those pesky rechargeable batteries: Pesky rechargeable batteries should at some time be discharged fully. You can build a discharger or better yet use a four cell or two cell...

drklrd Loc: Cincinnati Ohio

Pesky rechargeable batteries should at some time be discharged fully. You can build a discharger or better yet use a four cell or two cell flashlight that matches the type of battery you want to fully discharge. Put the batteries in the flash turn it on and let run until the lamp barely glows then charge the batteries. Works very well for Ni-cads of all types. That way you are more fully charging the Nicads which can take a set to never working at half full capacity.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

drklrd wrote:

Pesky rechargeable batteries should at some time be discharged fully. You can build a discharger or better yet use a four cell or two cell flashlight that matches the type of battery you want to fully discharge. Put the batteries in the flash turn it on and let run until the lamp barely glows then charge the batteries. Works very well for Ni-cads of all types. That way you are more fully charging the Nicads which can take a set to never working at half full capacity.

Do you have links to support this, in particular with the lithium batteries many of us use?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

NiCads are prone to developing a memory, NiMh batteries nowhere near as much.
Nicads, if continually drained to, lets say 75% of capacity, then re-charged, will develop a "memory" and 75% capacity will become the "empty" instead of closer to zero.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

DaveO wrote:

Do you have links to support this, in particular with the lithium batteries many of us use?

Allow partial discharges and avoid full ones (usually)

Unlike NiCad batteries, lithium-ion batteries do not have a charge memory. That means deep-discharge cycles are not required. In fact, it's better for the battery to use partial-discharge cycles.
There is one exception. Battery experts suggest that after 30 charges, you should allow lithium-ion batteries to almost completely discharge. Continuous partial discharges create a condition called digital memory, decreasing the accuracy of the device's power gauge. So let the battery discharge to the cut-off point and then recharge. The power gauge will be recalibrated.

Avoid completely discharging lithium-ion batteries

If a lithium-ion battery is discharged below 2.5 volts per cell, a safety circuit built into the battery opens and the battery appears to be dead. The original charger will be of no use. Only battery analyzers with the boost function have a chance of recharging the battery.

https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-tips-for-extending-lithium-ion-battery-life/

Mike

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

drklrd wrote:

Pesky rechargeable batteries should at some time be discharged fully. You can build a discharger or better yet use a four cell or two cell flashlight that matches the type of battery you want to fully discharge. Put the batteries in the flash turn it on and let run until the lamp barely glows then charge the batteries. Works very well for Ni-cads of all types. That way you are more fully charging the Nicads which can take a set to never working at half full capacity.

Who uses NiCad's anymore?

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

drklrd wrote:

Pesky rechargeable batteries should at some time be discharged fully. You can build a discharger or better yet use a four cell or two cell flashlight that matches the type of battery you want to fully discharge. Put the batteries in the flash turn it on and let run until the lamp barely glows then charge the batteries. Works very well for Ni-cads of all types. That way you are more fully charging the Nicads which can take a set to never working at half full capacity.

Following the manufacturer’s recommendations works pretty well, too.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Blenheim Orange wrote:

b Allow partial discharges and avoid full ones (u... (show quote)

Many of us are aware of this and also have google available. I was thinking that the OP might research to validate his lead sentence.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

DaveO wrote:

Many of us are aware of this and also have google available. I was thinking that the OP might research to validate his lead sentence.

You mean to say that they let just anyone Google now?

Mike

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Blenheim Orange wrote:

You mean to say that they let just anyone Google now?

Mike

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

It depends on what kind of rechargeables you are talking about! Lithium batteries are not supposed to be totally discharged.

Largobob

Blenheim Orange wrote:

You mean to say that they let just anyone Google now?

Mike

But for heaven's sake.....don't get caught Googling in public!

Joe Blow

Blenheim Orange wrote:

You mean to say that they let just anyone Google now?

Mike

Is this a new thing? Sorry, I didn't get the memo on that, how about a clarification on permissions.

Joe Blow

nimbushopper wrote:

It depends on what kind of rechargeables you are talking about! Lithium batteries are not supposed to be totally discharged.

Lithium batteries will shut off before hitting critical. Only if allowed to drain, usually by normal leakage, will they go below that point. If a cell phone or camera Lithium Ion is charged within a few days of turning itself off, it lives. If you leave it for a few months it will most likely be dead. Don't let your phone go dead. Charge it.

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

drklrd wrote:

Pesky rechargeable batteries should at some time be discharged fully. You can build a discharger or better yet use a four cell or two cell flashlight that matches the type of battery you want to fully discharge. Put the batteries in the flash turn it on and let run until the lamp barely glows then charge the batteries. Works very well for Ni-cads of all types. That way you are more fully charging the Nicads which can take a set to never working at half full capacity.

It might be better to purchase a Powerex charger as they do just what your looking for, Go to Google or what ever browser you use and type in Powerex battery charger and read the spec’s information these units are expensive but well worth it.

BebuLamar

BHC wrote:

Who uses NiCad's anymore?

Not NiCad but NiMH for flashes.