9 LED Flashlight

[NoBozo]

I previously made some comments about my New 48 LED Drop Light. It has a NiMH battery. (Nichol Metal Hydride)

I don't know what battery charging technology is contained IN this light..OR the "Charger". The "Charger" is labeled as a Switching Power Supply. (Mfg: GOE: GS2U-006-060-B1) I Googled it: It comes up but I can't decifer the Tech Specs.

I am aware of rechargeable battery's that have a Memory and as such... if you don't fully "Cycle" the battery regularly through it's Entire Range..the battery will take on a very narrow range. IE..a shortened service life under a single charge.

Does the NiMH battery have a charging "Memory"... NB

PS: Why do I ask..?? When I recharged the battery yesterday..after some Use, it took forever to Complete....It may have been 20 hours..I was no longer keeping track of it because of the time...On and On and On..etc

[brk-lnt]

A switching power supply just describes how the power supply regulates power. Switching supplies are used in lots of electronics, so nothing overly special about the charger.

Many power regulators step the voltage down by throwing the excess voltage away as heat, obviously not very efficient. A switching supply switches on and off quickly, regulating the power output that way. It's more efficient than heat-dissipation voltage regulators.

Current generation NiMH batteries should not have any memory effect, and can be recharged at any time (ie: they don't have to be fully run-down). However, they're not optimal for stand-by devices like flashlights since they lose about 1% of their capacity daily when in stand-by.

[SIKSUKR]

I've actually read that NiMH lose up tp 4% daily. They dont have a "memory" and they were developed because its predecessor NiCD did.

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

I've actually read that NiMH lose up tp 4% daily. They dont have a "memory" and they were developed because its predecessor NiCD did.

The amount of daily discharge can vary based on storage temp, overall battery capacity, and whether the battery is truly disconnected from any circuitry, or if there is any kind of trickle current at all.

1%, 4%, or whatever, the main thing to keep in mind (IMO), is that NiMH probably isn't a good choice for standby devices that you want to be at the ready unexpectedly (like a flashlight). They're great for electronics like cameras and game systems,since you can use and recharge them on whatever schedule you desire with little worry.

[NoBozo]

The Defiant 45 LED Work Light has a little green LED light on the handle that flashes while the charger is charging. When the charge is complete, the little green LED STOPS flashing and stays on steady until you unplug the "charger".

I've been doing a lot of looking on line about NiMH battery's and one article suggested Overcharging "could" drive one of the cells into reverse polarity and damage the cell. I'm wondering if the little green LED burning steady..signifies that charging has actually Stopped..ie disconnected from the battery via some circuitry in the light....

I have an IRobot Roomba robot vacuum cleaner which also has a NiMH battery installed. The instructions for that device Insist
that the charger remain Plugged In 24/7 while the vacuum is out of service, or damage to the battery WILL result. NB

EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimh_battery

PS: The Wiki article seems to say that Both Over Charging AND Over DIS-Charging can damage the cells.

PPS: Maybe this sentence from Wiki titled "Charging".. is the answer: "A NiCd charger should not be used as a substitute for an automatic NiMH charger".