charging batteries

[Bootlegger]

 I am putting 10 (ten) 1.2 volt batteries together to make a 12 volt battery for my starter, however some of the batteries don't have a full 1.2 volts.  My thought is to make the 12 volt pack and us the 12 volt charger to charge them.

  What are your thoughts/suggestions and why?  Thanks...
  I can't charge them seperately as they have tabs on them...

[Dan McEntee]

  Yep, just assemble them and when you charge the pack for the first time, use the slow charge option on your charger, even if it takes 10 to 12 hours. That will even up the cells a bit. Just make sure each cell joint is a good solder joint as well as all other connections so you have no major points of resistance, and you should be fine. It's a good idea to slow charge batteries like these every now and then just for this reason.
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Fred Underwood]

What are you suggesting for a "12v charger?"  It may take about 15v to charge them.  As I recall, my NiXX batteries settle to about 1.35V/cell after being fully charged and off of the charger, and can go to over/about 1.5v/cell while being charged.

Depending on how long since charge, they could be sitting under 1.2V if that is what you mean by "don't have a full 1.2V."  They may have a little variation in voltage, but usually not much.

[Bootlegger]

 Guy's thanks for the help, Dan how can I slow charge the batteries?  The charger that I have doesn't have a meter to raise or lower the rate of charge, Again thanks ...

[Dan McEntee]

Even the cheaper chargers have some sort of trickle setting. Does it have a timer? Did it come with instructions? Usually just hooking it up and plugging it in will initiate a trickle charge . Can you post a photo or send me one? If it is rated for 10 cells and 12 volt batteries it should have some kind of adjustments and settings capabilities.
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee