Ni-Mh charge rate vs trickle charge rate

[moldyoldy]

I use two LaCrosse BC-900 chargers to charge Ni-Mh AA & AAA cells which allow variable rate charging from 200ma to 1800ma with an indication of what is going on, volts or ma or mah. When the charging cycle is complete the residual charge rate is also displayable. I have observed that the higher the charge rate, the higher the residual or trickle charge rate, AAA or AA cells. Both chargers demonstrate this correlation of high charge rate resulting in high trickle charge rate. There appears to be no correlation of the larger/smaller cell capacity or size to the residual trickle charge rate.

For example: a charge rate of 200ma when complete indicates a residual charge of about 11-16ma. A charge rate of 500-700ma when complete indicates a residual charge rate of about 25-30ma. A charge rate of 1000ma when complete indicates a residual charge rate of 50-60ma. The characteristic does not seem to be dependent on cell brand or capacity. I have observed this with Energizer AA(2500mah) cells near their end of life, Powerex AA(2700mah) cells in mid-life, and new Maha Imedion low self-discharge AA(2100mah) and AAA(800mah) cells.

Is this a characteristic of the LaCrosse BC-900, or is this consistent with results on the Maha MH-C9000.? Thoughts?

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Moldyoldy,

The BC-900 trickle charge rate is suppose to be around 5% of the selected charge rate. The actual trickle charge rate is selected by the charger.

Tom

 

[moldyoldy]

Aha! Thank you SilverFox! suspicion confirmed!