The Truth About NiCd Batteries

Summary

• To avoid the “memory effect” you should perform a “full recharge cycle”, which is to use you gadget out of its charger until it is operationally discharged (i.e., when you cordless phone starts beeping) and only then recharge it.
• NiCd batteries accept around 500 full recharge cycles.
• NiCd batteries cannot be fully discharged (voltage below 1 V per cell). This damages the battery.
• Don’t short-circuit NiCd batteries or perform any other “quick discharge” trick. This damages the battery (even though several people claim that they can recover NiCd batteries with “memory effect” by doing this). The bottom line is: this kind of trick won’t dissolve the Cadmium crystals, which are responsible for the “memory effect” problem.
• “Zapping” a NiCd battery (high-current quick charge) can solve some dead battery problems, however this technique isn’t related to solving the “memory effect” problem.
• When not in use, NiCd batteries lose 1% of their charge per day. After three and a half months, the battery is completely discharged, damaging the battery.
• Don’t expose NiCd batteries to high temperatures.
• Batteries not based on Cadmium do not suffer from “memory effect”.