Re:Rechargeable vs. Alkaline Batteries
by zelon88 on Monday July 22, 2019 @03:51PM
(#20501660)
Partially true, but you're measuring the cells wrong. Alkaline batteries typically start around 1.5v and are advertised to be around 1.5v. A fully charged NiMH cell will be advertised at 1.2v but at peak charge will actually be around 1.4-1.5v.
Even without discharging the NiMH cell at all the peak will wear off within a few hours.
Furthermore, NiMH charges can go stale, trapping electrons inside the cells forever. These trapped electrons occupy cell capacity that can no longer be filled with viable electrons. Thus, a 2,000mah cell that has been left with 1,000mah worth of stale charge will likely only ever charge to 1,000mah for the rest of its life.
If you measure the curve from the delta peak of a NiMH battery the curve is way more extreme than any alkaline.
Even without discharging the NiMH cell at all the peak will wear off within a few hours.
Furthermore, NiMH charges can go stale, trapping electrons inside the cells forever. These trapped electrons occupy cell capacity that can no longer be filled with viable electrons. Thus, a 2,000mah cell that has been left with 1,000mah worth of stale charge will likely only ever charge to 1,000mah for the rest of its life.
If you measure the curve from the delta peak of a NiMH battery the curve is way more extreme than any alkaline.