> Also, NiCads, unlike many other batteries, have no issue and may benefit
> from a very occassional, full and complete discharge.
>
> Jack
This is a little off from Eric's dive light question, but...
As an R/C pilot you can't mean that. You have a potentially lethal weapon,
and an investment of hundreds (or thousands) of dollars flying around
completely dependent upon the health of your radio batteries.
If you're referring to completely discharging a nicad back as opposed to one
individual cell, DO NOT do it.
Maybe one or two complete discharges won't do any noticeable harm, but more
than a few will begin to destroy the weakest cell in the pack. As the cells
discharge, one reaches 0 volts first, and the current from the others
flowing through it as they continue to discharge will reverse-charge that
weakest cell, reversing its polarity. Then the second-weakest cell will
reach 0 volts and reverse polarity, and so forth, till only one cell is left
with any voltage.
Do that a few times and you've ruined one or more cells and thus ruined the
pack. That's why there are smart chargers and dischargers and
expanded-scale voltmeters to monitor the state of charge and discharge of
nicad cells and battery packs and exercise them as well.
Karl
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