Overcharging batteries?
 

Hi
is it possible to overcharge a battery and damage it? I have about 5 Receiver NiCd Square 4.8V 600mAh batteries that I've had for a few months. I charged them yesterday for 24 hours because I forgot to disconnected them in the morning before I went to work. Well, last night I mixed them with 2 other batteries that were not charged so I didn't know what was or what wasn't charged. So I just put everything on the charger again. can they get damaged?

No I don't have a voltmeter, or a really good charger, just the standard plug on the wall type. Feel free to share links of good chargers

RE: Overcharging batteries?
 

No, you're fine. I plug mine in overnight the day before I fly, regardless of the level of charge they may already have.

RE: Overcharging batteries?
 

If you were using the wall wart, most probably no harm done on the NiCads, not quite as good for NiMh as they are more easily harmed by overcharge, even at the slow charge rates.

RE: Overcharging batteries?
 

The above advice is right on the money. If you're using the wall wart charger you'll be fine

ken

RE: Overcharging batteries?
 

You can plug them in and probably hear the difference in the speed of the servos if the others are truly very drained.

RE: Overcharging batteries?
 

How about reccomended voltage. I usually plug my gear in the night before I fly. I then plug in my DVT and get readings of 5.2-3 volts. Is that fine or should it be higher?

Thanks,
BH

RE: Overcharging batteries?
 

If its a 4.8V pack then you are good. I get 4 flights out of my 700mah packs and mine start out around 5.3 and I stop at 4.8. A peak charger will get them up around 5.6-7.

RE: Overcharging batteries?
 

Yep, my rule of thumb is that fully charged packs will be close to 1.5V per cell (no load). So if they're close 6V, they are probably pretty well charged up. Putting them on the wall wart is the safe way to go, though. They will probably stay cool if they are charging, and get slightly warm if they are already charged.

If you're using wall warts, buy a cheap lamp timer and set it to come on/off for one hour per day. When you put a discharged pack on it, turn it on and set the dial to cut it off in 18 hrs or so (the time-of-day setting on the dial is not important). After that initial charge, the timer will charge it an hour a day to maintain it, and you won't have to worry about taking it off the charger.

RE: Overcharging batteries?
 

-Great tip pkh! With all the other tricks I've learned here or came up with myself, I don't know why I never thought of using a timer!!

RE: Overcharging batteries?
 

I wish all these RC batteries were like 9V batteries. Then you could just stick the connector on you tongue to tell how much juice it had! You always knew it was fully charged when you right foot came off the ground while your taste buds sizzled!

:D

Say "I" if you ever did this just for the fun of it? lol


..... I

RE: Overcharging batteries?
 

For the price, just go out and get a cheap Expanded Scale Voltmeter. Then you will know the state of charge of your batteries, and when to pack it up and go home.

Very cheap insurance.