What are the advantages and disadvantages of NiCad batteries?

NiCad batteries are used when long life, high discharge rate, and low price are important hardware features.

Battery manufacturers recommend to slow charge a new NiCad battery for 24-hours before use. This initial trickle charge helps to redistribute the electrolyte to remedy dry spots on the separator. Such dry spots may appear when the electrolyte gravitates to the bottom of the cell during long storage. A slow charge also helps to bring all the individual cells back up to an equal charge level because each cell may have self-discharged to different capacity levels during storage.

Advantages of today's NiCad batteries

There are several advantages to NiCad batteries.

• Delivers high current output.
• Relatively tolerant of overcharging.
• Withstands up to 500 charging cycles.

Disadvantages of today's NiCad batteries

There are several disadvantages to NiCad batteries.

• Mature technology with little tolerance for overcharging.
• Cadmium is environmentally troublesome.
• Noticeable charging memory effect.