🚀 go-pugleaf

> NiCad batteries should be stored in the uncharged state and then charged
> before using, i.e. the night before. When fully charged and on the shelf, 
> they SLOWLY lose their charge - I recall something like 1% per day or so. 
> NiCads can also develop memory effects. If you have a nicad that is 1/2 
> discharged and you recharge it and do this a few times, it will lose the 
> effect of fully discharging (or something like that). One way to fix this is
> to deep discharge the battery, i.e. fully discharge it (but don't short it out
> to do this). 
 
There was a good discussion going on in rec.video on this subject.  
Someone posted some factory service information from one of the 
manufacturers of nidads.  I won't repeat it all here, except for
two important points:
 
1.  The memory effect rarely occurrs except under very controlled 
conditions.
 
2.  Do NOT "fully discharge" your nicads or you may damage them.  
I was doing this myself with a special discharger until I read the 
article.  Discharging the nicad in a camera is safe, because it 
stays above a critical voltage level.  If you drop below that 
level (1.1v per cell -- that is correct, only slightly below the 
nominal 1.25 v per cell) you can damage one or more cells by 
reverse charging them.
 
 

--
                                    Terry Quinn
                                     Germantown Hills, IL
                                      tquinn@heartland.bradley.edu
from Compuserve . . .                  >INTERNET: tquinn@heartland.bradley.edu