I posted this in the batteries forum as well but thought it might be good for this forum also.

I have the Futaba 9CAP and all the servoes, rx, batt, and charger that came with it. I just bought a 2700 NiMH battery. The charger is the generic Futaba wall charger that comes with the radio setup and says only to charge NiCad type batteries. It seems to charge the NiMH but once I started charging it for the first time I got curious and read the wall charger which states to only use on NiCad type batteries. A few fellas at the club say they do it all the time. Please let me know your thoughts on this I am just saving for a peak charger so I dont have one yet. Also I plan to buy the Super Nova from FMA any thoughts on that charger? thanks.

ZK

You have two problems. First, your "wall wart" is only charging at a rate of 50-60ma, so it will fully charge a 600 pack in about 10-12hrs. Your 2700 pack will take well over 30 hrs to charge at that rate.

It's also possible that the charge current will be too low to ever fully charge the pack, no matter how long you leave it on there. I'm not sure what value that is, but I think you are getting close.

The other problem is that Nimh cells don't like being overcharged, and at the normal "slow" nicad rate of c/10, they will over heat if you over charge them.

That said, charge current is charge current when it comes to Nicad and Nimh, so you won't hurt the pack if you don't over charge it, I just don't think you'll get a full charge, since you'll have to wait forever..

I see, Hopefully i can get my peak charger soon. I am looking at the 969 superbrain as it can do lithium P batteries I think and I might get into those someday. My second choice is the Super Nova from FMA direct but it doesnt do Lithium at all, any words of wisdom on this would be more than welcome.

ZK

You should take a look at the new charger from Great Planes called Triton. Charges Nicad Nimh and Li batteries. I don't have one yet but from what I've read they sound great!
Ray

I have a Super Nova, just one version before the one that's out now. The newer one is easier to program than mine.

I like mine a lot, and haven't worried about Lithium cells. If you're into smaller electrics (or think you might get into them), then buy a charger capable of doing them. I don't think lithium are relevant to glow planes for now. (We don't need to save weight by paying for state of the art technology.)

You really should try to get a better charger soon though. In the meantime, I wouldn't rely on the wall charger to do that 2700 maH pack unless you have a voltage meter. At least then you can test the state of the pack.
Dennis-

I also have a supernova 250S. I like it, it works great on my Nicad packs. I've had some trouble with it false peaking on small Nimh packs though, and I usually have to set it to "Nicad" to make the NIMH packs charge fully. When I bought it, it was a great deal as far as bang-for-the-buck goes, but right now, if I was buying new, I'd buy something with Li Poly and a better track record with NIMH cells. But for me, anyway, the supernova's ability to do 1-25 cells is way cool. I use the 1 cell ability to field charge my nistarters when I forget to do them at home. It's happened more than once.

Kirk,
I haven't had a problem with false peaking on small NiMH's. I (use to) regularly charge 8 cell, 350 maH, Nimh packs without trouble on mine. I would use the programming to get into NiMH's and set the rate though. Are you just using autocharge?
Dennis-