discharging nicad batteries??

[gothika]

I have some 9.6v nicad batteries for a cordless drill.
What is the best way to completely discharge these before
recharging?(I use a 12v tail light bulb for some 12v nicads but don't
think that would work in this case.)
I've seen a home brew box used to rapidly discharge badly formed
nicads thereby restoring them to some usable state.
Anyone know what it'd take to build one of these, or where I might
purchase one?
Thanks in advance for any assist.

 

[CWatters]

"jolphil" <jolphil@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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gothika <gothika@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:<tmhuiv8mtrku6s1k8u9ham3lcp2fppqlak@4ax.com>...
I have some 9.6v nicad batteries for a cordless drill.
What is the best way to completely discharge these before
recharging?(I use a 12v tail light bulb for some 12v nicads but don't
think that would work in this case.)

Yes it would. A 12V tail light bulb will quite happily discharge a 9.6V
pack.

Ideally you should monitor the voltage of _each_ cell to ensure it does not
go below about 0.8-1V but that's complicated. Usually it's good enough to
stop the discharge at 1V per cell x Number of cells = 8V in your case.