NIMH battery conditioning

[Frankentruck]

My RC history is all with NiCd batteries. For them, the general rule was to fully discharge before recharging. I'm using NIMH now because I'm not quite ready to jump to Lipo batteries. I'm not really sure what proper cycling and conditioning is for NIMH batteries. My primary use packs seem to be losing run time, so I probably need to figure it out. Anyone a NIMH user and have good success getting the most out of your batteries? Share your secrets here.

[juicedcoupe]

Get a charger that will cycle them. But in general, I treat nimh and nicd batteries the same.

Also be aware that currently available batteries aren't the same quality as the Sanyo and Panasonic batteries of the past.

[R6cowboy]

Rules for NiCd and NiMH are the same to get the most out of them. Fully discharge once every few months, prevents crystal formation in areas that haven't fully discharged. Not necessary to fully discharge batteries before charging them all the time (only periodically like previously mentioned), exposes the batteries to undue stresses that could effect performance. Batteries that sit for extended periods/months, best to cycle them every month or so with a good charger and store batteries at about 40% charge. Avoid using ultra fast chargers, they lack trickle charging batteries once reaching 100% charge, typically only charge to around 70-80%.

[morrisey0]

I'm using NIMH now because I'm not quite ready to jump to Lipo batteries.

Out of curiosity, why? If running standard 7.2v 6-cell NIMH packs, they make 2S Lipo packs that are almost direct replacements from a size and appearance standpoint.

[RC10th]

Most likely one or two cells are getting weak. Best thing is to take the batteries apart and throw out the "bad" cells. Then reassemble with cells of similar performance.


NiMh don't like to be stored in a discharged state like NiCd.

[juicedcoupe]

Out of curiosity, why? If running standard 7.2v 6-cell NIMH packs, they make 2S Lipo packs that are almost direct replacements from a size and appearance standpoint.

Speaking for myself.

Only five (of 20+) of my esc's have lipo cutoffs (I know about the buzzers). And I like the simplicity of nickel based batteries.

[Frankentruck]

Out of curiosity, why? If running standard 7.2v 6-cell NIMH packs, they make 2S Lipo packs that are almost direct replacements from a size and appearance standpoint.

Speaking for myself.

Only five (of 20+) of my esc's have lipo cutoffs (I know about the buzzers). And I like the simplicity of nickel based batteries.

That lines up well with my situation. Most of my ESCs are not made with Lipo cutoffs and I still get some power advantage with NiMH over NiCd. To me, going to Lipo feels like falling completely off the vintage path. The new stuff isn't a direction I want to go to, at least for my personal runners. My K1 Cat is really more modern than I like, but it was a moment of weakness when I saw 'the deal' on it, and it does remind me a little of my friend's YZ-10.