From: spamtrap42@jacob21819.net   
      
   On 2012-07-03, Aragorn  wrote:   
   > On Tuesday 03 July 2012 04:22, Adam conveyed the following to   
   > alt.os.linux.mandriva...   
   >   
   >> Moe Trin wrote:   
   >>   
   >>> On Sat, 30 Jun 2012, in the Usenet newsgroup alt.os.linux.mandriva,   
   >>> in article , Adam wrote:   
   >>   
   >>>> I don't have experience with Li-ion batteries... yet.   
   >>>   
   >>> Got a cell phone?   
   >>   
   >> I hadn't thought of that one.  I read that Li-ion batteries, unlike   
   >> NiCd/NiMH, should /not/ be allowed to discharge completely if   
   >> possible.   
   >   
   > No, that is not correct.  NiCd batteries _must_ be periodically   
   > discharged completely, while Li-ion batteries don't have that   
   > requirement per se, but it is still a good idea to deplete the battery's   
   > charge virtually entirely every once in a while so as to prevent the   
   > development of "battery memory", even with Li-ion.   
      
   Yes and no.   
      
   NiCd cells must be discharged or they develop the memory   
   effect--or "voltage depression" according to an article I read in   
   an electronics publication some years ago.   
      
   However, if you fully discharge a series chain of cells (a   
   battery of cells, aka a battery), you run the risk of reverse   
   charging the weakest cell in the chain.  Reverse charging a NiCd   
   cell results in a dead short caused by metal whiskers inside the   
   cell.  The cure for such a shorted cell is to charge up a   
   substantial electrolytic capacitor (at least a couple milliFarads   
   aka a couple thousand microfarads) to around 12 Volts or more and   
   _ZAP_ the cell in the positive polarity.  The capacitive zapping   
   burns out the whiskers like an electrical fuse and clears the   
   short.   
      
   The only problem with the zap cure is it reduces the capacity of   
   the cell slightly, and it was already the weakest cell in the   
   chain.  The weakest cell gets weaker.   
      
   Popular Electronics discussed capacitive zapping of NiCd cells at   
   least once during the '70s.  Personal experience says it works.   
      
   --   
   Robert Riches   
   spamtrap42@jacob21819.net   
   (Yes, that is one of my email addresses.)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)