It started as a rumor that the NiCd rechargeable battery has the memory effect which will store and “remember” the charges during the recharging period if it is not completely discharged.

If we want to trace back the history of how this rumor being spread, we need to look back in the early 1960s, when the scientist first discovered and invented the NiCd cells, one of the NASA experiment which involves the NiCd cells charged and discharged at a very tight voltage range. This has caused the NiCd cells were overheating during the charging stage and reverse voltages applied to the weak cells which made it completely discharge of the multi-cell NiCd packs.

The chemistry behind it is simply the overheating phenomena, it has nothing to do with the memory effect. The NiCd cell losses the electrolyte during the overheating process, the longer the process of overheating, the lower the cell capacity it becomes.

Due to this so-called “memory effect”, this type of NiCd battery could not be charged for more than 24 hours a day, failure to do so will cause the battery has a shorter life span.

Generally the NiCd cell is used in cheaper electric appliances such as cordless phones and portable vacuum cleaners. The NiCd battery can last longer if it is removed from the charger as and when it is getting hot.

For further information on rechargeable batteries, kindly visit http://aabatterycharger.org

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