| MORE
ARTICLES:
The Role of
the Camera Light
The Camera
Light
Over 200,000 Users
Can't Be Wrong (Testimonials)
BATTERIES AND THEIR PROBLEMS
|
Nickel Cadmium batteries
have the potential to last for the life of the product
they were designed to power. So, why don't they?
The problem lies in the way they have been charged.
If batteries are to last for life, two requirements
must be met: 1) They must be correctly discharged
before being recharged. 2) They must be properly
charged to their absolute potential. Regular, old
fashioned chargers don't do either of these things.
Regular chargers don't fully or correctly discharge
batteries before recharging, thus creating disabling
memory, which shortens the running times by 50-90%.
Furthermore, regular chargers drastically deplete
the number of times you can recharge your batteries.
Other problems with standard battery chargers ar
that 1) they are limited by sensing heat, which
weakens the cell, and 2) they provide limited or
no battery protection.
|
|
|
All
NiCd's Have Memory
One of the world's leading manufacturers
of Nickel Cadmium cells is Sanyo of
Japan. The Sanyo cells are preferred
by broadcasters and used by battery
manufacturers in our industry when available
and indeed, the Sanyo makes one of the
best cells on the market. We will quote
Sanyo in what they say regarding memory.
"Nickel
Cadmium batteries have a 'memory effect'
in which the voltage drops by two levels
during discharge after shallow charge/discharge
cycles, in application, when discharge
and voltage is highly established, apparent
decreases in capacity and operating
voltage are shown."
Source,
Sanyo Cadnica Engineering handbook.
Of
course, memory can be prevented and
indeed. In most cases, corrected. If
you wish to obtain TRUE technical information
regarding Nickel Cadmium cells, you
should contact the manufacturers of
the cells, and for obvious reasons not
the manufacturers of the belts. Two
major cell manufacturers are listed
here. Ask to obtain a copy of their
NiCd Technical or Engineering book.
For
more information contact:
Panasonic:
EAST: Tel: (201) 392 - 5269 Fax: (201)
348-7200 WEST: Tel: (714) 373-7567 Fax:
(714) 892-8552 Sanyo:
EAST: Tel: (201) 641-2333 Fax:(201)
641-0311 WEST: Tel: (619) 661-6620 Fax:
(619) 661-6743
|
|
|
|
|
ENVIRONMENTAL ALERT
|
When using batteries, one
must be aware of the pollutive consequences if old
cells are not disposed of properly. The most worrisome
of the chemicals used in cells are: mercury, lead
and cadmium, which are classified as "heavy
metals". According to the Environmental Protection
Agency, both mercury and lead can damage the central
nervous system, especially in children, and bring
about a spectrum of infirmities, ranging from learning
disabilities to mental retardation. (Many 19th Century
hat makers who used mercury to treat fur showed
signs of such poisoning hence the phrase, "Mad
as a hatter".) Exposure to cadmium has also
been linked to a host of cancers,not to mention,
it has been implicated in cardiovascular disease,
liver and kidney damage, as well as birth defects.
We strongly recommend that you either return the
cells to the manufacturers or take them to a recycling
center. Never, never throw them away irresponsibly!
|
|
|
