On Thursday 06 December 2007 13:18, Mark wrote: > Any general consensus on the life of a charge on NiMH batteries? I mean, > if I charge them and leave them sitting around without using them, how > long before the charge degrades to a point they need to be recharged. > Inquiring minds want to know! All types of batteries discharge over time, and very rarely are they any good after eight years (the hydrogen ions - essential in all kinds of batteries - have by then all disappeared from the batteries)! Having used electrically powered models for decades I have used a lot - from Sealed Lead Acid, to LiPos! NiMHs are the worst I know of - LiPos are the best (years before they totally discharged)! Lead-acid and NiCads somewhere in between! On the other hand, LiPos are the most difficult to charge safely (you need a charger AND an equalizer), and slowly but sure loses capacity (depending on how many times you charge them). But LiPos have almost no selfdischarge, thus are excellent for electric bilge pumps, and other safety equipment! If you short them they explode and set fire to their surroundings - thus mechanically sensitive! So I use LiPos in my model aircraft, and SLA (sealed lead acid battery) in the kayak - if the plane goes up in smoke, so be it, but I sure don't want the kayak catch fire - ever - and even less when anyone is in it! Tord PS For things I use often I use NiMHs, like my electric tools! *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Dec 06 2007 - 15:55:14 PST
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