Power-hungry
recreational accessories
like GPS units, digital
still cameras, portable fish
finders, and short range
walkie talkies can go
through expensive alkaline
batteries like a kid through
a sack of candy. The
rechargeable AA Ni-Cad
batteries have been around
for quite some time but have
fallen short for holding up
to the power demands of
these high tech devices.
Coming to
the rescue are the new Nickel
Metal-Hydride AA batteries (NiMH)
and faster charger units. But
there are some drawbacks to be
aware of when gearing up with
these higher capacity batteries
and charging units than can top
off a battery in as little as
one hour. Many others tout 4
hour recharge times and its
getting tough to find one that
is an "overnight" charger any
more.
These NiMH
batteries have much higher
storage capacity than the
alkalines and rechargeable Ni-Cd
batteries. The smallest battery
has a capacity of 1600 mA hr and
the most recent ones are now
holding a charge of 2100 mA hr
which is the equivalent of some
smaller camcorder batteries.
The
problem to be aware of is these
FAST CHARGE chargers will
generate a tremendous amount of
heat during the recharging
process, not only in the
circuitry of the charger but the
batteries as well. These high
temperatures in the battery can
cause premature failure in spite
of advertising claims of 1000
recharge cycles. Those life
cycle specifications were based
on a slow charging unit taking
16 hours or longer to recharge.
Here's the
tip to extend your NiMH battery
life using high speed chargers:
Plug the unit into an extension
cord in the kitchen and set the
charger with the batteries in
place in your refrigerator
during the charging cycle. The
batteries will stay cooler
during the process and thus
prevent heat related damage and
premature failure and shortened
life span. If you aren't in a
hurry, use a 16 hour or
"overnight" charger instead.
