question about rechargable batteries

[TechnoKid]

I have a vtech cordless phone in which i believe the battery is going dead. I bought a new battery (haven't installed yet) for it at the radio shack using the hot deals $5 off coupon on their website (battery pack came to $6.99 after tax! not bad at all), but i also checked at walmart and they had a 1700mah sanyo battery for $19 that was NIMH (both the nicd and nimh were listed as compatible with the phone on the pacakging), whereas the regular battery is 700mah NiCd.

my question is, can you use nimh where a nicd originally was? if this is so, then i may just buy some solder tabed NIMH batteries and make a new battery pack for the phone, then use the extra batteries for something else. will the phone charger charge the nimh properly?

 

[0roo0roo]

no. the way the chargers work is different, how they detect when the cell is fully charged etc. search dansdata.com for more

 

[OulOat]

Are NICD and NIMH like DVD-R and DVD+R?

 

[Thegonagle]

If it uses a slow (trickle) charger, as nearly all cordless phones do, it will work fine. Due to the higher capacity of NiMH cells, it will take longer to fully charge.

 

[TechnoKid]

D'oh, looks like the battery i got at radioshcak is a dud. doesn't even want to charge after 12+ hours.

the phone model is a vtech v2656, it's not the base handset, it is the extension handset that is battery low. perhaps the charger is not working. bought it at costco so maybe can just get exchanged.

 

[Thegonagle]

D'oh, looks like the battery i got at radioshcak is a dud. doesn't even want to charge after 12+ hours.

the phone model is a vtech v2656, it's not the base handset, it is the extension handset that is battery low. perhaps the charger is not working. bought it at costco so maybe can just get exchanged.[/quote]

Clean the charging contacts first with a pencil eraser, then finish it up with some isopropyl and a Q-tip. Try that before you go through the torturous hassle of trying to get an exchange.

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
D'oh, looks like the battery i got at radioshcak is a dud. doesn't even want to charge after 12+ hours.

the phone model is a vtech v2656, it's not the base handset, it is the extension handset that is battery low. perhaps the charger is not working. bought it at costco so maybe can just get exchanged.

Clean the charging contacts first with a pencil eraser, then finish it up with some isopropyl and a Q-tip. Try that before you go through the torturous hassle of trying to get an exchange.[/quote]

been there done that; cleaning had no effect. the thing is, nothing registers with the "new" battery from radio shack, though when i plug in the old battery the phone will turn on and charge, nothing with the rat shack battery. new battery is a dud. i bought it yesterday, so i do have reciept.

is there place that sell solder tabed nicd or nimh batteries, low enough mah's so it won;t take forever to charge on the charger? i always see like 1200mah batteries, i think that is too much.

TIA

-Chris

 

[Thegonagle]

Hmmm. I guess it's possible that the slow charger is too slow for the new NiMH battery. But I'd exchange the Rat-Shack battery first just to be sure.

 

[TechnoKid]

the rat shack replacement is the same as the vtech one, they are both nicd.

sanyo makes a nimh version of the same battery, but it is $19.99.

 

[Thegonagle]

Oops. Sorry. I didn't read clearly enough.

$19.99 is way too much for the Ni-MH, especially for Wal-Mart. They probably make enough profit on that single item to pay 2 employees' hourly salary.

Remember that although a Ni-MH battery will take longer to charge, it will also last longer per charge, and it's OK to return the phone to the charger before it's fully discharged. (Less memory effect with Ni-MH compared to Ni-Cd.)

http://www.batterystation.com/nicads.htm (scroll down) <-- This guy has what you need for $1.00 per cell (assuming they're regular AA solder-tab cells) + $6 shipping (probably). (1700 mAh Ni-MH)

The site is very rudimentary (manual order entry form--welcome to 1998!), but I've used him 2 times in the past, and he's reliable.

 

[0roo0roo]

why i buy cordless phones when they are on sale. 9.99-20bux... cheaper then buying a replacement battery

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
why i buy cordless phones when they are on sale. 9.99-20bux... cheaper then buying a replacement battery

true, but i wanted a 2.4ghz or higher model, and something that was multi handset capable (two story house don't have to run up and down stairs).


hmm, i wish more phones whould take standard individual AA batteries for replacement instead of stupid battery packs.

 

[0roo0roo]

heh yea those are more rare..but they will be more commonly on sale soon. heck i got a ge 2.4ghz from frys grand opening day sale for 9.99 and another with answering machine for 13 bux

 

[0roo0roo]

and multihandset? isn't it easier just to buy separate phones?

 

[Ornery]

I've done this with good success.

NiMH chargers do work different than the NiCd charger in your phone's base, but if it works, who cares? You'll be out the price of 3 NiMH batteries ($3.00 in my case), and a little time if it doesn't work. In my book, that means GO FOR IT!