Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ukma!rutgers!uwvax!astroatc!nicmad!brown
From: brown@nicmad.UUCP (Mr. Video)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Overcharging NiCad batteries?
Keywords: NiCad rechargeable batteries, laptops, foreign power
Message-ID: <3249@nicmad.UUCP>
Date: 30 Sep 88 03:30:57 GMT
References: <3008@dalcs.UUCP> <6625@nsc.nsc.com>
Reply-To: brown@nicmad.UUCP (Mr. Video)
Organization: Mr. Video's Hangout
Lines: 23

In article <6625@nsc.nsc.com> gates@nsc.UUCP (Tim Gates) writes:
<To fully discharge the battery, just leave the computer turned on
<until it is dead, then connect a low value (2 to 5 Ohms) resistor across
<the battery terminals for several hours.  I suggest that a high wattage
<resistor be used (3 times the expected power dissapation).

What makes for a great discharge circuit, it is too simple (but it works),
is to use a 100ma (there-abouts) lamp.  One of those small things that are
used in flashlights.  Get one with a voltage equal to or larger than your
battery voltage.  Just hook it up across the battery terminals.  It will be
bright (hopefully) when it starts and then go dead.  Recharge the battery and
do it all over again.  You don't have to use your computer to run it down,
just use the lamp.

The parts can be obtained from your local Radio Schlock shop.

I use this technique for my camcorder batteries and it has worked wonders
in making them work longer in the camera.
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