Originally posted by acebird
I have to ask you if you feel testing a nicad by voltage reading without a load is the same as with a load. Try this: let your battery drain down until the last green light is lite. Then put a 20 OHM resister across the red and black lead while the tester is still connected. Caution: we are talking the receiver battery only 4.8V nom. It is apt to draw it right down into the red. Load makes a huge difference.
You can check other sources but to me checking the battery with a sizable load is more important than all the electronic charging / cycling gear on the market. They are not foolproof! If you use this type of gear you darn well better be checking before the first flight.
Ace
For the third time !!!
Switch on the TX, switch on the RX, move both sticks (this puts a load on the batteries because all your servos are moving at the same time - which, does not happen continuously while you are flying) if the voltage monitor stays in the green while you move the sticks, then the battery still has a good charge. (theoretically one could still fly if the indicators are in the mid range - when testing under load)! The problem with on-board monitors is that people do not use them correctly !!
Actually a good charger is just about foolproof, if you use it properly, because it loads the batteries to discharge (a given) them while cycling them and if you monitor the charge / discharge times / amps you will have a good indication of the state of the battery pack.