If you’re an RC enthusiast, NiMH batteries are very familiar to you. So it’s very important to know the amps and volts about charging the batteries.
So, what amp to charge NiMH battery?
The amps to charge NiMH batteries are different for different volt NiMH batteries. For example, you need 110 mA to charge a 7.2v and 7.4v NiMH. You’ll also need to keep a discharge of 0.1A. For 8.4v, the amp requirement is 80 mA. This also differs from brand to brand.
This is not all. A calculator can ease the figures for you. This article will tell you everything about the amps to charge your NiMH battery.
So don’t just waste time! Hop in!
Amp to Charge Different Volt Nimh Batteries
Amp (charge rate) on a label means current (in amperes). To charge your battery, you’d better use a charger. And it better has an amp of 1C or less.
It’s important to use a right charger. Like you can’t use a NiCad charger to charge your NiMH battery.
You’d better match the charging rate with the charging rate shown on your battery label. You can also find it in the manual. Charging at other rates may cause your batteries to leak electrolytes or even explode.
Here we will tell you What Amp to Charge NiMH Battery separately for different volt batteries.
Amp For Charging A 100 mAh NiMH Battery
At a rate of 10 mA for 15 hours, a 100 mAh battery could be charged. Basically, you would want to charge with the following formula-
1 * 100 * 1.25 = 125 mA charging current.
1A = 100mA, 2A= 200mA. You need a battery pack in order for this calculation to work accurately.
You can get the idea of this from a NiMH charge rate calculator.
7.2v NiMH Charge Rate
110mA will charge it with a 0.1A discharge on the other side of the battery. 2800mAh will charge in 1 hour and 30 minutes. Some reliable 7.2v NiMH batteries on the market are listed below.
A well balanced NiMH battery is Zeee 7.2V 3600mAh RC NiMH Battery.
With a 30C discharge rate, GOLDBAT 3600mAh 7.2V NiMH RC Battery provides stable current supply.
For longer battery life go for Powerextra 7.2V 3600mAh NiMH Battery.
7.4v NiMH
110mA will charge it with a 0.1A discharge on the other side of the battery. Or 80mA charge if you’re using a car adapter (DC charging).
8.4v NiMH
80mA charges these batteries and is best reserved for low-capacity batteries. This will be the same if you’re using a car adapter (DC charging). 110mA will charge it with a 0.1A discharge on the other side of the battery.
3000mAh NiMH Charge Rate
110mA will charge it with a 0.1A discharge on the other side of the battery. 3000 mAh will charge in 45 minutes. Some of the best 3000 mAh NiMH batteries are recommended below.
For a 7-cell NiMH battery, go for Zeee 8.4V 3000mAh NiMH Battery.
A reliable and durable battery is Traxxas Power Cell, 3000mAh, 8.4V NiMH Battery.
You can get more compatible support for Venom 8.4V 3000mAh 7-Cell NiMH Battery.
5200mAh NiMH
110mA will charge it with a 0.1A discharge on the other side of the battery. Or an 80mA charge if you’re using a car adapter (DC charging). 5600mAh will charge in 1 hour and 30 minutes.
5600 mAh NiMH & LiPo (6S)
110mA will charge it with a 0.1A discharge on the other side of the battery. Or an 80mA charge if you’re using a car adapter (DC charging).
Traxxas 8.4v 3000mAh Charge Rate
This is one of the best batteries for Traxxas Stampede. 95mA will charge it with a 0.05A discharge on the other side of the battery. Or 70mA if you’re using a car adapter (DC charging).
Traxxas 7.2v 1000mAh Charge Rate
110-130mA will charge it with a 0.1A discharge on the other side of the battery. Or 100-110mA if you’re using a car adapter (DC charging).
Traxxas 3.7v 1100mAh Charge Rate
90-100mA will charge it with a 0.1A discharge on the other side of the battery. Or 80-90mA if you’re using a car adapter (DC charging).
Casio brand 8.4v 3000mAh Charge Rate
95-110mA will charge it with a 0.05A discharge on the other side of the battery. Or 70-80mA if you’re using a car adapter (DC charging).
Casio brand 7.2v 1000mAh Charge Rate
110-130mA will charge it with a 0.1A discharge on the other side of the battery. Or 100-110mA if you’re using a car adapter (DC charging).
Casio brand 3.7v 1100mAh Charge Rate
90-100mA will charge it with a 0.1A discharge on the other side of the battery. Or 80-90mA if you’re using a car adapter (DC charging).
Now let’s move on to the next segment.
Voltage Of A Fully Charged NiMH Battery
It’s important to know the voltage of a fully charged battery whether it’s lipo or NiMH. It can be used to verify the health of a battery. Or make decisions about how many batteries are needed for a project. So what is the voltage of a fully charged NiMH battery?
The voltage of a fully charged NiMH battery is 1.2V. However, the voltage will decrease with use. So it should be measured periodically to maintain optimum battery life and performance in devices.
However, you should also know about the low and high battery voltage.
Low Battery Voltage
This is a measure of the battery’s capacity to provide electrical power for periodic discharge.
As the battery discharges, the voltage decreases. To know how low it will go, you must measure it in a discharged state. It’s to get an accurate reading.
A discharged state is achieved when you apply a short circuit load. It’s equal to or greater than the capacity of the battery.
For most NiMH batteries, the low-voltage alarm is 3.2 V. And the device stops functioning at around 2.7V.
High Battery Voltage
In most cases, the high-voltage alarm is about 3.8 V. And the device stops functioning at around 4.3V (NiMH battery Alarm).
Using the right NiMH battery will surely provide the right performance you need. Here’s someone using the right battery type for gaining ultimate speed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What to do if you don’t know how many amps your charger is capable of outputting?
If you don’t the amp your charger is capable of outputting, just find its max charging power specification. And then choose an equivalent rating to figure out the amp.
What voltage does a NiMH battery reach after it is completely discharged?
NiMH batteries begin at around 1.5 V when fully charged. And fall to approximately 1.2 V for the majority of their discharge life. At 900 mV, they are almost empty. It’s typically okay to stop there. You must stop at 800 mV in order to prevent harm.
What Is the Charging Mode for NiMH batteries?
NiMH batteries should be charged in constant voltage mode. The charger will automatically switch among charge modes, including trickle and topping, when the charging is complete.
