AFAIK, there is no need or use to deep-discharging NiMH cells. That function of your charger is to resurrect NiCads that have developed the dreaded memory problem (internal shorts).
I only ever use then recharge my now vast collection of NiMHs and they last for years. I'm using a smart charger too; an Ansmann (a now discontinued model). I'd get another just like it if I needed one. It's the bees knees. One bit of advice I can give you: always clean off the contacts on both ends of the cells before charging them and before using them, especially in flashes. Fixes all kinds of flakey behavior. On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 2:29 PM, Walt Gilbert <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi all, > > Welp! I finally got me one of them there fancy smart chargers for my > batteries -- it's an AccuPower IQ-328, like this one: > > http://compare.ebay.com/like/320749631694?_lwgsi=y<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar > <http://compare.ebay.com/like/320749631694?_lwgsi=y<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar> > > It didn't come with a very detailed manual; it came with a folded up piece > of paper telling you how to put the batteries in and push the buttons. > > It seems like a fairly well-made piece of equipment in that it has some heft > to it and feels pretty sturdy. That is, it doesn't scream "CHEAP!" when you > pull it out of the box the way things do when you get a "bargain" at one of > those warehouse clearance sales bonanzas that show up at the local > convention hall/civic center a couple of times a year. > > Problem is, I've never used a charger of this type before. So, I really > don't know what the hell I'm doing. I looked around for tutorials on how to > use a smart charger for a couple of hours last night, but couldn't find > anything remotely useful. What I have been able to determine is that the > charger I got is somewhat similar to the LaCrosse 9009. > > So, I thought I'd try tapping into the formidable knowledge base to see if > any of you might be able to point me to a good resource for learning how to > properly use this type of charger without ruining a whole gang of batteries. > Right now, I have a set of old Energizer rechargeables in it, figuring if > I'm going to ruin some batteries on a first-run, those would be the ones to > use. > > Here's a set of photos of the readings I'm currently getting from the > batteries in Test mode (the image titles indicate the respective readings): > > http://www.flickriver.com/photos/walt_gilbert/sets/72157629218953563/ > > According to the literature, in Test mode, it charges the batteries, fully > discharges and recharges them again. Given the "---" reading under the > Charged Capacity reading, I assume it's in the process of fully discharging > them. But, given the fact that there are wildly disparate readings under the > "Charge Time" display, I can't help wondering what's going on. > > Anyhoo. Any help anyone can give me in figuring this thing out -- a good > tutorial, or advice of any kind -- would be much appreciated. > > Thanks! > > -- Walt -- -bmw -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
