At home I use an "intelligent battery charger" which charges cells two at a time and both must be present for the charger to work.--------------------THE PROBLEM ..... Sometimes I want to charge just one cell on its own. Maybe that one cell is an AA or AAA from a single-cell MP3 player. Or maybe I have to recharge cells which have very different capacities or charge levels.--------------------To charge only one cell, can I put a resistor in the place of the second cell as a sort of dummy cell? If so then what values might I use? I figure the Negative Delta V sensor would still trip correctly with one cell as it's unlikely that two cells would reach their voltage drop simultaneously.Tech details are below. Thank you for any info.Alex--------------------- TECHNICAL DETAILS -------------------INFO ABOUT CHARGER ... The charger is a Vanson V-1000 charger which uses Negative Delta V.The spec says AA cells are charged at 350mA and AA cells at 750mA. I read 1.45 volts across one 900mAh AAA whilst charging 2 of them.I read 1.35 volts across one 2000mAh AA whilst charging 2 of them.Manufacturers info: 's info: INFO ABOUT CELLS .... Use mainly NiMH with some NiCdAAA cell capacity ranges from 300mAh to 900mAh.AA cell capacity ranges from 1000mAh to 2800mAh.-------------------- END OF TECH DETAILS -------------------

Well, you "intelligent" charger isn't quite so smart, is it.They are hard to find but it's still possible to buy chargers that cancharge single cells or any number of cells up to 4 or whatever. I got onefrom Wally World a few years ago. Radio Shack might still stock one thatcan handle C's and D'c along with the AA's and AAA's. Get one.When you charge cells in series one cell will be undercharged and/or theother cell will be overcharged.That said, if you routinely use cells in pairs, you can make a case forALWAYS charging them in series. When you discharge the "weaker" cell mightactually be "reversed" charge when it runs out of juice while the "strong"cell is doing just fine, thank you.

Use dummy cell in two cell battery charger?

Jul 31, 2007 44 Replies

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Michael A. Terrell 18 years ago

In this case its a "Cell of Dummies". :(

Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to prove it. Member of DAV #85. Michael A. Terrell Central Florida

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Lostgallifreyan 18 years ago

"Michael A. Terrell" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@earthlink.net:

I like it, proper use of the word 'cell'. He will approve no doubt. He seems to have only the one.

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Michael A. Terrell 18 years ago

To Paraphrase the dialog from an old Bugs and Daffy cartoon:

Its Duck season!

Its Wabbit season!

Its Duck season!

Its Wabbit season!

Its Duck season!

Its Wabbit season!

Its Duck season!

Its Wabbit season!

Its Duck season!

Its Wabbit season!

Its Duck season!

Its Wabbit season!

Its Morph season! ;-)

Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to prove it. Member of DAV #85. Michael A. Terrell Central Florida

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Archimedes' Lever 18 years ago

Actually, it's (yes, asswipe, you forgot the apostrophe) utter retard season, and you three are said retards.

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GregS 18 years ago

I bought the smaller 8 cell charger. The instructions seem to be wrong in turning on "condition". I have to hold both buttons in to engage.

I had at least 3 dozen NiMH, some 8-9 years old. My 4 best Nexcell's I found out are worthless. Very high impedance. The 4 newest 1400 ma hr seem to be the best, and out of all of them I saved 12. The other 8 are usable but not the best of condition. Just sitting around seems to have the cells go bad after some years. I judge an old battery by the charge discharge period, and high impedance cells have very short intervals. I need some new cells.

greg

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