Got a welder? Don't toss those dead NiCads!

[Avatard]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENmAJ2GOAMY

[Adeptus_Minor]

Wow.
I'd be afraid it'd explode or something.

My great grandfather used to leave alkaline batteries on top of their gas heater in the kitchen to "recharge" them.
Seemed to help him eek a bit more life out of them... that is, until one of them exploded, leaving a chemical splatter mark all the way up on the ceiling.

[defector]

Originally Posted by Adeptus_Minor

Wow.
I'd be afraid it'd explode or something.

My great grandfather used to leave alkaline batteries on top of their gas heater in the kitchen to "recharge" them.

I thought you were supposed to put them in the freezer? That's what my Grandma did.

[Avatard]

Originally Posted by defector

I thought you were supposed to put them in the freezer? That's what my Grandma did.

Leave them on the heater, leave them in the freezer - the "trick" is to LEAVE THEM. There's obviously no trick to that at all. Just leaving the battery alone for awhile is what allows the electrolytic action to generate just a little more power, and then they're magically "recharged".

This video depicts something different. The process zaps the crystals of sulfation that choke an otherwise useful NiCad battery, restoring it to function.

[defector]

Can't see youtube @ work. I wil have to check it out when I get home, sounds interesting.
I have NiCad batteries, and a welder...

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by Avatard

Leave them on the heater, leave them in the freezer - the "trick" is to LEAVE THEM. There's obviously no trick to that at all. Just leaving the battery alone for awhile is what allows the electrolytic action to generate just a little more power, and then they're magically "recharged".

This video depicts something different. The process zaps the crystals of sulfation that choke an otherwise useful NiCad battery, restoring it to function.

I wonder if a car Alternator would work or even a charged car battery?

[Avatard]

Confirmed.

Did it with a small 12V 4 amp battery charger.

Took two NiCad packs that were 1.3 and 3.2 volts respectively. Both shot up to 8.23 volts after the zapping. Both will now power the 12V device, but only one is taking a charge so far...but it would appear that at least one pack has been brought back from the dead.