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Old 12-21-2009 | 04:38 PM
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Default NiCad Batteries?

We started racing in a Legend class with 6 cell, 1500 Mah NiCads. I usually race with Lipos in other classes and ran some Nimh but never worried about discharging these. New to the NiCads, and unfortunately its the only thing we can run with the Legends.

We have a Hobbico Accucycle charger and also a Superbrain 977. The Accucycle has charge, discharge, and cycle features but don't really know what to set the discharge currents at, what current to chrage them at, and how low you discharge them to? Any suggestions on what you guys do with your Nicads, or if you could point me to somewhere that would tell me.
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Old 12-21-2009 | 07:57 PM
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been a while since I played with nicds, but unlike nimhs they actually prefer to be fully discharged and store best completely dead. In fact they used to sell little plugs that kept them discharged in storage.
I'd stick with 1-1.5C charge rates (1.5-2.2 amps) and the same for discharge.
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Old 12-21-2009 | 08:13 PM
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http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/showthread.php?t=182056 Lot of information here...
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Old 12-21-2009 | 08:21 PM
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NiCds do best stored discharged. I think I remember that we were supposed to cycle them once a month to keep them in good shape. Discharge to 0.9v/cell or 5.4v for a 6cell pack.
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Old 12-22-2009 | 05:56 AM
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If you are using a spec stick pack you will be limited to how well you can take care of them. For side by side packs you can do a little more.
For a stick pack I would discharge at about 10A with a 5.4V cutoff
Charge at 2 amps, increase for more punch/shorter life-decrease for longer life/less punch.
If you can use open side x side packs you can get a little more out of them.
Total pack discharge can handle more current, up to 25A or more. This will shorten life a little, but increase punch big time. Total pack cutoff should still be 5.4V
However if you have a discharge tray, you can lower the cutoff since you know the voltage of each cell. I would not go lower than 0.5V/cell. Some trays go all the way to zero, but thats not my cup of tea. Again this will increase punch, but will not kill the pack like higher discharge rates.
charge rates should be the same as above.
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