NiCad reconditioners work by deep cycling the cells a couple of times. = It=20 does not help NiMH cells though. 100% deep cycling is done in satellites= =20 that use NiCad batteries. As for dumping a large cap across a cell to blow dendrites out, i have = had=20 good luck with that as well, though once i just hooked one across a car=20 battery for a fraction of a second (using thin wire, it started smoking).
YMMV
Any one I tried to restore would go bad next discharge cycle.
I have left my Johnson Walkie Talkies go for a long time, up to 3 years, and the thing will still tun on and the receiver will work. Last time I checked, it would not turn on. Time to recharge !!!
Those Varta 1960's nicads will never die.
greg
I have a whole box of 50 AA 1.24 V NiCads here. Just charged 4 the other day, after the box sat in my storage for the last 5 years. They charge up normally, and charge to full voltage, and operate at full rated capacity, no problem. No zapping it first, no deep cycles. Just charge it and go.
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