NiCad (nickel-cadmium) batteries
are common batteries that are used in many different applications. And learning
how to repair NiCad batteries is a valuable skill, as they are very common.
From your average power tool to emergency lighting systems, you will find recondition
NiCad batteries to be the best choice in batteries due to their
ability to provide powerful current surges.
How to recondition NiCad batteries
To recondition your NiCad batteries, you will need some tools:
·
Safety glasses
·
Digital multimeter
·
12v slow battery charger with 10/15 amp setting.
·
2 long nails
·
Good quality NiCad battery charger.
For repair of the NiCad Drill
battery pack you can refer to our main battery reconditioning guides.
For this method, we are going to
give the NiCad battery a 12v discharge and then put it back to work. This will
resolve the issue on 9/10 and allow you to fully charge NiCad batteries again.
Note: If you are trying to recondition a NiCad battery pack, you will need to
either decompose the package or use a power pack capable of supplying 30v in
short bursts to the entire battery pack.
Step one: check the voltage and
discharge the NiCad battery
Security warning! Be sure to wear
your safety glasses / goggles for this step.
Take your voltmeter and take a
battery reading. Write this reading for future reference. Now put on your
safety glasses and turn on your car's battery charger. Give yourself enough
room to work and wait for a few sparks from the battery. Set the charger to the
10 amp or 15 amp setting. Then put a long nail on each clamp. Now you want to
put the negative connector on the negative terminal of the battery, then
quickly touch the positive connector on the positive terminal of the battery.
Do not hold the connection in place, otherwise the battery may explode. You
just want to quickly touch the positive terminal of the battery 5-10 times with
its positive connector.
Turn off your 12v car battery
charger and take another measurement with your voltmeter.If you don't see any
increase in voltage, try to discharge the battery several more times.
Step two: discharge and recharge cycle
Then make sure the NiCad
batteries are discharged (do not discharge the NiCad batteries too deep,
otherwise it could damage the battery). Put them back in the appliance and
download. Then you will want to charge them with a good quality NiCad charger
for as long as necessary. It is important that NiCad batteries have been fully
discharged and then fully charged, this should reset the memory effect and give
it a large capacity again.
Step three: discharge the NiCad battery
and freeze it
After fully charging and
discharging NiCad batteries, before recharging them, you will freeze them. Seal
your NiCad
batteries in an airtight zippered bag and place them in the
freezer. Leave them at least 4 hours before removing them again. Once you have
removed the NiCad batteries from the freezer, it is important that you give
them time to defrost. I recommend at least 6-8 hours at room temperature just
to make sure they've completely thawed.
Now put them back in the charger
and fully recharge them. After this, you should see a significant increase in
battery performance. And it should save you the cost of replacing them for a
longer time.
