Battery Question

TheAlkaline

Hi, I have kinda awkward question about battery, as I just got one for my first AEG. And I wonder if after I charge it fully and then I'm not using it, do I need to discharge it ? or can I keep it charged ? I don't have discharger and shooting my AEG till battery runs out seems kinda weird idea too (and even if that's the way you do it, doesn't it damage your gun in anyway ?). But if I can keep it charged won't it lose any power when I'm not using it ? lets say I charge battery today, and I'm going to skirmish on Sunday. I will keep battery charged for those few days, but does it lose any energy during that period? Because as I know, I can't charge it until its fully discharged so then I won't be able to recharge it back fully.

UnkieKev

TheAlkaline wrote: »

Hi, I have kinda awkward question about battery, as I just got one for my first AEG. And I wonder if after I charge it fully and then I'm not using it, do I need to discharge it ? or can I keep it charged ? I don't have discharger and shooting my AEG till battery runs out seems kinda weird idea too (and even if that's the way you do it, doesn't it damage your gun in anyway ?). But if I can keep it charged won't it lose any power when I'm not using it ? lets say I charge battery today, and I'm going to skirmish on Sunday. I will keep battery charged for those few days, but does it lose any energy during that period? Because as I know, I can't charge it until its fully discharged so then I won't be able to recharge it back fully.

You can leave it charged no problem, just disconnect it from the gun and keep it out of the cold (this will discharge it)

Inari

You can charge NiMh batteries at any stage - they do not need to be discharged, as the NiMh cells do not suffer charge memory as their predecessor NiCd.

Check the information printed on the battery; provided it's an NiMh pack (which it should be), then you're fine to charge it without discharging it.

Your battery will lose charge, even when not using it. I don't know exactly how much, or why, but if you ask real nice, I'm sure NakedDex will come in here and explain exactly what's going on He gives a LOT of informative posts, especially on this subject!

TheAlkaline

Inari wrote: »

You can charge NiMh batteries at any stage - they do not need to be discharged, as the NiMh cells do not suffer charge memory as their predecessor NiCd.

Check the information printed on the battery; provided it's an NiMh pack (which it should be), then you're fine to charge it without discharging it.

Your battery will lose charge, even when not using it. I don't know exactly how much, or why, but if you ask real nice, I'm sure NakedDex will come in here and explain exactly what's going on He gives a LOT of informative posts, especially on this subject!

I don't have any description written on a package, but on the actual battery cell it says "Ni-MH2/3A 1500mAh 1.2V".
And honestly, I have cheap charger (Even if its called PRO Charger, lol) So I wouldn't know how long I have to charge my battery for without discharging it. My charger descriptions says that it takes 45minutes to charge 100mAh in 1 cell. so It takes me 11 hours and 25 minutes (if I remember right) to charge whole battery fully.

T4RGET

TheAlkaline wrote: »

I don't have any description written on a package, but on the actual battery cell it says "Ni-MH2/3A 1500mAh 1.2V".
And honestly, I have cheap charger (Even if its called PRO Charger, lol) So I wouldn't know how long I have to charge my battery for without discharging it. My charger descriptions says that it takes 45minutes to charge 100mAh in 1 battery. so It takes me 11 hours and 25 minutes (if I remember right) to charge whole battery fully.

hmm there is a little trick to calculating the charge time, if i remember correctly it's dividing the MaH of the battery by the charge rate of the charger. look at the charger and it should give a value on it like 250mah/hr or something, so divide 1500 by 250 to get the number of hours it should be charged by. i could be a bit wrong, i have a smart charger so it's been a while since i used that 'formula' :P

Faolchu

this might help

http://www.csgnetwork.com/batterychgcalc.html

Inari teh loss of charge is probably a result of the chemical reactions within the cell of the battery.

TheAlkaline

T4RGET wrote: »

hmm there is a little trick to calculating the charge time, if i remember correctly it's dividing the MaH of the battery by the charge rate of the charger. look at the charger and it should give a value on it like 250mah/hr or something, so divide 1500 by 250 to get the number of hours it should be charged by. i could be a bit wrong, i have a smart charger so it's been a while since i used that 'formula' :P

I know that, I mean that I wouldn't know how long I have to charge battery for without discharging it. If for example I played for 2 hours, and I want to get battery back to fully charged. (In case of those NiMH batteries)

T4RGET

TheAlkaline wrote: »

I know that, I mean that I wouldn't know how long I have to charge battery for without discharging it. If for example I played for 2 hours, and I want to get battery back to fully charged. (In case of those NiMH batteries)

oh i get you know, sorry my bad mate. then use the link above this post as that user actually listened to your question properly :P

TheAlkaline

T4RGET wrote: »

oh i get you know, sorry my bad mate. then use the link above this post as that user actually listened to your question properly :P

That Calculator provides only information about how long I have to charge discharged battery to get it fully charged. (At least that's what I understand from it) Correct me If I'm wrong because I'm not sure how does that calculator works

BeardySi

Well nobody can tell you how long to charge a partially used battery for... kinda like asking how long is a piece of string....

If your charger has peak detection it should cut off to a trickle once it's filled the battery.

NiMH batteries aren't particularly prone to damage from overcharging, so if you leave it a wee while too long on a low charge it won't do it any harm. It's only when you're using high mA chargers you can run into problems (mainly due to heat).

T4RGET wrote: »

, if i remember correctly it's dividing the MaH of the battery by the charge rate of the charger.

Rule of thumb is battery (mAh/charger mA output) * 1.4 = charge time.

The 1.4 is to allow for inefficiencies and resistance in the battery, charger, connectors etc...

TheAlkaline

Thanks for all the info lads, I think this thread can be closed now.

Faolchu

TheAlkaline wrote: »

That Calculator provides only information about how long I have to charge discharged battery to get it fully charged. (At least that's what I understand from it) Correct me If I'm wrong because I'm not sure how does that calculator works

that calculator is used for calculating charge time, i would think it assumes a fully discharged battery. your battery will have a capacity in mAh for example this one is rated at 4200 mAh so bang that into the calculator your charger then has a rating bang that into the calculator and then hit calculate. this will tell you how long to charge that battery for with that charger.

obvioulsy it assumes fully discharged so if you've only partially used the battery then thsi may not help much.