From tyounger@csc.UVic.CA Tue Dec 7 14:56:25 1999 Date: Sun, 27 Jun 1999 21:14:58 -0700 From: Tom Newsgroups: rec.models.rc.land Subject: Re: Peak charger question? On Sun, 27 Jun 1999, Will Collins wrote: > PEAK CHARGER QUESTION > > I guess these work by measuring the voltage across the battery and switching > off at some preset level. > No -- it looks at the change in voltage when it charges the battery. A peak charger is a constant current source, adjustable on most. The voltage required to maintain this constant current is monitored, and it normally climbs while charging a battery. When it starts to go down (in other words has reached a peak, hence the term) the battery is considered charged. As a NiCad charges, the internal resistance increases, but after the chemical reaction has completed and it starts to overcharge, the internal resistnace drops slightly. Hence the voltage behaviour while charging. This indicates that the lower the voltage at which the battery peaked is indicitive of a better battery (lower internal resistance = higher voltage under load). > Can anyone give me the voltage values for 1400 and 1500 sticks?? > Well, this depends largely on both the quality of your batteries and the rate of current you charge at. > Or have I got it all wrong ....... > Almost. . . ___ TTTTT OO M M The sixth sick shiek's sixth sheep's sick. |~~~| T O O MM MM @o o@ T O O M M M So if it is in or if it is on it is as it is, * T OO M M be it in or on. `-'