ORIGINAL: FHHuber
Caution with fast chargers... you can cause NiCds to explode if they get too hot. The NiCds n a TX are not designed to handle the 15 min charge rate. A 1 hr rate is safer. (and don't neglect to get the peak detecting charger that turns itself off. Timer/resistor chargers destroy batteries.)
One time letting the NiCds go flat like that... probably not a big problem. But do it a few times and you can ruin the battery. NiCds don't like being drained below 1.1 v per cell.
Another note about fast chargers... remove the battery from the TX while charging. It alows better airflow around the battery keeping it cooler. It avoids any diode in the TX without doing a TX modification. (peak detect and a diode in the charge circuit = no peak detect!)
I agree with everything you've said here except for removing the battery. That's what I was doing on my Futaba tx until I bypassed the diode. I was concerned with how the plug is in there and how difficult it was to remove. Because I was doing a lot of flying, I was charging 10 or more times a week. I was very concerned about a wire breaking or worse - mostly breaking and then giving up in the middle of a flight. If they made the tx with a better system to plug the battery in then I would take it out, but as it is, I think it's too much strain to be repeatedly putting on the connection. Just my opinion.
- Paul