dp
01-13-2005, 07:53 PM
... From the horse's mouth at RIDGID ...
"How a NiCad battery is cared for and conditioned by the user determines how it will perform and last.
Try the following: Charge a battery and then use it in a tool until you notice a significant drop in power. NiCad batteries have a sharp power drop off curve which is very noticeable. Once you notice the significant drop in power, stop running the tool, and then charge the battery. Cycling the energy in this manner will allow the internal cells to build up to their full potential if the batteries are cycled through seven to ten charge cycles, and cycled regularly. Depleting the energy from a NiCad battery can damage an internal cell and prohibits maximum energy build up. The so called "memory" effect NiCads use to be known for in the past where you had to run them all the way down is not present in the newer NiCad technology used today."
"How a NiCad battery is cared for and conditioned by the user determines how it will perform and last.
Try the following: Charge a battery and then use it in a tool until you notice a significant drop in power. NiCad batteries have a sharp power drop off curve which is very noticeable. Once you notice the significant drop in power, stop running the tool, and then charge the battery. Cycling the energy in this manner will allow the internal cells to build up to their full potential if the batteries are cycled through seven to ten charge cycles, and cycled regularly. Depleting the energy from a NiCad battery can damage an internal cell and prohibits maximum energy build up. The so called "memory" effect NiCads use to be known for in the past where you had to run them all the way down is not present in the newer NiCad technology used today."