Batteries for Glow Plugs....

[Steve Helmick]

Like most, I mostly use a sub-C NiCad in a "Glo Ignitor" (DuBro, in my case). I know NiCads don't like frequent charging, in that they need to be drawn down pretty empty before charging.

Recently, I noticed that Tower and others are selling new "slim" "Glow Ignitors" that use a AA "Pen Cell". One of 'em. HA! Useless. Waitadarnedminute...it says 1800mah NIMH cell. Hey, wow, that's better than the sub-C NiCad's capacity!
I can't recall what the charging desires are for NIMH cells, tho. I've been using them in my digital camera, wireless keyboard and mouse, and a crumby "Walkman Wannabe" radio for the the gym. They're even fairly cheap.

What do NIMH batteries like? Discharged, like NiCads, or should they be topped off ASAP, like gel cells?     Steve

[ebonbetta]

To the best of my knowledge they do not hold a memory if you recharge them but the do lose their charge if they sit around. So your best recharging the night before.
At least thats my understanding. Have had a lot of discussions about them for metal detector use.

[Louis Rankin]

Tower also sells a 4200MAH NIMH Sub-C battery.  It will last all flying season.

[Steve Helmick]

Louis...thanks, Man! Any chance you could come up with a part number or page number for that Sub-C NiMH at Tower? It sounds like the Cat's PJ's.  Steve

Edit: Been looking at Tower and found some NiMH Sub-C cells that will work.  Trinity GP4300 #LXMCZ1, $9.49.  The next question, is what happens if I use the standard charger (for NiCads?) that I got from DuBro, and soon, a new Associated 'ignitor' and charger? I have an Eveready "Energizer" battery charger that will charge just about anything, AAA to D's, also 9v., NiCad or NiMH (I like it).

[phil c]

Any nicad charger will also charge NiMH's.  About the only potential problem, if you are going for absolute top performance, is that the NiMh will tend to shut off with a peak charger at around 90% of capacity.  So to get absolute max charge you have to let it sit a couple minutes and start the charge again, and maybe do it a couple of times.  NiMh also have more internal resistance than NiCad, so they don't do quite as good a job at handling flooded plugs.  Even a single cell nicad will burn through a flood pretty easily.  The NiMh might be a little slow.