Testing a NiMH battery charger

[D]

On 10/28/2012 9:22 AM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

On Sun, 28 Oct 2012 08:42:41 -0700, mike<ham789@netzero.net> wrote:

If you do the research, you'll probably decide that anything bought from
HF is CRAP. That goes double for anything with a battery in it.

Agreed. I needed a reciprocating pneumatic saw and bought two from
Harbor Freight. That's when I discovered that the blade travel was
about 1/8". Useless junk.

Enloops are highly regarded cells, but I guess it also matters what
color the top plastic is. Japanese vs Chinese manufacture.

There are now 3 or 4 varieties of Eneloop batteries. Five if you
include Chinese fakes. There was a web page showing how to identify
the various varieties, but I can't seem to find it.

Ebay cells are a crap shoot. I'm sure some of them are genuine,
but I wouldn't bet money on it. My limited experience with EBAY cellphone
batteries suggests that their specs are exaggerated.

I buy quite a few eBay cell phone batteries. My guess(tm) is that
I've bought and used about 200 batteries from random vendors. Many of
them get tested with my West Mtn Radio CBA II for capacity. I have
had some obvious lemons, but they were simply dead, as in no output.
Tested capacity is varies somewhat from LiIon cell to cell. The
switchover from explosive LiPo batteries to safer varieties seems to
have resulted (i.e. not sure) in about a 10% decrease in capacity.
However, the battery label remains the same as with the LiPo including
the rated capacity.

Sometimes, you can find lower capacity cells with lower internal
resistance, but I don't know how to tell without actually measuring it.

Neither do I. So, I measure it. Some typical results:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?276446-Mapping-Battery-Performance-An-Intro-to-Ragone-Plots
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?278063-AA-Ragone-Plot&highlight=Ragone
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?298090-The-AA-NiMH-Performance-Test-Thread
etc. My results for specific battery follow these tests almost
exactly.

Thanks everyone for the great info on the batteries! I'll have to go
back through all the links, but I appreciate the input!

On Harbor Freight, my experience with them is that if you buy carefully,
you can get what you need at a very good price. I've always had very
broad interests (my downfall, some have suggested... ;-) and I
personally own well over 20 grand worth of tools of all kinds which I
have amassed over the years, from a tiny Swiss watchmaker's lathe to a
full size PowerMatic cabinet saw and 8" jointer (woodworking is my real
passion). I also have a complete set of professional grade automotive
tools (mostly 30+ year old Craftsman & Snap-on). I do know good tools.
I would not buy something requiring a high degree of precision, such
as a jointer, from HF, but I have quite a few pneumatic nailers, impact
tools, and even a compressor of theirs which have all served me quite
well for years. I also have a very nice 3/4 HP drill press of theirs,
as well as one of their tool chest side cabinets. All very servicable.
Is everything they sell the best of its kind? No, of course not. But
for the price (particularly if you combine a sale with one of their
ubiquitous 20% off coupons) I have had no complaints overall, especially
for tools I only use on occasion. And they're very easy with returns, if
you do have a problem. I also have an HF clamp on multimeter which just
yesterday I was using to measure the current drawn by a heater. Out of
curiosity, I checked its readings against an inline measurement using a
Fluke I also own. Dead on.

Dan

 

[Daniel Mandic]

Michael A. Terrell wrote:

William Sommerwerck wrote:

Concerning your "friend" "Phil" with the social issues, I've
been using >> this NG off and on for the better part of 20 years,
back to when Sam >> Goldwasser was prominent (is he still around?),
and I've always found >> the posters to be informative and civil. I
don't recall ever seeing that >> kind of juvenile nonsense from
anyone here before. Phil needs to get >> out of his mother's
basement and make some friends.

Phil was raised by Dingos, till he killed & ate them.

That's nothing. He also ate the Chamberlains' daughter.


A voracious bugger, he is!

Hi Michael!


But it's knowing its place (rank). I have never seen an abuse posting
to you by Phil...

By the way, where is Eyeore?


--
Daniel Mandic

 

[Phil Allison]

"Daniel Mandic"

** A voice from the grave.....

Hi Michael!

But it's knowing its place (rank). I have never seen an abuse posting
to you by Phil...

** Responding to a rabid nutter like Terrell serves only to feed his ego.

By the way, where is Eyeore?

** Think Eyesore wanked himself to death.

Or maybe drank himself to the same end.




..... Phil

 

[Daniel Mandic]

Phil Allison wrote:

"Daniel Mandic"

** A voice from the grave.....

Just a basic-electronics repairing selfmade-man...

** Responding to a rabid nutter like Terrell serves only to feed his
ego.

By the way, where is Eyeore?


** Think Eyesore wanked himself to death.

Or maybe drank himself to the same end.

:-(


--
Daniel Mandic

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Daniel Mandic wrote:

Hi Michael!

Haven't seen anything from you in a long time.

But it's knowing its place (rank). I have never seen an abuse
posting to you by Phil...

Then check the archives. He's ranted, raved, and cursed at me. I
pointed out he was wrong, with data to back me up on several occasions.
That was when he stopped replying to me. He still claims there are no
'Chemical Fuses', even though they were used in US products for
decades. (Belfuse)

By the way, where is Eyeore?

He disappeared a few years ago.

 

[Daniel Mandic]

Michael A. Terrell wrote:

Haven't seen anything from you in a long time.

It's always a pleasure to me, Mr. Terrell!

But it's knowing its place (rank). I have never seen an abuse
posting to you by Phil...


Then check the archives. He's ranted, raved, and cursed at me. I
pointed out he was wrong, with data to back me up on several
occasions. That was when he stopped replying to me. He still claims
there are no 'Chemical Fuses', even though they were used in US
products for decades. (Belfuse)

Phil is IMHO as Sommerwerck said, a capable electronics engineer, but.

By the way, where is Eyeore?


He disappeared a few years ago.

Only one Guru left in sci.electronics ;-). (more to come, I hope)


--
Daniel Mandic