NI-CAD CATTERIES

[centrica1eng]

hello all i am in the process of bying a dewalt combi drill and just wanted too know do ni cad batteries always hold there charge? and if so for how long?
thanks

 

[Monkeh]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ni-cad

 

[mattylad]

If it used NiCad batteries then I suspect it is really old.
NiCad is on its way if not already - out and been replaced with NimH.

ISTR that NiCad battereis are also contrary to ROSH.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

NiCad is on its way if not already - out and been replaced with NimH.

And that in turn has been replaced by Li-Ion.

NiCd is 2 generations old - don't buy it.

 

[big-all]

nicads have a discharge off around 5% so will go flat after several weeks off no use 'ideally the need to be cycled 3 or 4 times a year if not in use
as in run till 95-97% flat then fully charge and leave charged
do not be tempted to charge a nicad that isn't 95-97% discharged as it can start to get a memory at the level you charge at

nmh and li-ion can be charged at will and with around 25% charge time will give over half a charge providing neither battery or charger are hot

when mixing and matching old and new battery types only aeg ryobi and dewalt make all 18v tools and batteries compatable although dewalt have now introduced a different slide on battery but at least have introduced a clip in li-ion battery so still compatable

if you intend to mix and match nicads nmh and li-ion batteries you need the newest charger for the newest battery design that will charge the older batteries just fine where as old chargers wont charge newer types off batteries

 

[jj4091]

if you intend to mix and match nicads nmh and li-ion batteries you need the newest charger for the newest battery design that will charge the older batteries just fine where as old chargers wont charge newer types off batteries

Is that because of physical restrictions or electronic?

 

[big-all]

Is that because of physical restrictions or electronic?

its because they charge differently
ryobi have different charging points on the li-ion batteries so charges nicads an li-ions differently

dewalt have an additional contact on the divider between the main contacts on the battery this is used by both nmh and li-ion batteries but the li-ion have additional fins to stop them fitting in the yellow nmh/ nicad charger