleftinthechargerfordaysorrepeatedlyrechargedwithoutaperiodicfulldischarge.Sincemostapplications
fallintothisuserpattern,NiCdrequiresaperiodicdischargeto1voltpercelltoprolongservicelife.Adischarge/chargecycleaspartofmaintenance,knownas
exercise,shouldbedoneevery13months.Avoidoverexercisingasthiswearsdownthebatteryunnecessarily.

Ifregularexerciseisomittedfor6monthsorlonger,thecrystalsingrainthemselvesandafullrestorationwithadischargeto1voltpercellmaynolongerbesufficient.
Restorationisoftenpossiblebyapplyingasecondarydischargecalledrecondition.Reconditionisaslowdischargethatdrainsthebatterytoabout0.4V/celland
lower.

TestsbytheUSArmyindicatethataNiCdcellneedstobedischargedtoatleast0.6Vtoeffectivelybreakupthemoreresistantcrystallineformations.Duringthis
correctivedischarge,thecurrentmustbekeptlowtominimizecellreversalasNiCdcanonlytolerateasmallamountofcellreversal.(SeeBU501:BasicsAbout
Discharging).).Figure2illustratesthebatteryvoltageduringadischargeto1V/cell,followedbythesecondarydischargeto0.4V/cell.

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Figure2:Exerciseand
reconditioncyclesof
abatteryanalyzer
(Cadex).

Reconditionrestores
NiCdbatterieswith
hardtoremove
memory.Reconditionis
aslow,deepdischarge
to0.4V/cell.

CourtesyofCadex

Reconditionismosteffectiveinrejuvenatingbatteriesthathavenotbeenexercised.Batteryanalyzers(Cadex)automaticallyapplythereconditioncycleiftheuserset
targetcapacitycannotbereachedwithadischargeto1V/cellalone.Althoughlowperformingbatteriescanoftenbefullyrestored,highselfdischargemakessome
oldtimersunusableforservice.

MostshipbatteriesinlargeaircraftareNiCd.Resemblinganoversizedstarterbatteryinavehicle,thesebatteriesareservicedbyapplyingafulldischargeand
keepingeachcellatzerovoltsfor24hoursbeforerecharge.Eachcellisthencheckedforcorrectvoltage,andcapacityverificationistakenwithafulldischarge/charge
cyclebeforeinstallingthemagainintheairplane.Aviationbatteriesfollowstrictmaintenanceschedules.

Lastupdated20160402

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Comments
OnDecember6,2011at11:43am

COburnerwrote:

IvetriedthedeepreconditioningmethodadvisedhereonsomeindividualNiCdandsomemulticelltoolbatterypacks.Imunsureifyoucoulddeepdischargemulticellpackseffectively
withouttakingthepackapartanddischargingeachcellindividuallysofarthatswhatIvedonebecauseusedcellsvarysomuchincapacity.Ifyoutrytodischargethewholepack
(evenveryslowly)itseemssomewillholdchargealongtimewhileothersgointoreversal.Imnotsureifthatharmstheweakercellsornot.Ifyouneedtodischargeeachcellindividually
itbecomesanenormoushassletokeepapackconditioned.Anyadviceonthis?

Imalsoquiteunclearfromthisarticleifthetargetfordeepconditioningdischargeof0.4v.isanoloadvoltageorwhat?Iveassumeditsanoloadvoltage,butittakesaverylongtimeto
getthereatlowdischrate.Thebatterythats0.4vunder50ma.loadwillrepeatedlybouncebackto1.1v.undernoload.Canyouclarifythis?

OnJuly28,2012at12:57am

GrahamJoneswrote:

IhavethesameexperienceasCOburner,andwouldgreatlyappreciateyouradvice.Manythanks

OnJuly29,2012at8:50am

robertwrote:

Whatcurrentshouldbeusedfordeepdischarge?example0.1Corlower?

OnAugust4,2012at4:56am

Arekwrote:

Welcome.

Workswithbatteriesnicdfor18years.MuchofthattimeIgavedischargeensurepreservation.Max.dischargecurrentforatypicalAAcellis15mA,theHighCurrentSC50mA.The
currentisindependentofthecapacityofthecell,sincelesscapaciouscellsareresistanttoreversepolarity.
Sorryfortheenglish,IcomefromPolish.
Regards
Arek.

OnAugust4,2012at2:49pm

COburnerwrote:

AgreewithMr.Arak.Slowdischargeseemsbestforreconditioningpurposes.FortypicalusedAANiCdof1000maHcapacity(C),C/50=20ma.FortypicalsubCof2000maHcapacity,
C/50=40ma.OnemightarguethatanythingslowerthanC/20isOK,butImnotsureofthat.

Icertainlywishthescientist/engineerwhowrotethearticle,orothersathiscompany,wouldrespondhere.Sincepostingthequestion7monthsago,Ivecontinuedtoexperiment.First,I
thinkIwaswronginassumingyoushoulddraineachcellto0.8v.measuredwithnoload.Withnoload,yourejustmeasuringsurfacecharge,nottruechargestate.SoIthinkthatthe
targetdischargestatemustbemeasuredwithalightload,50ma.forasubCcell.

Itsatiresomeendeavortotrytoexternallydischargeatoolbatterypack(e.g.12v,with10NiClcellsinit)totheaboverecommended0.8v.percell.Afteraperiodofuse,cellsseemto
haveverydifferentchargecapacities.Notknowingwhetherprolongedchargereversalwouldhurttheweakercells,Ivebeenreluctanttokeepevenaslowdischarge(C/40,whereC=
chargecapacityofcell)onapackforthe30+hoursitmighttaketofullydrainthestrongercellsinthepack.Heresmycurrentprotocolforpackconditioning:

useupthepackschargewiththetoolordevice,tothepointitsdepleted.

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openpacksoyoucanmeasureeachcellsremainingchargeunderlightload(C/40orlessfortypical1.2v.subCcellthiswouldbe50ma.,approx.22ohmload)somewillbeat0,
manywillhave>1.1v.

foranythatstillgiveyou>0.8v.,wireeachcelltoitsown22ohm1w.resistor,keeploadonuntilvoltageis<0.8v.underthisload.

doatestrechargeonpackasusualletsitafewdaysandtesteachcellagainasabovethosethatarebelow1.24v.probablyareselfdischargingandshouldbereplaced.

replacingindividualcellsinpackistrickytodo,butpossible.Idonthavethespotwelderyoushouldhave,butIvehadluckusinga250w.solderinggun&copperstripstoattachnew
cells.Carefulprepofsurface,pretinningattachmentspots,applyingminimumnecessaryheathasworkedsofar.Tokeepallcellsinapackasagematchedaspossible,Illtryto
combinethegoodcellsfrom2oldfaultypackstomakeonegoodone.

keeppackindischargedstateuntilneededdontkeeppacksfullychargedandunusedformonthsatatime.

Ifthereareerrorshere,Imhappytohavethemcorrectedbysomeonewithmoreknowledge.

OnAugust5,2012at1:45am

Arekwrote:

Helloagain.

Igavethecurrentatwhichthereisnopolarityreversalfordestroyingcellsthatareinseries.
VerysupportiveofMr..Isidortodoadeepdischargefromthebeginningofanewbatterylifeisvery,veryprolongedhislife.
Unfortunately,cellsthathaveinternalshortcircuitcannotbesaved,althoughtheirperformanceslightlyincreases,itwillnevergetridofnofault,andthebatterywilldischargeitself.
MyoldestAANicdarenow14yearsoldandabout540mAhto600mAhherwhentheywerenew.nolongerhavesuchalowinternalresistanceandfastertounloadbutstillhold50%
chargeafterabout40days.
ModernNiCdcellsarenotasgoodandwillnotliveaslongasmanufacturersdesignthemspecificallyworse.Butalwaysappropriatetreatmentcanbeextendedseveraltimesoftheir
livesingoodcondition.
Ofcourse,whilechargingthebatterymustbecool,ifitheatsupthechargecurrentistoohigh.
DevelopedbytheSovietarmyforthecellcurrentis120mASCforthemaximumdurationoflifewithoutregardtocapacityasmorecapaciousgoalslessacceptovercharge.
ForcellC160mAand350mADcell.However,thecurrentwelfareandciviliancustomersforcedtodesignafastchargerbecauseposiadlimoneyandchargingtimewasthemost
important.
In1970oneAAcellinthesocialistcountriescostabout1/10theaveragesalary.Therecipientswereonlymilitaryusers.Producedverylittle,thepricewasveryhighandthereforehadto
bealifetimemaximum.

OnAugust5,2012at1:52am

Arekwrote:

posiadlihave.

ForAAcell4550mA,forFcell700mA(militarybatteryforradio).

OnMarch17,2013at5:45pm

mikewrote:

abatteryanalyzerfeaturingexerciseandreconditioncostingUS$2,500wouldreturntheinvestmentinlessthanonemonthonbatterysavingsalone.

Imthinkingthatsstretchingthings.Howmanycells(orpacksbatteries)adaycanthisdevicerecondition?Thegraphshowsa3hourperiod.Unlessitcanhandlemultiplepacksata
time,thats8perday240permonth,waylessthanthe2600batteriesinthestudy.

OnMay13,2013at11:30am

EricJwrote:

Mike,IbetitsurewouldpayoffinamonthfortheU.S.Navy(thatsthestatementtheyweremaking.Notforyouraverageconsumerofcourse).Theyprobablyhaveguysmistreatingand
tossingbatteriesleftandrightwhentheydontholdaperfectchargeanymore.Cantreallyblameemfortossingemifitssomethingthatmightsavetheirlives.

OnJuly5,2013at2:20pm

THEPEAKOILTITANOFINDUSTRYwrote:

Afterspendingabout2months+nonstoponlinelearningaboutnicdandotherbatterytypes,andbrutallylearningthelessonofthebatteryvoltagethatrefusestodie.illgiveyouthis
exampleofhowiwoulddischargean18vcordlesstoolbatterypack.

iwouldchargethebattery,useitinthetooltillthereisanoticeabledropinpoweroutput,takeitoutofthetool,connecta1000omhresistorand6ledsat3.6veachblueorwhiteandletthe
batteryrununtilittotallydied,thenunhooktheledsandshortthebatterywiththe1000ohmresistorandputitinstorage.

OnJuly6,2013at7:18am

COburnerwrote:

P.O.Titan:areyoumeasuringdischargedvoltageunderasmallload(C/2050)?Noloadvoltageformosttypesofcellstellsyoualmostnothingofthetruestateofcharge.

Aswrittenabove,youresafetodischargesubCcellpacksat50mA,whichwouldbeabout400ohmload.Idontseethepointofleavingthe1000ohmloadonthefullydischargedpack
either.

Imnowtryingoutasmartchargerthatcanputcellsthruconditioningcycles,testcapacityusingcharge/DCcycle,chargeatvariouscurrents,andmeasurecellresistance.Generic
Chinesemakerandcheap,butImnotgoingtorecommenduntilIvetestedfurther.

OnJuly8,2013at8:05pm

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POTITANwrote:

allidoalldayisworkonstufflikebatteries.imgoingtotellyouwhatiknowandwhatithink.iknowthatwhenanicdisfullydischargedthevoltagedropsto0underload,anyloadpretty
much,andifyoushortoutthebatterylikenasadoeswhentheystorethemthevoltageis0anditstaysthatway.afteryouremovetheshortthevoltagequicklyclimbsbacktocloseto
normalvoltage1.2+evenafterdaysofbeingletshorted.accordingtoeverythingivseenthebestplanistodrainthebatteryfastandhardthendrainitasslowaspossiblethenshortit
outwhenthedangerofoverheatingectisnolongerpresent.ibelievefrommyresearchthatanicdisfundamentallyunstableandthatthisisthereasonforlonglife(electrode
regenerationespeciallyonthecadmiumside)butthatwhenthebatteryissimplyleftlyingarounddischargedorchargedfluctuationsintheopencircuitvoltageleadtocrystal
growth/distortions.ifimcorrecteventuallyallnicdwillshortout?itwouldnaturallystabilizetheenvironmentinsidethecell.

OnAugust16,2013at2:40pm

POTITANwrote:

asafollowuptomypreviousposts,itookabrandnew9.6vnicdbatterypacktoacordlessdrillandhooked3ledstoit.ittook9hourstochargeandwitha1000ohmresistoritliterally
wasstilldischarginglike2+weekslater.istoppeditaround7vandifyouleftthepacksittingthevoltagewouldclimbtoonlyabout8vbutafterchargingagainthevoltageclimbedbackup
to10v,theinitiallevelofthebrandnewpack.ivrecentlyreadpapersonlinethatsaythatleavinganicdtoselfdischargecausescrystalgrowth,italsorecommendednotleavingthepack
opencircuit.Mystrategynowistojustputenoughledstogethertomatchthevoltageofthepackandletitdischarge,resistorsarentreallynecessarybecausethevoltagedroponthe
packcontrolscurrentflow.itmaytakemultiplesetsofledstofullydischargethepackdownto0.Example18vpack6ledsvoltagedropsto12,connect4ledsect.Imnowconsideringhigh
voltagepulsestandbyfloatcharging.

OnSeptember19,2013at9:30am

martinborjaswrote:

Ihadadeadbatterythisa.m.andputmychargeron.about5ninuteslatterIunhookeedthenegativeandnoticedthevoltsonthechargerclimb.whatisupwiththis?

OnSeptember21,2013at8:43pm

potitanwrote:

itseithersomethingweirdaboutyourchargeroritsoundslikewhatidescribedabovethevoltageofatotallydeadbatteryislike1.121.16.

agoodtiptoaddisthatifyouleaveabatteryshortedforalongtimeitwillleak,ihad2AAnicdsleakbadly.Iuseabreadboardandiremove65mmwhiteledsfroman18vbattery1ata
timeuntilitisdownaslowaspossible.thevoltagewillstaylowbutonceichargeagainitgoesbackuptonormallike20vorso.jobfinishedinmybook.

OnOctober29,2013at2:47am

Arekwrote:

WelcomeCOburner.

Surely0.4Vismeasuredunderload.
Thisiscertainlyaverysmallcurrent.

Goodexerciseloadingunloadingcantakeseveralweeks.
Itisoftennotcosteffective,Iperformedonlyforresearchpurposes.

Ifthecellissusceptibletorepair,itsbeentwocyclesofverydeepdischargewillsignificantlyimproveitscondition.
Unfortunately,theoldcells,verywornoutwillnotbeagoodfix.
Theelectrolyteisanoldandoftenevaporateasaresultofoverloading.

Repairshouldlinkmisusedoroldthathavelonglayunused.

Ofcourse,evenforcell50mAhighpowerSCwillreversepolaritysensitive.ButIwillnotdamagetheelectrodesandtheelectrolyte.
Massantipoleassumenoproblem50mAcurrentandturnsitintoheat.

IhaveaPanasonicSCcell1.9Ah(highpower),theycantake150mAandnodamageis,itcantakeuptoseveralhours.CellsalreadyhavesevenyearsandIdoitonceeverytwo
weeks.
Thisisaverygoodlink.Currentlyhavea1700mAhat0.2Cdischarge.

Poorqualitycellshavenomassantipole,even50mAcanbereversedpolarityandspoiltheelectrolyteandtheelectrode.Often,thesecellsswellwithreversedpolarityevenaverysmall
current.

Afriendrecentlygotanewcellweakbrand.Cellswithoutaname.WeresoldinPolandforaprofessionalcompanyforemergencylighting.
Thecellsare1.5Ahhightemperature
After10cyclesto1.1Ah.
Loadcurrentof0.5AatDV(1mV).
Unloaded0.5Ato1Vpercell.

Here,nobatterymemoryeffectonlycorruptstheveryverypoorquality.
Itcannotberepaired.Irecentlysailedelectrolytefromthecells,leavingwhitecoatingofpotassiumhydroxide.

Irecommendtousegoodcellsbecausetheyhavearealcapacityandyoucantrytofixitwhenweuseitproperly.
Poorqualitycellsarehighlyperishableandareexpensivetomaintainbecausetheystillneedtobereplacedandmonitored.

ThebiggestimpactonlifeexpectancythanCDcellsisthetemperature,especiallywhenloading.YouhavetousetheDVsystemsresponsiveaspossible.
Theonlydrawbackisthatoldorunusedcelllongmaybetooearlydetectedascharged.Afterafewcyclesofloadcellsnormally.
Cellscannotheatupabove30st.Cduringcharging.IfthatisthechargecurrentistoohighorDVsystemisnotsensitive.
Factorybatterychargercordlesstoolsareoftenverypoorlyloaded.veryhotbatteriesforverylowdetectionDV.
Whenyouloadthecorrectchargercaneven23timestoextendthelifeofthebatteryanditschargingspeedasitsavestime,whichpreviouslyservedonlytoreloadthecellandits
heating.
Theheatedcellalsolosessomeoftheaccumulatedcapacityandshorterworkingdevicepoweredbyabattery.

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Perfectchargerdetects(DV)ofZERO.
Chargingtakestheshortest.
Loadingcaresverymuchaboutthelifeofthebattery.
Thebatteryisthemostenergy.

Evenwith1Cchargethebatteryremainscool.
Highcurrentalsominimizestheformationofmemoryeffect.
Alotofcyclescanbeperformed.Morethan0.1CchargeandnoDV(chargerovernight).

ThischargerZeroDVverydifficulttobuy,ImyselfslowlysoImaketheATmega8(learnBascom).Myprofessionalchargerhasasensitivityof3mV.Itsalittletoolittleforthebest
possiblecharge.

NiMHbatteries,justnothot.Cyclesarealmostuseless,amereworkthemenough.Dischargecyclenecessarywhennonstopseveraldozentimesdischargeisonly30%andthen
charging.Verygracefulbatteries,justrechargethechillytemperature30st.Cmax.
Theidealfastchargingis0.3CandZERODVforhighpowercells.

OnNovember14,2013at4:16am

Imrewrote:

HiArek,
ImopeningabatteryreconditionbusinessinIreland.Iwouldliketocontactyou.myemailispathfinder0628@gmail.com
RegardsImre

OnNovember14,2013at4:27am

Imrewrote:

HiArek.ImopeningabatteryreconditioningbusinessinIreland,wouldliketocontactyou.
RegardsImre

OnMarch22,2014at9:40pm

jjgarettwrote:

Idliketoaddthatthearmypays10timesthenormalcostforitems.Thesavingsiseasilyseen.thanks

OnJuly9,2014at6:27pm

Chuckwrote:

SofromwhatIamreadingaownerofnicad&nimhtoolsaresetuptohavebatteryfailuresif1)theydonotusetheirtoolsonaregularbasis&2)ifyoudonottakethebatterypackapart
andcheckthecellsindividuallyandhaveslowdeepdrainageofcellsatlowcurrents.Isthistrue?IthinkmybatteriesdonotlastbecauseoflowusageandIchargethemonaonehour
chargeronly.Dothesestatementssoundtrueandwhatcanbedoneasaconsumertokeepourbatterieslonger?Thanks

OnNovember8,2014at6:37pm

Edwardwrote:

thenicdbatteryaregoingtodisappered...............thenimhbatteryarereplacedbylithiumbattery.whatapity,ihavebeenworkingwithnibatteryforsomanyyears

OnMarch3,2015at8:59pm

Rickwrote:

OnNov.8th,2014Edwardwrotethenicdbatteryaregoingtodisappered...............thenimhbatteryarereplacedbylithiumbattery.whatapity,ihavebeenworkingwithnibatteryfor
somanyyears.Thisistrue,ImsurebuttherearethousandsofperfectlygoodNipoweredtoolsoutthereandreplacementbatteries,ifpricedright,willkeepthesetoolsinuseforyears
tocome.

OnMarch3,2015at10:36pm

Edwardwrote:

HiRickthankyouforyourencouragement,pleasetellmethecontactinformationiftherearetheNIbatteryneedrequirementzzrm316@163.com

OnJune15,2015at2:23pm

LarryBecquewrote:

Thereisatypointhisarticle:
whyNiMHislesssusceptibletomemorythannickelmetalhydride.

OnSeptember24,2015at7:07am

AlirezaOstadwrote:

hi
pleasehelpmeaboutNickelbasedBatteries:
IsthereawaytoRegenerationthenickelcadmiumbatteries?

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Thankyouifyouhelpme

OnMarch23,2016at12:43pm

JeanPaulGignacwrote:

HieveryoneIdliketosharethatiwassuccessfulatrestoringan18vbatterypack(foundinabatteryrecyclingbin)toacceptableperformanceusingthistechnique:
Chargethepackthebestyoucanfirstthenopenittorevealallthesubccells.LEAVEEVERYTHINGINTACT.Shorteverycellto0.7vusingadiodeandaresistor.Formyexperimentsi
usedthefattestdiodeihadinserieswithan10ohm/10wattresistor.Nowiwouldntjuststandthereallnightbutiwouldsoldermaybeabout6or7shortscarefulnottooverheatthecells
bysolderingthetabsinsteadandgobackthenexteveningtodothenextbatchofcells.Iusemydrillforoddjobsinthesecurityindustryanddidnthavetochargethatbatteryfor2
weeks.Thistechniqueisfromtrialanderror.Enjoy

OnApril5,2016at6:41am

Mikewrote:

Iusedthe15madischargerateinsteadofthe50madischargerate

onthefirstIwasusinga150ohmresistorandthevoltagedroppeddownto3vonan8cellpackIchangethatfora500ohmresistorandthevoltageis7vanditsactuallygettinghotter
thenthe150ohmresistor!ImguessingthatthechargeinthepackseemstohitawallbecauseofreversevoltagealthoughIdoesstablizebackupto9.6v(1.2v/cell)onceitsanopen
circuitsoallthecellsmustbearoundthatvoltage?

OnApril7,2016at5:05am

Mikewrote:

Idischargedthepackto4v(~0.5v/cell)usinga510ohmresistorandrechargeditlastnightanditseemstohaveamuchmoregradualdischargecurveanditlastedlonger

thanksforthetips

OnJuly19,2016at6:39pm

WayneRobeywrote:

IhaveaverystrangeproblemrestoringoldfloodedpocketplateNiCdcells.Theelectrolytebecomeshighlycarbonatedbyexposuretoairandsomesayoxidationofcarbonintheplates.
Mythoughtwastoreactitwithcalciumhydroxide.ThistakesalongtimeduetothesolubilityoftheCalciumhydroxideinelectrolyteofabout200ppmbutitcanbedone.Recallingthe
warningtopreventtracecontaminationoftheelectrolytewithsulfate(topreventcorrosionofthepocketplates)Itriedremovingtracesulfatebyreactingitwithbariumhydroxide(That
shouldgiveabariumsulfateprecipitate)tillthereisnoprecipitateformedwithadditionofbariumhydroxide..Thenaddingabitofoldelectrolytewillprecipitateexcessbariumandcalcium.
Theproblemisthatwhenaddingthebariumhydroxide,ahugeamountisrequired.Checkingwhatwassaidtobecalciumhydroxidebyaddingabitofwatersaturatedwithbarium
hydroxidetoasaturatedsolutionpreparedfromtheallegedcalciumhydroxide,thereisnoprecipitate,sonosulfate.SothepuzzleiswhydoIgetahugeamountofprecipitatewhen
addingbariumhydroxidetothereprocessedelectrolyte.Newelectrolyteshouldhavespecificgravityof1.190gr./mlandconsistofKOHdissolvedinH2O,andLiOH.Thelithium
hydroxideshouldbeapproximately12gr./literofelectrolyte.Consultingsolubilityinfoforbariumcompoundsshowsverypoorsolubilityforbariumchromate(BaCrO4),bariumcarbonate,
bariumiodate,bariummaginate(BaMnO4),bariumpyrophosphate,andbariumsulfate.

OnOctober4,2016at9:36pm

ChrisCaudillwrote:

Observing,understanding,learning,practicing,refining,andrepeating
Itneverends,butitssovaluable.Itsabehavior.
Enjoy!!

OnOctober24,2016at10:51am

dobewrote:

OneofthebestwaytopreventNiCdcellsdamageinapackduringfulldischargefromvoltagereversalistoapplyaschottkydiodetoeachcellreversely(anodeto[]andviceversa)
insidethepack.
ForAAbaterypacka3to5amp.schottkywillbesufficienttoholdsmallcurrentsuchC/40withinthevoltagereversaldrawnnotmorethan[]0.25v.Themorediodecapacityused,the
morecellsafetyfromreversal.SMDdiodescanbeappliedtominimizeneededspace.

hopethiswillhelp

fromIndonesia

OnDecember16,2016at8:46pm

MichaelNixonwrote:

OneofthebestwaytopreventNiCdcellsdamageinapackduringfulldischargefromvoltagereversalistoapplyaschottkydiodetoeachcellreversely(anodeto[]andviceversa)
insidethepack.
ForAAbaterypacka3to5amp.schottkywillbesufficienttoholdsmallcurrentsuchC/40withinthevoltagereversaldrawnnotmorethan[]0.25v.Themorediodecapacityused,the
morecellsafetyfromreversal.SMDdiodescanbeappliedtominimizeneededspace.

Thankyouthatisveryinteresting.Imightperformsomeexperiments,sinceIamrecentlyintodesigningUPSsystemsforsingleboardcomputers(liketheRaspberryPi)andIam
avoidingliiontechnologyforthisstickingwithgoodoldNiMH.Initialdesignsuseadumbtricklecharger(IbuiltastandaloneoneIcanhookuptopackstodoC/10orC/20,butthe
devicehasabuiltinC/40permanentone).

LaterIwanttoaddtheabilityforthedevicetobeabletochangethechargeratetoamaximumofC/10ifthecellwasdeeplydischarged,andlaterswitchtoC/40andthenC/100once
finished.OnceIhavethatworking,Iwanttoaddamaintenancemode.TheideaistheUPSwill(onusercommand)deliberatelydisconnectthemainspower,runfrombatteryuntilitisas

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dryaspossible,switchbacktomainsandthenapplyasmallloadtothebatterytobringitaslowaspossiblewithoutcellreversal,beforeinitiatingaveryslowC/20charge.Your
informationisveryhelpfulforthisidea!

OnJanuary8,2017at7:44am

MiltonWinslowwrote:

Havereadtheaboveinformation.Tryingtodeterminethebestwaytoconditionandmaintain6cell1800mathNiCdstickpack.Wearenotallowedtoopenthepackup.Thediscussion
abovesaidsitsbesttoopenpacksup.Ifruleswillnoallowthatwhatdoyoudo?

OnFebruary23,2017at2:10pm

ebodwrote:

waytoconditionandmaintain6cell1800mathNiCdstickpack.Wearenotallowedtoopenthepackup

Sincetheproblemonnickelcellsseriesinapackisitsreversalvoltageunderoverdischargedcondition,settingaminimumvoltagelimitofastickpacktocertainpointasdescribedon
thisarticleisthefirstthingtobeconsidered.Otherwise,eithertobuyanewoneortocreateareplica.

OnFebruary25,2017at12:45pm

WayneRobeywrote:

Pulsechargeingispromotedatthestartofthisarticlebutthereisnoinformationonhowtodoit.Whatpulsewidth,reprateandpeakcurrentwouldbebest?

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