-=> EVERETT HERTENSTEIN wrote to JASEN BETTS <=-

 EH> Jasen Betts wrote in a message to WAYNE CHIRNSIDE:

 EH>   [Nicads]
 JB> in my experience NiCads don't last forever, and the more often and
 JB> harder they are used the sooner they fail. some techniques can
 JB> extend the life of them a bit.

 JB> Many manufacturers claim a life of 1000 charge-discharge cycles.
 JB> For a flashlight that's only recharged once a week that's a life of
 JB> 20 years for tradesman's tool that's recharged daily it's about
 JB> three years. if you're using them to power a remote control and
 JB> only recharging every 2 months they's live longer than you. (and
 JB> most likely outlast the appliance too)

 EH> Either I have phenominally poor luck with NiCads or yours are a
 EH> lot better quality than what I've been able to buy.  If I get two
 EH> years out of one I'm pleasantly surprised.

Doubt they're better quality bought at Radio Shack however I'm pretty
darned fanatical about just when I take them out of service for a
charge and the length of charge and charge rate.

Never ever charge NiCads in series unless you're stuck with that
in a cell phone, laptop or power tool situation.

Even in that case I'd be tempted to open any custom cases,
order replacement cells from DigiKey that exactly matched
the size and capacities and run contacts out from each cell
so I could charge them individually.

 
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