How to charge AAA nimh?
 

I'd like to use my Orion Avionics charger to charge AAA cells, how can I make a rig to charge it? I know I can buy those PN battery trays, but trying to make a cheap and easy diy.

TIA,
Ron

cheap and easy......
use a pc of plastic wire channel and run the cells end to end
---- use screws to tighten the 4 cells and attach your positive to one end and the negative to the other.....
or go to radioshack and buy a 4 aaa cell holder for about $3....

Thanks, I'll check out Radio Shack tonite

I didn't see one like they sell for the 4 AA cells -

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2062254

Just remember to set that charger correctly otherwise you're good to go.

I been out of the hobby for a long time, what is the recommended setting for a single cell 800mah AAA?

TIA

Should go with a 1c charge at .8 amps. I am not familiar with your charger, but I have a Powerex MH-C9000 which was made for AA/AAA batteries, it has a setting to break in the batteries when you first charge them and put them into use. It can take up to 36hours for break in, but really helps the batteries in the long run.

0.8 amp seems awfully high for a standard AAA batteries. I only charge AAs at 0.5 amp, maybe 1 amp for a little while if in a time pinch, otherwise they get quite hot, not good.

Different batteries require different charge rates, you can’t just apply the lipo rules to every battery type, or even every version within a type.

I race mini z s and depending on the brand of cell and the class you are running you can charge the aaa s at up to 2 amps....
I found the magic temp for a aaa is 110 degrees....(sub c cell is 130 degrees)
Normally 1 c is fine.
I will discharge my cells at 3 amps....then let them rest(cool down) charge them at 1 amp....then repeak them at 2 amps right before a race....
I use Team Scream, TRP, and Peak aaa batteries.....

Understood, I think the key phrase is “depending on the brand of cell”.

Yep, sorry, you are right, I was trying to do the calculations off the top of my head, and that is the last I remember from charging my lipo last night. I checked the book on the charger, it recommended nothing less than .3, and max 1.0. Less than .3 may not trigger peak detection and overcharge.

Thank you everyone for the input!

Depends on the application too. For racing higher rates (with appropriate high rate cells) is the way to go, more punch. As rates go up it is increasingly important to have a matched pack (if it’s not a single cell like mentioned by the OP).

But if they are for remotes or some other relatively low drain app, better to use lower charge rates, for longer run time and cell life.

It’s correct that too low of a rate can cause problems with peak detection, at some point need to go to a time limit to stop the charge. The lower limit somewhat depends on the cells and charger, but I’ve generally had good luck at 0.2c.

charge them as slow as you can stand to. fast charging isn't good for NiMH, if you have time to charge them over 4-8hr why charge them in 1? generally speaking i try not to go over 0.5c but as people said, different cells are rated differently - the Turnigy LSDs are only rated about 0.4c charge, for example.

battery holders ala radio shack are pretty cheap, do the job, etc. You could probably bodge something with a tube and a couple of springs but it isnt worth it

failing proper battery holders, find some broken or otherwise worthless piece of electronics which takes the right amount of aaa's and chop the battery tray out of it