Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

O. T. - - - NiMH Battery Question - - - O. T.

52 views
Skip to first unread message

itsjoan...@webtv.net

unread,
May 4, 2020, 6:51:06 PM5/4/20
to

I bought a new rechargeable NiMH battery for a Bissel cordless vacuum.
It's charging and I will leave it to charge 12-15 hours. I read online
that the first 3-5 times I should let it discharge completely to build
the battery up.

My question is should I recharge it 12-15 hours each time I run the
battery down? If not, how many hours should I recharge it those first
3-5 times? Sorry, but this bit of information was not on the site I was
reading.

Thomas

unread,
May 4, 2020, 7:52:01 PM5/4/20
to
I have a Tineco.
Battery on the unit and spare above, I leave plugged all the time, 24'7.
Nimh. No inital screwing around.

itsjoan...@webtv.net

unread,
May 4, 2020, 8:13:01 PM5/4/20
to
Yes, the vacuum will stay in its' charging dock when not in use. But should
I waited 12-15 hours to use it again after draining. There are several times
a day I reach for this little cordless vac as my cat is declawed and litter
seems to cling to her toes. Then it's all over the laminate floor and needs
to be swept up.

Pamela

unread,
May 5, 2020, 6:23:04 AM5/5/20
to
Only the initial charge needs be very long. After that just charge and
discharge normally. This site is authoritative:

"Battery manufacturers recommend that new batteries be slow-charged for
16–24 hours before use. A slow charge brings all cells in a battery
pack to an equal charge level. This is important because each cell
within the nickel-cadmium battery may have self-discharged at its own
rate. Furthermore, during long storage the electrolyte tends to
gravitate to the bottom of the cell and the initial slow charge helps
in the redistribution to eliminate dry spots on the separator.

Battery manufacturers do not fully format nickel- and lead-based
batteries before shipment. The cells reach optimal performance after
priming that involves several charge/discharge cycles. This is part of
normal use; it can also be done with a battery analyzer. Quality cells
are known to perform to full specifications after only 5–7 cycles;
others may take 50–100 cycles.

https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/charging_nickel_based_batteries

Mike Duffy

unread,
May 5, 2020, 12:56:37 PM5/5/20
to
On Tue, 05 May 2020 11:22:27 +0100, Pamela wrote:

> [...] important because each cell within the nickel-cadmium battery

The OP clearly stated Nickel-metal-hydride batteries, NOT nickel-cadmium.

Your advice is somewhere between destructive and dangerous.

Pamela

unread,
May 5, 2020, 5:14:31 PM5/5/20
to
On 17:56 5 May 2020, Mike Duffy said:
> The OP clearly stated Nickel-metal-hydride batteries, NOT nickel-
> cadmium.
>
> Your advice is somewhere between destructive and dangerous.

The advice remains the same as it applies to all nickel based batteries. The
primary difference in charging is the smaller voltage inflection point on
NiMH which can be missed by "noisy" charging but is not an issue in this
instance as the charger will be designed to detect it and will almost
certainly have other means for terminating charge; and also a lower absolute
maximum charge current.

Surely you checked that or was your haste to post negatory comments too
great?

As you mentioned it, can you kindly explain why the advice to charge
initially for an extended time and then charge the development cycles
normally is:

(a) destructive
(b) dangerous

I am always interested to learn.

John Kuthe

unread,
May 5, 2020, 5:59:39 PM5/5/20
to
On Monday, May 4, 2020 at 6:52:01 PM UTC-5, Thomas wrote:
Same thing I do with my 100% electric Nissan Leaf. Plugged into 240VAC here at home, 75miles a charge approx. I've run completely down twice needing a tow home. Bummer, I try hard never to do that. For riskier longer trips I take my gasoline polluter, my 2006 Grand Caravan.

John Kuthe, Climate Anarchist and Nordictrack Ripper

GM

unread,
May 5, 2020, 6:14:04 PM5/5/20
to
Oh, you mean "Baby" can travel 100 feet instead of the wood - burning Leaf's 75 feet...???

No wonder your life is akin to a hampster spinning around in a cage, LOL...!!!

--
Best
Greg

Thomas

unread,
May 5, 2020, 7:13:39 PM5/5/20
to
When my xterra needs gas at 75 miles to go I am nervous. I can steal gas but never elec. 1.5 miles to work, 2 for grocery, 3 for bar.

Alex

unread,
May 5, 2020, 7:13:48 PM5/5/20
to
That's funny.  A gas, or diesel, powered truck had to tow you home - twice!

itsjoan...@webtv.net

unread,
May 5, 2020, 8:04:06 PM5/5/20
to

Thanks all for the replies!

I charged the new battery for 15 hours before using and now the cordless
vac is like a brand new one. No more zipping through a quick cat litter
vacuum as the battery will be dying in less than 7 minutes. These little
cordless sweepers can spoil you quickly not having to lug out the Dyson Ball.

John Kuthe

unread,
May 5, 2020, 9:33:39 PM5/5/20
to
Only twice, and I've been driving my Leaf since 2016! Most places, to and from. Work when I worked and will again when I get a job! How does everyone think I live so cheaply? *I* don't have to pump my wallet's contents into my gas tank like everyone else here! Plus my Leaf requires almost NO maintenance! No oil changes, coolant attention, etc. And the electric motor does NOT require a constant flow of OIL to keep it from grinding itself into metal shavings like your Internal Combustion POSMobiles!

John Kuthe...

John Kuthe

unread,
May 5, 2020, 9:36:25 PM5/5/20
to
What's with the 75 feet? Are you daft?

And you MISSPELLED 'hamster', dipshit!

John Kuthe...

Hank Rogers

unread,
May 5, 2020, 9:37:18 PM5/5/20
to
Fuck you.

That is all.


Gary

unread,
May 6, 2020, 10:19:36 AM5/6/20
to
Alex wrote:
> That's funny.
> A gas, or diesel, powered truck had to tow you home - twice!

lol. Now THAT *is* pretty funny! :)

John Kuthe

unread,
May 6, 2020, 10:30:28 AM5/6/20
to
No, that is Plan B, to be taken when Plan A fails.

Great whitewater kayaking wisdom!

John Kuthe...

GM

unread,
May 6, 2020, 1:52:39 PM5/6/20
to
Lol...you couldn't *make* this shit up...

<laffin'>

--
Best
Greg

Alex

unread,
May 6, 2020, 7:18:32 PM5/6/20
to
Twice is to many times.  Where did you work when you owned that car?

0 new messages