Dead NiCd battery ''fix''?

[SVT5LITER]

I thought that as well, Terry. I did run across some contradicting info to that thought process though, and I'd have to look for sure, but it might've been straight from DeWalt's site. I was always under the impression you were supposed to run it all the way down as far as possible before charging it. I would sometimes do that on work drills (if I had the time to do so) as soon as it would get low enough to be not usable for what I was doing, I'd sit there with the trigger held for a bit to try and drain it further before putting it on the charger. More recently though (and again I'd have to look for sure), I seem to remember reading that no, that's NOT the case on what you're supposed to do, and if you do that it'll actually kill the cells quicker because you're running them down to nothing, and that it was okay to plug it in as soon as it gets to the non-useable point.

[Akromix]

I thought that as well, Terry. I did run across some contradicting info to that thought process though, and I'd have to look for sure, but it might've been straight from DeWalt's site. I was always under the impression you were supposed to run it all the way down as far as possible before charging it. I would sometimes do that on work drills (if I had the time to do so) as soon as it would get low enough to be not usable for what I was doing, I'd sit there with the trigger held for a bit to try and drain it further before putting it on the charger. More recently though (and again I'd have to look for sure), I seem to remember reading that no, that's NOT the case on what you're supposed to do, and if you do that it'll actually kill the cells quicker because you're running them down to nothing, and that it was okay to plug it in as soon as it gets to the non-useable point.

Charge a nicad up once to full, and there's it's memory. If you drain it completely you'll have to recharge it fully or that's when you'll have the memory effect.

[Scorpner]

That could be, I'm going by the same idea as what you used to do. I guess one benefit from not draining it completely is that it may not heat up as much since it doesn't go through the full cycle. I was going by memory from things I read a while back for R/C equipment and it's been a really long time since I've done anything with those. They seem to know a lot about NiCads though.

I do know if you accidentally drop a drill from a ladder the almost new batteries are toast.

[HELLFYR]

Hmmm... wonder if the "shock effect" would work on this POS Red Top Optima...

[SVT5LITER]

Charge a nicad up once to full, and there's it's memory. If you drain it completely you'll have to recharge it fully or that's when you'll have the memory effect.

Alright, noted.

Hmmm... wonder if the "shock effect" would work on this POS Red Top Optima...

Give it a try and get back to me. I got one sitting here as well

[SVT5LITER]

I do know if you accidentally drop a drill from a ladder the almost new batteries are toast.

I haven't come across that yet myself, with DeWalt batteries at least, and I've seen 'em take some pretty good dives. Stuffing 'em in your screw pouch connector side down towards the screws though... that's not such a good idea

[xjfish]

Worth trying on a laptop battery? What would one use to "shock" it? I have one that goes dead after about 5 min...

[Akromix]

Worth trying on a laptop battery? What would one use to "shock" it? I have one that goes dead after about 5 min...

it only works on nicad IIRC. Don't try it on a nimh, or lithium ion battery which most laptop batteries are.

[sinSStr]

Hmmm... wonder if the "shock effect" would work on this POS Red Top Optima...

Good luck with that.

[xjfish]

it only works on nicad IIRC. Don't try it on a nimh, or lithium ion battery which most laptop batteries are.

Thanks, time to buy a new one. I'm sure it is lithium ion . Although I do have an antique that takes Ni-cads.

[mark_eych]

Are you having problems charging a dead Optima? I could not get mine charged until I bought a new charger. It is electronic and it took a good hour at 10 to 20 amps. My old charger would not charge mine. That was last spring and it worked all summer. Or have SVT hold it in his hub cap charger.

[RNSF]

Worth trying on a laptop battery? What would one use to "shock" it? I have one that goes dead after about 5 min...

If you do, this WILL happen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeWq6rWzChw