Originally posted by Trinityracinnut
Every cell builds up a memory. NIMH just dont do it as much or as quick. But leaving charge in the cells will start to deteriorate performance.
I charge at 6 amps,.03 peak, run the pack, discharge at 30 amps to 5.4 volts. Then store it or run it again later in the day.
http://www.dansdata.com/gz011.htm
True memory only happens in sintered plate NiCd cells (which aren't necessarily the sort of NiCd you're using, and are of course completely different from any kind of NiMH cell)
What people nowadays call memory effect is a combination of two things.
One - cell aging. Batteries don't last forever. The older they get, the less capacity they have. Live with it.
Two - "voltage depression". Voltage depression is a problem with NiCd batteries and, according to some sources, also with NiMH, and it doesn't affect the battery capacity much at all. Rather, the battery voltage drops unusually quickly as it discharges. Gadgets that monitor their battery voltage therefore think the battery's flat earlier than they should. There may be lots of capacity left at the slightly depressed voltage, but the gadget doesn't know that and flashes its "low battery" warning.
and good luck to you, your supposed to store a little charge in NiMhs, and discharge/equalise it during race day, charge it and then race it as its hot off the charger.