How long to charge?

takumi_drifto · #1 02-15-2003, 11:08 PM

How long should i charge my 150mah NiMH cell with a 4 AA stand alone charger I made? im guessing 3 minutes, but it still doesnt run as long.. maybe more?

Namuna · #2 02-15-2003, 11:39 PM

Well, I just made a quick 4-AA battery setup and tested the current output...

@ 6.0v my meter was showing an output of about 5amps!! That's 5,000mA...So your 3 minutes charge time is more than adequate to get the job done!

I hope you're using the 4xAA setup to charge a Tri-Cell, this is WAY OVERKILL to charge a single cell!

takumi_drifto · #3 02-15-2003, 11:51 PM

LoL thats funny cuz i did like 2 minutes on a nicd.. a couple of times and it last pretty darn long on a booster.. LoL it was really fast to.

Demon666 · #4 02-16-2003, 12:05 AM

i charge my stock microsizer two or three times and i get alot more torqe and speed and also a long a** run time,ive been doing this for like 3 weeks now and no problems.i dont know if this can damage the stock nicad or what but so far so good.

Namuna · #5 02-16-2003, 12:06 AM

Well more power to ya then...Enjoy it while it lasts (ain't gonna last all that long at THAT kind of juice push)

Stick a finger (if you can) on the batteries after charging...I"m thinkin they'll be a bit 'warm' to the touch.

Demon666 · #6 02-16-2003, 12:09 AM

Namuna if im charging the nicad with the stock microsizer charger 3 times does this stll apply to me?

Namuna · #7 02-16-2003, 12:21 AM

Double or Triple charging on a standard controller is aggressive, but probably not all that harmful Demon...takumi is talking about a custom 4xAA battery setup

Think of it this way...

Charging a single cell on the standard controller is like drinking from a garden hose.

...Charging a single cell on a 4xAA pack is like drinking from a fireman's hose.

Namuna · #8 02-16-2003, 12:25 AM

takumi,

Something for you to consider is picking up a 1.5v @ 500 to 700mA (or higher if you want) AC/DC Adapter.

This way you're REGULATING the current going to the battery and it's MUCH safer and easier on the battery.

The Bit Batteries are cheap though, so if you don't care then it doesn't matter.

Demon666 · #9 02-16-2003, 12:25 AM

oh ya that might hurt a bit.i charge my 2cell bit on a 3xAA charger and it works fine,i would never charge a single cell car on a 3or4 battary charger

takumi_drifto · #10 02-16-2003, 12:27 AM

heh

LoL at least im not thirsty ey? i should do a run time check with my 150mah.. 2 minutes wll be my charge time on the 4xAA charger

Namuna · #11 02-16-2003, 12:39 AM

You should charge that single cell with just 2xAA batteries bud.

In the case of the 4xAA as a charger there is NO resistance or regulation, which means it'll send as much juice as the chemicals in the Alkalines can make (hence my analogy of drinking from the firehose).

According to Ohm's Law, the higher the voltage the more current there is as well (since there's no resistance)...So you're really killing that single-cell using a 4xAA config.

Again, if you want a custom charger, I recommend an AC/DC Adapter that has a SPECIFIC and REGULATED current. There are also the adapter that have configurable voltage.

takumi_drifto · #12 02-16-2003, 12:57 AM

should i just take 2 batteries out? i need a extra 2 for my cd player.. hmm i think ill shall if u recommend it..

Oh yeah results are in. 2 minute charge last roughly 7.5-8 minutes, a 150mah NiMH

with my 4xAA charger.

Namuna · #13 02-16-2003, 09:33 PM

Well, it depends on how long you want that 150mAH battery to last.

You're cranking A LOT of juice down the throat of that little battery and that's NOT good for it (for the long run)...How bad is it you ask? Well I can't tell you because I personally don't TORTURE my batteries like that.

My recommendation: Drop it down to a 2xAA charger and charge for 4 minutes...You'll go easier on the battery (so it'll last longer) and you should still get PLENTY of runtime.