chargeing batterys

[wacbs]

looking to find out more about my rc car i got from ebay. i have a 6 cell 2400 and a 6 cell 3300 i would like to know the best way to charge them with out hurting them. i have a apex charger that i can adjust the ampera and can do a fast charge or a slow charge. the charger can also discharge the batter. what i would like to know is should i discharge the battery before i charge and what ampera should i charge at. and what is the differents in the fast and slow charge other then time.

[sarge]

yep, discharge it first, and then you can recharge it with the quick charge.

[Crosswinds Racing]

Be very careful - you didn't state whether your batteries are NiCad or NiMH batteries.

Charging is very different between the two types!

NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) are the "old" type. These batteries can (and will) develop a "charge memory" over time if they are not discharged, meaning that if they are drained to a cetain level - i.e. a race distance/time - and then recharged, they soon will ONLY hold enough current for that amount of usage, and will no longer discharge further. Therefore NiCads should ALWAYS be discharged fully before re-charging.

On the other hand, NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydrade) batteries will not develop similar characteristics, and only need to be discharged fully every 3 - 5 times they are used, for proper conditioning.

There is also a difference in how the batteries are charged. NiCad batteries can be "burped" - meaning, that many chargers have a mode - Tekin calls it "Power Flex" - that sends small reverse polarity pulses to the battery during charge. This ensures complete conditioning, and maximum peak charge and performance.

NiMH batteries should be charged at a "linear" charge mode - with no reverse pulses.

NiCads can be charged at 2 - 3 times their rated amperage. You can safely charge a 2400mAh NiCad at up to 7200mA charge rate - and in a pinch, even up to 9600mA, as long as you do not do this often!

NiMH's should not be charged at more than 2x their rated Amperage - i.e. your 3300mAh battery can be charged at 6600mA, or 6.6A.

Keep in mind, that the higher amperage youuse, the shorter the run time, but the higher the voltage, and therefore higher speed (in the beginning of the race), and with lower amperage, you will get longer run time, but less peak voltage, therefore not quite the initial boost at the start of the race.

Test the batteries with different amperages, keeping these general rules of thumb in mind, and see what works best for you.

Enjoy your new R/C car, and the hobby! It's alot of fun!

[wacbs]

thx the information will help me out alot