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| Lead-acid batteries
| Nickel-cadmium batteries
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A review:
| Battery type
| Advantages
| Disadvantages
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|---|
| Lead-acid 'Gel-cell'
| Highest current driving capacity
| Damaged if left discharged for long periods
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| Can be left 'on-charge'
| Heavy and bulky
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| High charge capacity
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| Nickel-cadmium 'Ni-Cad'
| Can be recharged up to 3000 times
| Prone to 'memory effect'*
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| Widely available
| Not suitable for very low current applications
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| Higher energy density than lead-acid
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| Nickel-metal hydride 'NiMH'
| Can be recharged ~400 times
| Need a 'NiMH'-specific battery charger
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| High current driving capacity
| Loses charge quickly when not in use
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| Higher energy density than 'Ni-Cad's
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| Less prone to 'memory effect'*
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| Quick recharge time
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| Lithium-ion 'Li-ion'
| High energy density
| Very expensive
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| Hold charge for months
| Need a 'Li-ion'-specific battery charger
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| No 'memory effect'*
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| Light weight
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*Memory effect - Can be damaged by repeated charging when not fully discharged.
Summary:
- In most cases, nickel-cadmium batteries will be the choice
- Beware the memory effect! If you cannot rely on discharging your batteries each time, before you recharge them, consider using Lithium-ion batteries
- For short periods of very high current demand, use lead-acid batteries, unless the weight is a problem.
Battery Do's & Don'ts (to maximize performance)
Do's:
- Properly "condition" the battery when it is new (i.e. fully charge/discharge for first 3 cycles)
- Keep the battery and the contact terminals clean
- Avoid exposing the battery to extreme heat and cold
- If possible, avoid letting your battery sit dormant for long periods of time
- Charge and re-condition a battery after an extended idle period
Don't s:
- Drop the battery
- Short-circuit the battery
- Incinerate a battery. Dispose of it properly - it may contain toxic chemicals
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