NiCad vs. Nihm batteries

[qauthority]

I have searched throughout this forum and I don't see a clear answer to this question. I am a bit new to airsoft and this is my first post so forgive me if I have missed anything. Please discuss your thoughts. Thanks.

[BC_K]

http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=1162 ?

I personally like NiMh cause I find they run longer then NiCd's & they also don't have to be discharged. On the downside they are picky when it comes to the temperature they are operated in.

NiCd, tho you have to discharge it or else you'll have a memory effect, is easier to work with in most temperatures.

Pretty much depends how, where & when you play. Once you establish those, then you can choose your battery('s).

BTW, Welcome to ASC, Don't get offended by people on here that think they know everything.

Don't mind Greylock's either, he's just a heartless mean old bitch of a generic response program. :wink: (You'll see what I mean if you read some of his post. :lol: )

[AvroAero]

Also NiMH pack less of a punch than the NiCAD. I'd sudjest NiMH for beginner, less hassle and it'll be able to turn over a stock gun for sure.

[Greylocks]

I'm only semi-harmless. I give advice once, and only once. Right now the advice is to read this website. I cant suggest you go to a game, since we're not in the same country.

You can also use Google and find all about airsoft in your State, go from there.

[Disasterpiece]

There you go. Basically though, the biggest difference between ni-cd and ni-mh is that, it's best for ni-cd's to be discharged after each use for longer life. Ni-cd's are also usually more powerful and have a powerful punch to them.

[MadMax]

NiCd are an old chemistry which is well founded. For applications requiring high robustness, NiCd is still often chosen.

PROs:

-robust design: capable of high current draw, less likely to be damaged by shorting or rapid charging (NiCd is second only to liquid lead acid cells for rapid charge and discharge capabilities). High speed motor and HS gears with a kickass spring? Go NiCd

-low internal resistance: when delivering high current, a cells internal resistance will inccur a voltage drop (i.e. your battery pack does not provide rated voltage at all current rates). When your load (motor + switch resistances) has the same total resistance as your battery pack internal resistance, only half the rated voltage will be applied to the load. More voltage drop in the cells (higher current) means that more energy is dissapated heating the battery pack.

-wide temperature range: second only to liquid lead acid for cold temperature performance. Handles hot summer days fine as most chemistries do. Did you know NiCd cells are still launched into space as sattellite power cells because of their low temperature capabilities?

CONs:

-lower energy density than most other commercially available cell chemistries. NiMh, LIon both have higher energy/volume density than NiCd. NiMh has roughly 50%-75% higher volumetric energy density than NiCd. I consider volumetric energy density instead of mass energy density as airsofters are more concerned with being able to cram more battery into the limited space in an AEG.

-memory effect: vagaries in the way metal in the electrodes become ions and are reconstituted into solid metal (recharge) can form passive layers (an inert coating) on electrodes if they are discharged to the same level and recharged. A battery can develop an alternate capacity which is lower than the rated capacity if the battery is say discharged to say 1/3 capacity and recharged regularly. Occasional (say once every 4-8 cycles) complete discharging can prevent this. Do not deeply discharge a series pack of cells. Very deep discharging can force weaker cells into reversal as their neighboring cells can force current in a direction which further damages weaker cells.

-environmental issues: Cadmium is a heavy metal which should be disposed of carefully. Cadmium is a metal which is toxic and should be kept far from groundwater supply when disposed of.


NiMh is a relatively new cell chemistry which offers higher energy density than NiCd. For lower current application, NiMh can provide more energy to a load than NiCd. At high current for extended duration, NiMh does not perform as well as NiCd.

PROs:

-higher volumetric charge density than NiCd. Want to shoot a lot of short bursts every now and then with a low spring? Go NiMh. It's good at a lot of short not too intense sips.

-less memory effect: NiMh still suffers from memory effect, but not as badly as NiCd. Occasional complete discharge can prevent memory effect. Definitely do not regularly discharge cells to the the same level and recharge.

-less toxic: while dumping mass quantities of nickel is not particularly health, it is not as bad as cadmium. NiMh is significantly less toxic than NiCd which makes them less difficult to dispose of safely.


CONs:

-poor cold temperature performance: sub zero celsius temperatures can really increase a NiMh internal resistance which means less voltage applied to your motor. Also, long duration high current demands are not well met at low temperature. In winter NiMh really sucks.

-less able to handle rapid charge/discharge rates: high charging rate can significantly heat a NiMh pack (due to higher internal resistance and poorer ion permeability I think) which limits rapid charging rates. Same with prolonged rapid discharge.

[Dozer_01]

Ive only charged NiCad's directly to car batteries with no ill effects to it. I know nimH cant handle heat as well as nicad. Been charging 7.2v RC batteries on a car batt for about 4 years now, and they still charge (keep their charge) and discharge like new. I suppose a nicad is like a construction worker, and a nimh is like a hot chick bank teller.Anyway, if you have a propper charger, i'd do nimh...

not sure if anyone mentioned it yet, but NiCad is much cheaper.

[Blastyman]

Depends on your defination of cheap.

I can get a 2400 nicad for 60 bucks or a 3600 nimh for 80 bucks. Yes its 20 bucks more per battery.

At that price I am only getting 40 mah per dollar for Nicad and 45/$ for the Nimh. So yes Nicad is cheaper but if you look at it per dollar or mah you get more for the money.

I already have a good charger and playing in the winter is not an issue really so for me the Nimh is the way to go.

for the record I have 2 guns with Nicad and 2 with Nimh and all seem to work about the same as far as shooting in upgraded guns.

[MadMax]

There really isn't all that much point comparing 2400mAh NiCd vs 3600mAh Nimh as both capacities are quite high. A lot of issues go away with very large cells (greater electrode area) and the capacity arguement doesn't really play into it unless you're drilling away with a LMG setup.

If you plan on summer play and can fit a big battery, it doesn't really matter which cell chemistry you use. If you need to fit smaller cells then there isn't the same design margin and you have to make some decisions.

Nice LMG BM. You could fit quite a lot of battery in there. My arm hurts thinking of all the hacksawing with that job and my ears ring in sympathy. Did you get your yearly dose of iron working on that monster?

[firemachine69]

I've got a NiCD. My NiCD (8.4V 2100mah large-type) and NiCD-only charger come to a combined purchase total of about 75 bucks (mined you, both were lightly used).

Compare that to a basic wallcharger and a fairly weak 8.4V 1700-1800 mah NiMH. You're looking at almost double.

[qauthority]

Thanks for the replies guys. Just wanted to make sure I got the right battery. Oh and in response to Greylock, I am on this board because at work all of the American sites are blocked so this site and the UK site are the ones that are able to get through the site restrictions. Plus its a good way to keep up with the foreign relations :lol:

[pr5owner]

Originally Posted by Droc

not sure if anyone mentioned it yet, but NiCad is much cheaper.

i doubt thats the case

i got 2 1100MAH NIMH for $32CDN SHIPPED from the US, including duty
or
you can buy a 600MAH garbage NICD battery for $60 - $65 off DEA/Rangers/007

for $120 off 007 you get a 3300MAH large battery
OR
for $60SHIPPED you get TWO 3300MAH Large battery

thats a 400% jack up ontop of retail price, thats F$%^ing rediculous

my friend just bough ONE 1100MAH mini battery and charger for ~$20 shipped

EDIT: you could also MAKE your own battery, to make a 9.6v mini battery you can get 8 2300-2500 Sanyo AA batteries and put them all in Series OR to make a BIG battery get 16 sanyo batteries for a 4600-5000 MAH BAttery

go to costco for sanyo cells, its only $20 dollars for the NIMH ones (i think its 6 AA and 2 AAA i dunno)

[pr5owner]

Originally Posted by AvroAero

Also NiMH pack less of a punch than the NiCAD. I'd sudjest NiMH for beginner, less hassle and it'll be able to turn over a stock gun for sure.

the NIMH's nowadays can draw 30A (minis) to 60A (Large), not really sure what the fuse rating is in the guns though.

if you have room in your gun (using both stock and hand guard) you can feed 10 000 mAH batteries into your gun, 4 in the back, 3 in the front

http://cgi.ebay.com/8-D-size-10000mA...QQcmdZViewItem