Frequently Asked Questions about Batteries
No, not all rechargeable batteries have the memory effect. GP batteries use a new technology, unlike sintered plate type rechargeable cells GP rechargeable NiCad cylindrical cells with modern foam electrode technology do not exhibit memory effect.
The reason that there is no memory effect in the NiMH cells is because of the non cadmium based nature of the cell, teamed with the modern foam electrode technology, ensuring that no undesirable memory effect is present.
The best type of battery to use in a high drain application is an alkaline cell. These will perform head and shoulders above a zinc carbon cell in this type of application. The Alkaline cells are designed to be used for high drain applications.
You have two options: Using the Alkaline cells which will perform very well, or saving some money and using the Zinc Chloride type cell, which will perform almost as well as the Alkaline in this type of application.
We recommend that you try not to store your batteries for extended periods of time. If you need to do this however, try to store the battery in an uncharged state. When you know you need to use the battery again take it out of storage a few days before it's needed and charge and discharge it three times. This should rejuvenate the battery to get the highest capacity available from the cells.
Yes, in many cases it is not possible to get NiCad batteries for appliances, therefore there is no choice. The only problem that may arise is the charger may not cope with the higher capacity battery. It will either take a longer time to charge or not charge at all.
This has to do with the charging specifications on the batteries. All consumer type rechargeable GP batteries charging specifications are to charge at 10% of the batteries capacity for 12 to 16 hours .In this day and age however most charge well above this rate as people want their batteries charged faster. Unfortunately there is a trade off, your battery gets charged a lot quicker but doesn't last as long.
mAh stands for Milli-Amp per hour. This is the batteries petrol tank, it refers to how long the battery will last after each charge. The higher than the mAh the longer the battery will last after each charge.
Every appliance uses a battery differently, therefore it is not possible to know how long a battery will last in a particular appliance. However if you have an old battery you can compare the two mAh ratings and work it out that way.
The Battery Balancer equalizes the state of charge of two series connected 12V batteries, or of several parallel strings of series connected batteries.
When the charge voltage of a 24V battery system increases to more than 27V, the Battery Balancer will turn on and compare the voltage over the two series connected batteries. The Battery Balancer will draw a current of up to 1A from the battery (or parallel connected batteries) with the highest voltage. The resulting charge current differential will ensure that all batteries will converge to the same state of charge.
If needed, several balancers can be paralleled. A 48V battery bank can be balanced with three Battery Balancers
A battery balancer, also known as a battery equalizer, is a device used to balance the voltage or charge distribution among multiple cells in a battery pack.
When batteries are connected in series, differences in cell characteristics or charge and discharge patterns can lead to imbalances in voltage levels among the cells. This imbalance can have several negative effects, including reduced overall battery capacity, decreased efficiency, and potentially damaging overcharging or over-discharging of individual cells.
A battery balancer works by equalizing the voltage of individual cells within the battery pack. It does this by diverting a small amount of current from the cells with higher voltage levels to those with lower voltage levels. This process ensures that all the cells in the battery pack maintain roughly the same voltage, which helps optimize the overall performance and lifespan of the battery.
Battery balancers can be passive or active:
- Passive Balancer: A passive balancer uses passive components like resistors to equalize cell voltages. It works by creating a slight discharge path for cells with higher voltage. While simple and reliable, passive balancers are not as efficient as active ones.
- Active Balancer: An active balancer uses active electronic components like transistors and control circuits to actively redistribute energy between cells. Active balancers are generally more efficient and precise than passive ones, ensuring better voltage equalization.
Battery balancers are particularly important in applications where battery performance and longevity are critical, such as electric vehicles, solar power systems, and various industrial uses. They help extend the overall life of the battery pack by preventing cell degradation due to imbalanced charging and discharging.