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how to rehab nimh batteries

by Kaley Pollich Jr. Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Restoration is often possible by applying a secondary discharge called recondition. Recondition is a slow discharge that drains the battery to about 0.4V/cell and lower. Tests by the US Army indicate that a NiCd cell needs to be discharged to at least 0.6V to effectively break up the more resistant crystalline formations.

Reconditioning NiMH Batteries
  1. Step 1 – Charge the NiMH batteries fully. Remove the batteries from the device and put them in a charger. ...
  2. Step 2 – Discharge the NiMH batteries fully. After the battery gets completely charged, it's time to completely discharge the battery. ...
  3. Step 3 – Repeat the two steps again.

Full Answer

How do you restore a NiMH battery?

Using another battery to burn the short works but it’s a severe treatment on both batteries. There is another way to do it. Get yourself a 4700uF 35V or thereabouts capacitor. Charge it to around 25V with a bench supply. If you don’t have a bench supply a 12V car battery will also work. Connect the capacitor to the battery.

How to refresh NiMH batteries?

I have two Bosch NiMH batteries from cordless power tool. One is performing very well, but other not so good. Most of the case there are two reasons of that: first - natural battery wear down or only few cells just die inside battery pack. Because of NiMH chemistry here won't work zapping method like on NiCd batteries.

How to rejuvenate NiMH batteries?

Jun 19, 2015 · Alkaline batteries are benign enough that many recycling organizations tell people to put them in the trash. Lead acid batteries, on the other hand, are so toxic they are banned from landfills in all 50 states. NiMH batteries, also known as Ni-MH or nickel-metal-hydride batteries, fall somewhere in the middle.

How to refresh NiMH battery?

A float charger will only restore 65% of what is drained from a NiFe battery. Regardless of battery type you need one of the following: 1. For lead acid and nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride, and nickel iron tom which you can add water a float/equalize switch that you can use to deliberately overcharge and equalize the battery.

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How do you fix a NiMH battery that won't charge?

Use DVM to check the voltage output of the cell. The calculation process is to divide the total output voltage by the number of cells in the pack. If the result is less than 1.0V, you can try to revive the cell. Charge the cell with a 12V DC 0.5Amp AC adaptor for not more than 3 seconds.Jul 7, 2021

How do you recondition a rechargeable battery?

To recondition a rechargeable battery: First discharge the battery completely through normal use - using in a device such as a camera, toy or torch to the point where the device does not work. Then, fully recharge the battery (avoiding super-fast chargers) as normal.

How do you fix rechargeable batteries that won't hold a charge?

0:342:42How to recover rechargeable batteries that wont charge in a smart chargerYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd we just put the negative which is the flat part onto this wire. And then we hold on be positiveMoreAnd we just put the negative which is the flat part onto this wire. And then we hold on be positive to another wire. Okay a little bit of dexterity there and then you grab the known.

Can you revive a NiMH battery?

Sometimes it takes two or three shockings to revive a battery. If the voltage is still the same after trying this process three times, the battery needs to be replaced. The voltage should rise to only 1.2 volts per cell after shocking. Let the batteries rest for 10 to 15 minutes before attempting to use them.Apr 24, 2017

How do you make batteries work again?

0:512:39How to Revive a Dead (AA/AAA) Battery - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTry the following. Take. Any old full metal BBQ clamp that you have clean it up and dry it out andMoreTry the following. Take. Any old full metal BBQ clamp that you have clean it up and dry it out and get fully charged battery of the same type this should work for most batteries.

Why do NiMH batteries go bad?

Standard NiMH AAs will deteriorate with disuse. They will lose their charge and then hold less power as a result over time. Newer "hybrid" AAs such as Rayovac NiMH hybrids that I use hold a charge a good long time without use. I won't buy a standard NiMH again.Apr 5, 2012

At what voltage is a NiMH battery dead?

NiMH cells start at about 1.5 V right when fully charged, drop to about 1.2 V most of their discharge life, and are pretty much empty at 900 mV. Stopping there is usually safe. 800 mV is where you definitely want to stop to avoid damage.

Can you freeze NiMH batteries?

Storing the NiMH batteries at lower temperatures will slow their self-discharge rate to a great extent. These batteries could retain 90 per cent of their charge for at least a month when you freeze them. Or at least a cool place to store your batteries would be a better idea to minimise their self-discharge rate.

What is the discharge rate of a Ni-MH battery?

2.The self-discharge rate of Ni-MH battery. Ni-MH batteries are 25 to 35% (months), nickel-cadmium batteries are 15 to 30% (months), and lithium batteries are 2 to 5% (months). The self-discharge rate of Ni-MH battery is the largest, while the discharge rate of lithium battery is extremely low compared with the other two types of batteries.

How to clean a battery charger?

When charging, pay attention to the heat dissipation around the charger. Keep the battery clean when not in use, especially the contacts at both ends , and wipe gently with a soft dry cloth if necessary. If it is not used for a long time, take the battery out of the battery compartment and place it in a dry environment.

Step 1: The Issue

I have two Bosch NiMH batteries from cordless power tool. One is performing very well, but other not so good. Most of the case there are two reasons of that: first - natural battery wear down or only few cells just die inside battery pack.

Step 2: Inspection

The good one is with 21,7V. And second battery shows 19V, so there is definitely something wrong. Comparing to good battery there is a gap of 2,7V. By looking at this number and knowing that both batteries are fully charged - I’m guessing, that there are two dead cells inside. Let’s take it apart and check how it looks inside.

Step 3: Identify Bad Cells

Everything looks pretty nice. No leaking or corroded cells. Let’s check voltages of individual cells and identify bad ones. Like I guessed, there are two dead cells with 0,05V and 0,11V. All other are good with ~1,4V.

Step 4: Checking the State of Rest Cells

Before beginning repair process, I used my Imax B6AC V2 charger and discharged 3 randomly picked cells at 2A of load to 1V cut of voltage, because at 1V cell will be almost empty. I did that, because I want to know how much juice still left in good cells and does repairing this battery is worth it at all.

Step 5: Cells for Replacement

At local electronic parts shop I bought two NiMH cells. They are rated 2,8Ah of capacity and have spot welded tabs, which will help me to solder cells back. I paid 3 euros for each cell, so this gonna be a really cheap fix.

Step 7: Reassembling

Reassemble everything back in battery housing and put it on charge.#N#After few minutes charger showed that battery is full. What about voltage? It is as it should be at fully charged healthy battery ~21,7V.

Step 8: Conclusion

Having faulty NiMH battery from cordless power tools, not always mean that you have to throw it away and buy the new one. Most of the case you can change only few bad cells inside and keep it running.

What is a NiMH battery?

NiMH batteries are great for products that are used frequently and consume a lot of energy.

How long do NiMH batteries last?

Digital cameras, handheld video games, toys and MP3 players all use NiMH batteries. The charge in these batteries will not last longer than 30 days, so they do not work well in devices like smoke or carbon monoxide detectors and emergency flashlights. There are some real advantages to using NiMH batteries. Since they are so powerful you do not have ...

When was NiMH invented?

They were invented by American scientist Stanford Ovshinsky and first patented in 1986. Some NiMH batteries look like the alkaline batteries you can buy at the grocery store.

How many times can you use a rechargeable battery?

A rechargeable battery can often be used hundreds of times if the charging is done correctly, which means a lot of batteries diverted from local landfills. Given that Americans buy three billion batteries every year (which translates to eight batteries per person), anything that reduces that number is great.

Can you recycle NiMH batteries?

They contain metals that can be damaging to people and the environment. However, in the majority of states, you can place them in your trash – just as you would an alkaline battery. If you are looking for a place to recycle NiMH batteries, you have many options. The number of collection sites is growing, and nearly everyone who takes them will not ...

How to prevent battery problems?

To prevent problems, put some tape over the positive end to keep the metal parts from coming into contact with each other. On a normal battery, this is the end with the small bump. For battery packs, take a look at the device to determine where the positive side is.

Is a NiMH battery toxic?

All batteries are not created equally from an environmental point of view. Alkaline batteries are benign enough that many recycling organizations tell people to put them in the trash. Lead acid batteries, on the other hand, are so toxic they are banned from landfills in all 50 states. NiMH batteries, also known as Ni-MH or nickel-metal-hydride ...

What do battery care givers do?

As battery care-giver, you have choices in how to prolong battery life. Each battery system has unique needs in terms of charging, depth of discharge and loading that should be observed. The following two papers summarize what batteries like and dislike.

What is a Cadex battery analyzer?

Battery analyzers (Cadex) automatically apply the recondition cycle if the user-set target capacity cannot be reached with a discharge to 1V/cell alone. Although low performing batteries can often be fully restored, high self-discharge makes some old-timers unusable for service.

What is cyclic memory?

Memory comes from “cyclic memory,” meaning that a nickel-cadmium battery could remember how much energy was drawn on previous discharges and it would deliver the same amount on repeat discharges. If more was demanded, the voltage would abruptly drop as if to protest against imposed overtime.

How many times can you charge a NiMH battery?

As we all know, the service life of brand NiMH batteries can be charged 500-1000 times according to the official claim. In fact, this is only an ideal value, and often it does not reach such a life.

How to avoid battery loss?

To avoid problems such as loss of power, keep the contact points on both ends of the battery and the inside of the battery cover clean. If necessary, wipe with a soft, clean, dry cloth.

Why put a battery in a dry environment?

When you are not using it for a long time, remember to take the battery out of the battery compartment and put it in a dry environment. It is recommended to put it in the battery compartment to avoid short circuit.

How much does a NiMH battery charger cost?

Check local electronics or hobbyist stores to see what chargers they have available. NiMH battery chargers usually cost between $20–30 USD. ...

How long does a battery last?

Recycle the battery when it stops working. Your battery will usually last through 500 charging cycles, but it may vary depending on how often you use it and the brand. When it doesn’t seem to hold a charge, contact your local waste management facility to see if you can put it in with your normal recyclables.

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What is a NiMH battery?

NiMH is a rechargeable battery that is made to address operating issues found in older rechargeable batteries. In case you are not familiar with it, the name means Nickel Metal Hydride. The battery has plenty of advantages over NiCd’s and older battery types, and one of them is its memory effect bypass feature.

What is the safety feature of a NiMH battery?

Safety Feature. NiMH batteries feature a fuse installed in series with the cells the increases safety. The fuse opens up the voltage series if the current gets too high or the battery itself gets too hot. It can also be reset once activated, which can help increase usability. Handling NiMH Batteries.

How does NiMH work?

Just like your usual battery, NiMH has two metal strips that act as its positive and negative terminals together with an insulator placed in-between them; they are compressed and placed into a canister that contains liquid electrolyte. Now, this is where it become different from other batteries. The positive terminal is made ...

What happens when a NiMH battery is overcharged?

What Happens When NiMH Batteries Are Overcharged? As mentioned, you won’t have to worry that much about “memory effect” with nickel metal hydride batteries but you will still have to worry about “voltage depression.”. In case you haven’t heard of it, it is when a battery discharges faster than it should be.

Is nickel metal hydride rechargeable?

If you’re looking for a battery that has great capacity, reliable energy reserve that doesn’t unexpectedly drain, and low maintenance requirement then Nickel Metal Hydride is for you. With improvements made in its newer generations, NiMH can be considered a groundbreaking rechargeable battery.

What happens when you overcharge a battery?

Repeated overcharging causes electrolyte crystals to form on the battery’s plates, which clogs the plates resulting to increased resistance and lower battery voltage. Fortunately, voltage depression is not much of a problem.

What is the memory effect of NiCd?

Batteries from older generations, including NiCd (nickel-cadmium), go through what is commonly called the memory effect, which can be easily demonstrated up by requiring these batteries to be fully drained before charging. Failure to drain these batteries before charging will result to reduced capacity.

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