Does Fast Charging NiMH Batteries Cause Damage or Reduce Their Lifespan?

NiMH batteries require three to four full deep and slow or fast charging cycles before reaching their peak capacity.

If you need or prefer using a fast NiMH battery charger, it is important to use a device capable of fast charging NiMH Batteries that has been designed to charge quickly without overcharging or causing excess heat ( ie. less damage and longer Lifespan )

Some cheap or poorly designed fast charging NiMH battery chargers will decrease the battery lifespan by overcharging or generating excess heat. These are caused primarily by:

Not detecting the “End of Charge”; and,
Continuing to charge at a high rate.

Some NiMH Batteries cannot handle high charge currents; and,
When heat builds up, the NiMH Battery Charger fails to take appropriate action.

Chargers other than fast charging NiMH battery chargers are also capable of causing damage and reducing the lifespan of your NiMH batteries. Using a medium rate or an overnight charger can also cause damage from over charging and the build up of excess heat.

Overnight charging NiMH batteries usually operates for a fixed or maximum period of time in many chargers. You are expected to remove your NiMH batteries if they are charged before the “maximum” or “timeout” period is reached.

Let’s say that your NiMH batteries are charged after 8 hours, but your overnight NiMH Battery Charger continues for 12 hours. After 8 hours, the batteries have reached end of charge and any excess charge will result in a build up of heat. The NiMH batteries are now being damaged.

Overcharging reduces the life of NiMH Batteries. NiMH batteries that are always slow charged will last a longer than one that is always rapid charged. The difference is small if you are fast charging NiMH Batteries usiung quality Fast Charger.

The lesson remains the same. Pay now or pay later. Take care of your things, and they will last longer. Try and save a few bucks, and you might be throwing some of your money away.

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