NiCAD vs. NiMH Batteries in Woodstocks

[grsbanks]

(05-04-2018 10:12 PM)John Keith Wrote:  Actually, there are other more subtle differences in chemistry between NiCd and NiMH batteries. Long-term "float" charging, e.g. leaving calculator connected to charger after batteries are fully charged, will eventually damage NiMHs. NiCds on the other hand are not damaged by long-term unregulated charging unless the current is excessively high.

Hence trickle-charging NiMH batteries once they're full.

This said, the capacity of NiCd batteries of the day was roughly 450mAh and you're supposed to charge them at 1/10 charge capacity for 12 hours, so 45mA for 12 hours. By the time NiMH came on the scene, capacities had improved somewhat and NiMH can be charged at a much higher rate anyway. Surely the 45mA that a charger designed for period NiCd cells spits out is barely trickle-charging the NiMH cell, meaning that there's little to worry about regarding over-charging anyway, right?