Nickel Metal Hydride vs Nickel Cadmium

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NiMH batteries require different end-of-charge handling then NiCd. In particular a charger that applies a constant float voltage or current at the end of the charging cycle instead of shutting off can damage an NiMH cell and quickly make it useless.
Do not use your old charger without checking with Fluke!
Dual chemistry chargers are commonly available now, but not necessarily for a custom battery pack.

Tapatalk!
 
GoldDigger said:
NiMH batteries require different end-of-charge handling then NiCd. In particular a charger that applies a constant float voltage or current at the end of the charging cycle instead of shutting off can damage an NiMH cell and quickly make it useless.
Do not use your old charger without checking with Fluke!
Dual chemistry chargers are commonly available now, but not necessarily for a custom battery pack.

Tapatalk!
Click to expand...

Office help called Fluke. They said we were good. I hope she asked the right question.
 
ptonsparky said:
Office help called Fluke. They said we were good. I hope she asked the right question.
Click to expand...

Sounds strange to me as those do require different chargers. They just don't charge in the same manner.
There are some very good online videos that explain the process.
 
I can see their new charger working with the old battery but not vice versa.
Unless the charge control circuitry is in the battery OR they tell you never to leave the battery on charge after it is full.

Tapatalk!
 
GoldDigger said:
I can see their new charger working with the old battery but not vice versa.
Unless the charge control circuitry is in the battery OR they tell you never to leave the battery on charge after it is full.

Tapatalk!
Click to expand...

Charge control can be in the Fluke 43 like it is in many cell phones and even our Motorola HT's, which take NI-Cad, NiMH, or LI, my Dewalt chargers (yellow base) will charge all three types also but in this case the control is in the charger.

Most chargers today are a float type charger, even my Dewalt charger shuts off when the Ni-Cad battery reaches float voltage and turns back on when it drains down a little from internal resistance, I also have a smart charger for car and deep cycle battery's which does the same thing.
 
NMH batteries seem to be tons better than NiCad. If they aren't too expensive, I'd try them.

Even if your charger doesn't give the NMH batteries exactly what they want, they may still work better than NiCad.
 
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