I've got 3 2000mah sub c 9.6v packs that I made up and flown about 10 times in my Zagi XS . Today I only got about half the run time and much less power from one pack . I charged the pack at the flying site and near the end of the cycle one cell was a lot hotter then the orthers. Is that a good indication of the bad cell or should I be useing some orther method .

It could either be that or one cell is in lower state of charge than the rest of the pack. Even in that case though, it would still be considered a problem cell. I think you got it nailed as a bad cell.

To make sure you detect the defective cell you have to measure the voltage on each cell, and you have to load the battery a bit to make sure. At load the defective cell guaranteed have a lover/no voltage. Without a loading the defective cell could have simular voltage as the others.

jooNorway took the shrink wrap off the pack used my VOM meter and the one cell was .5v below the orther cells.PS I used a car double filiment bulb as my load.thanks for the info.By the way the cell looked the same as all the orthers.No leakage like you will see with a bad nicd.