Can I recharge NiMH batteries in a Ni-Cd charger?

[eLiu]

Is it possible? To charge Nickel Metal Hydride bats in a charger designed for Nickel Cadmium bats. I don't think so, but I wanted to make sure before buying another charger or returning the batteries...

-Eric

edit: in light of the 1st response there...i figured I should give some more info: the battery size is AA. The charger is a Panasonic cd-player (im tryin to get off w/as little money as possible...hehe)

 

[element]

Hmm well yes and no.

NiMHs have more current capacity than their NiCd counterparts, and so may require more current from the charger than the charger is capable of delivering. In this case you could damage the charger.

On the other hand NiCd chargers can also accept a wide variety of battery sizes also with varying amounts of current capacity. For example a AAA or AA NiMH may have similar current capacity as a C or D NiCd.

So I'd say the smaller NIMH would be ok but the larger might be iffy. Basically to be safe you'd want the right charger.

BTW the voltage requirements are the same.


I'm no battery expert though so hopefully someone else will chime in here, else search the web for posts by people who have tried it. I can say that I've been using NiMH AAA and AA in a NICD charger for a while now with no problems, but your results may be different.

 

[Tominator]

<< Can I recharge NiMH batteries in a Ni-Cd charger? >>



Sure you can!...But just in case you might want to write a followup post in case you go blind afterwards.....

"Chargeing any other kind of batteries can lead to explosion..."

 

[eLiu]

Well...it said use the instructions on the charger...but I lost the instructions...heh heh

 

[crawford]

thats so wierd i was wondering the same thing like an hour ago. i did it anyway and it worked but if it can damage my charger ill stop doing it. i hope i didnt break my charger