"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
...well, no one was, but...

I just finished a season of boating in which I actually was able to use
some of my battery-powered power tools when I needed them. That is, there
was juice in the battery.

Last year, one of my battery packs died completely. Rather than just toss
it and buy another, I sent it off to be "rebuilt," but with NiMH
batteries, instead of the NiCads with which it was originally built.

What a difference!

The NiMH pack lasts about twice as long as a NiCad pack (even with a NiCad
pack that is working properly), seems to hold a charge longer during
periods of non-use, and seems to charge faster.

The cost for rebuilding as about the same as buying a new DeWalt NiCad
pack, about $50 to $60.



I had the understanding that NiMH batteries did not have good shelf-life.
Are they supposed to be as good as NiCd?

In article qNJlf.141362$S4.121888@edtnps84,
"Gordon Wedman" wrote:

I had the understanding that NiMH batteries did not have good shelf-life.
Are they supposed to be as good as NiCd?

NiMH have a noticeable shelf life (months), but they are far superior to
NiCD.

Much higher energy density --nearly 2 amp-hours in some of my AAs-- and
they can deliver higher amperage than NiCD. They charge quickly; I have
a quick-charger from RS that'll bring four back in 2 hours and plugs
directly into 12v. (I think I've seen even faster.)

Best is that they can be charged hundreds or thousands of times. I
really liked the rechargeable alkaline but they couldn't be recharged
many times.

One caveat: I believe their maximum voltage is 1.2v. That's sufficient
most of the time and they'll stay at that voltage until they're just
about flat, but our fluorescent book lights turn themselves off just
under that voltage, so we have to use other batteries.


--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

NiMH will self-discharge pretty quickly. I bought a bunch for the boat,
but can only use them in things that I use a lot, and aren't critical.
For instance, don't put them in a flashlight you never use, and expect
it to work three months later. Stick with Duracells for those types of
uses. I use mine in my digital camera, some entertainment radios,
flashlights I use a lot, a coreless gangway light, etc. Other than
that, they are nice.

"Keith" wrote in message
oups.com...
NiMH will self-discharge pretty quickly. I bought a bunch for the boat,
but can only use them in things that I use a lot, and aren't critical.
For instance, don't put them in a flashlight you never use, and expect
it to work three months later. Stick with Duracells for those types of
uses. I use mine in my digital camera, some entertainment radios,
flashlights I use a lot, a coreless gangway light, etc. Other than
that, they are nice.


This was my understanding and experience. As a result I'm not inclined to
buy something like a handheld VHF that uses NiMH batteries. I'd much rather
keep a stock of AA alkalines on-hand.

Those Duracell alkalines seem to have a very long shelf-life. I have a
2-tube fluorescent camping lantern that takes something like 6 or 8 D-cells.
Can't remember for sure because I put the batteries in the lantern in 2001
and they are still working. Admitedly it has not gotten that many hours of
use but the shelf-life is impressive.

In article nL0mf.139760$y_1.52348@edtnps89,
"Gordon Wedman" wrote:

"Keith" wrote in message
oups.com...
NiMH will self-discharge pretty quickly.

This was my understanding and experience. As a result I'm not
inclined to buy something like a handheld VHF that uses NiMH
batteries.

Our handheld is NiMH and I find that ideal. We use ours more than the
fixed, though.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/