Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!wuarchive!usc!rutgers!mcnc!ncsuvx!news
From: kwf@ecersg.ncsu.edu (Ken Fernald)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Discharging NiCads safely
Message-ID: <1990Sep13.123227.24228@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu>
Date: 13 Sep 90 12:32:27 GMT
Reply-To: kwf@ecersg.ncsu.edu (Ken Fernald)
Organization: North Carolina State University
Lines: 19


I'm interested in designing and building a fast-rate nicad charger
probably using a "dump-and-time" technique where you discharge
the cells to place them in a known state, then charge at a high rate
for a timed period.  I've been told that you must be careful about
how you discharge cells in series because if some cells are weaker than
others, they may be forced into a reverse current state and be damaged.

Given this is true, is there a proven technique for the fast and safe
discharging of nicad cells?  Should you discharge them individually?
Discharging in series would certainly be simpler.

thanks,

--
+----------------------------+------------------------------------------------+
|    Kenneth W. Fernald      | "To recognize that nature has neither a        |
|    kwf@ecersg.ncsu.edu     |  preference for our species nor a bias against |
| North Carolina State Univ. |  it takes only a little courage" - James Randi |