Do the number of cells in a battery pack affect charging time?

[sygyzy]

If I am charging a single 2100 mAh AA NiMH battery at 1.8 amps, it will take 1.16 hours. What if I have nine of them together in a FiveMega holder. Will it still take 1.16 hours or will it take 2100 x 9 / 1800 = 10.5 hours?

 

[mdocod]

When cells are wired in series, the voltage increases, when cells are wired in parallel, the capacity increases.

Assuming your FM adapter is a series adapter, then what you have is a 10.8V 2100mAH battery pack. If you charge the pack at 1.8A, then it will take the same 1.16 hours, in reality, it will take longer than that, as there is always energy lost to heat, and nickel chemistry charging methods always do some over-charging.

This is all assuming that you have a PACK charger that will charge a 10.8V PACK at 1.8A.

If your adapter is a S/P design (3.6V 6300mAH), then you can not charge it as a pack with NIMH cells installed, they won't be charged up properly.

 

[sygyzy]

Hi,

Thanks for your help. I understand everything you asid except for this part:

If your adapter is a S/P design (3.6V 6300mAH), then you can not charge it as a pack with NIMH cells installed, they won't be charged up properly.

What is a S/P design? And how did you get 3.6V 6300mAh from nine 1.2v 2100mAh batteries?

 

[Turbo Guy]

What is a S/P design? And how did you get 3.6V 6300mAh from nine 1.2v 2100mAh batteries?

S= series
P= parallel

9 cells at 1.2 volts and 2100 mAh each is configured in a 3S3P setup would equal 3.6V and 6300 mAh