Is there any charger that can bring the dead/dying NiMH AA back to life?

[stockae92]

Is there any charger that can bring the dead/dying NiMH AA back to life?

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Stockae92,

No, Yes, sometimes... Maybe...

Any charger that can discharge and provide the ability to do a 0.1C 16 hour charge may help some dying cells.

Tom

 

[65535]

I have a couple of cycling chargers, how many cells you need refreshed?

 

[stockae92]

i have more than a couple of cells that needs a refresh

any recommendation on a charger that will refresh the cells automatically?

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Stockae92,

What size cells and what chemistry?

Tom

 

[mdocod]

pulse chargers *may* have a slight advantage in recouping old cells.

 

[stockae92]

Hello Stockae92,

What size cells and what chemistry?

Tom

thanks guys

NiMH AA, and a couple of AAA too, but i am not too concern about the AAA since i don't use them much

 

[65535]

Any Charger that can cycle the cells at .5C discharge and .1C charge a number of times should do it. Most chargers like that though run on 12 volts from a power supply and are around 100-200 USD. 1 of my chargers can cycle up to 24 cells in series at a time, the other 10.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Stockae92,

In that case, check out the Maha C-9000. It allows charging and discharging at various rates, and also has the Break-In feature.

I would recommend discharging your cells at 200 mA, then running the Break-In function. If your capacity comes out to 80% or higher of the initial capacity, you are good to go. If less, then run 5 cycles charging at 1000 mA and discharging at 200 mA, then run another Break-In cycle. If your cells are still below 80%, recycle them and move on.

Tom

 

[stockae92]

thanks tom

i will check out Maha C-9000

how about La Crosse Technology BC-900?

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Stockae92,

I believe this thread goes into the differences between the C-9000 and the BC-900.

Tom

 

[stockae92]

thanks

i will check out the thread

 

[stockae92]

after reading all the info

i am actually leaning towards La Crosse Technology BC-900 for its size and it has maybe 90% of features of the Maha C-9000 but at a lower price

Maha C-9000 seems to be a better charger, but i would imagine its too much of a charger for me

and NiMH doesn't cost too much, if i can't bring the dead NiMH back to useful life again, then i would just have to recycle it (not just throw it in the trash!) and move on

thanks for all the help :thumbsup:

 

[Ziemas]

after reading all the info

i am actually leaning towards La Crosse Technology BC-900 for its size and it has maybe 90% of features of the Maha C-9000 but at a lower price

Maha C-9000 seems to be a better charger, but i would imagine its too much of a charger for me

and NiMH doesn't cost too much, if i can't bring the dead NiMH back to useful life again, then i would just have to recycle it (not just throw it in the trash!) and move on

thanks for all the help :thumbsup:

One thing to keep in mind is that the BC-900 can only charge cells up to 3000mAh while the C-9000 can go up to 4000mAh.

 

[stockae92]

yeah, you have a point

does it be both charger cannot charge NiMH cell higher than that capacity? it will stop right at their respective capacity limit?

what's the highest capacity AA NiMH now?

 

[picard]

you need Frankenstein to bring your batteries back to life.

 

[Ziemas]

yeah, you have a point

does it be both charger cannot charge NiMH cell higher than that capacity? it will stop right at their respective capacity limit?

what's the highest capacity AA NiMH now?

As far as I know 2700 is the highest reliable capacity battery at the moment. There are some labeled 2900, but from what I have read they are iffy.

 

[richdsu]

Futile to resurrect dead batteries ( after 3 or more years from production),
the battery chemistry is bad. Even if you are able to rehcarge it, chances that they will self-discharge rapidly.