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From: jws@thumper.mlb.semi.harris.com (James W. Swonger)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: NiCd recharging
Message-ID: <1990Sep13.130211.21165@mlb.semi.harris.com>
Date: 13 Sep 90 13:02:11 GMT
References: <1990Sep7.132221.6202@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> <17660102@hpfcdj.HP.COM> <57370@microsoft.UUCP>
Sender: news@mlb.semi.harris.com
Organization: Harris Semiconductor, Melbourne FL
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 It seems that everybody -ExcepT- the battery manufacturers thinks there is 
a 'memory' effect. Hmmm...

 I have read the literature from Gates on their NiCd line. It denies that
there is a memory effect but then goes on and on about the only proper way to 
use and charge them, blah blah or cell capacity will be reduced. 

 Whether or not the 'memory effect' is due to shallow discharging should be
simple enough to experiment with. Regardless of the cause, an awful lot of
NiCds go bad early. I probably have 20 dead AA cells laying around myself.
The stuff the manufacturers put out by way of denials seems like a bunch of
doubletalk P.R. to me. Anybody who designs rechargeable products with NiCds
seems to have to put in a lot of extra effort to get the rated life out of
the batteries. No matter what you call it, the suckers crap out too easily.