Excal II battery question

[47thelement]

I have 2008 model. Does anybody know if these things have a "battery memory" meaning do you need to run the battery down completely for maximum charge. Also, for long term storage what is the best way to store...battery connected or disconnected?

One more thing... what is the name of the lubricant used on the connections and where can it be purchased

Thanks and is it beach season yet?

 

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[Buried Crap NJ]

Depends on if its a nimh or nicad and the battery memory never was an issue! Just charge it up and see what happens. If it gives you trouble after a couple of cycles replace it.steve

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I have 2008 model. Does anybody know if these things have a "battery memory" meaning do you need to run the battery down completely for maximum charge. Also, for long term storage what is the best way to store...battery connected or disconnected?

One more thing... what is the name of the lubricant used on the connections and where can it be purchased

Thanks and is it beach season yet?

I have used the nicad for over 3 years, never noticed it having a problem with a memory. As far as the lubricant, I use silcone grease, it can be found in Lowes or Home Depot in the plumbing department. It comes in a small plastic container about the size of a quarter maybe a 3/4 inch thick. I have been told you can also get it at dive shops. Be sure you get the lubricant and not silcone glue or sealer....

 

[OD_hunt]

They say NiMH batteries do not build a memory, but then you ask yourself why so many modern cellular phone batteries (NiMH) last a year and cannot hold a charge for 12 hours... This happens if you do not run them "flat" (as flat as possible not to inconvenience yourself...) or, if people leave batteries on charge for excessively long times. I simply use a battery so it discharges as far as possible and charge it up fully etc. Be it NiMH or NiCd, I would cycle both the same way when charging / discharging. Usually, like Treasure Hunter said, normal cycling should be fine but, an after-market discharger of some sort can also be used once every say 20 - 30 charges. I am in the process of putting one together when I get home in 3 weeks. It needs to discharge at a "safe" rate, i.e. at the current rating of your MD, or slightly higher. I firmly believe any sort of rapid charging and / or discharging damages your battery in the long run.

Another important reminder is that you should never leave a rechargeable battery for longer than 6 months without cycling it, otherwise it will lose some of its ability to hold its maximum charge for a long time.

I have an Excal which has been standing at home for a few months while I am abroad for work. So I do not have that much experience with it, but these guidelines are general for most rechargeable battery systems. Hope this helps.