Also, Ni-MH batteries cost more than Ni-Cd batteries, but their longer life tends to more than compensate for that. On the downside, Ni-MH batteries discharge more when not in use than Ni-Cds.Īfter about a week of not being used, a fully charged Ni-MH battery will have lost about 20% of its charge. Their typical useful life is more like 3 to 4 years. There is some memory effect with Ni-MH batteries, but not nearly as much as with Ni-Cd.Īlso, they can go through more discharge-recharge cycles than Ni-Cd batteries. However, they suffer much less from the memory effect than Ni-Cd batteries. They have many of the same advantages that the Ni-Cd batteries have. Ni-MH (Nickel-metal hydride) Batteries are a more recent development in rechargeable batteries.

The major Disadvantage of Ni-Cd batteries is the memory effect (The decreasing useful time between charges for a rechargeable battery is due to what is called the memory effect).Īlso, Ni-Cd batteries can only undergo a limited number of discharge-recharge cycles before they need to be replaced. They have a good capacity and hold a very stable voltage between charges as they are being discharged. Ni-Cd Batteries have been around the longest of these three types.

Ni-Cd battery has nickel oxide hydroxide and metallic cadmium as electrodes. Ni-Cd cells have a nominal cell potential of 1.2 volts (V). Let us have a look at different types of rechargeable batteries. These batteries look similar from outside but there are significant differences between them. Rechargeable batteries are of four basic types: