I recently purchased a couple of new-old-stock NiCD battery stick packs. Accessing the cells individually is difficult but possible if required (security bit screw, I have the tool). They are 17 years old - manufacturing date is stamped into the casing. Both packs contain 2 cells and measured 2V out of the packaging. They come with trickle chargers that are designed for a 12 hour charge.
Am I correct in assuming that if I charge them fully with the included trickle charger and then gently cycle them 5-10 times, they should prime nicely and work acceptably given their age?
Are there any precautions I can take to increase the chance of a successful recovery?
I am aware of the method usually used to remove voltage depression (bring them to ~0.5V per cell slowly using a very light load). Do I need to do this or should it be OK to just use them?
For those of you curious, they are from the Game boy Pocket "battery charger set" only sold in Japan as far as I know, model MGB-002 (battery stick) and MGB-003 (wall wart charger). I purchased them because they cost almost nothing brand new and I have previously read that NOS NiCD batteries tend to recover well for light load applications - and they cost <$5 per set.
I own a lab bench power supply I can use for manual priming if required.
Any advice appreciated! I have old eneloops from 2005-2006 that I have kept in good condition, but those see use. This will be the first time I attempt to prime old NiCD cells.
Am I correct in assuming that if I charge them fully with the included trickle charger and then gently cycle them 5-10 times, they should prime nicely and work acceptably given their age?
Are there any precautions I can take to increase the chance of a successful recovery?
I am aware of the method usually used to remove voltage depression (bring them to ~0.5V per cell slowly using a very light load). Do I need to do this or should it be OK to just use them?
For those of you curious, they are from the Game boy Pocket "battery charger set" only sold in Japan as far as I know, model MGB-002 (battery stick) and MGB-003 (wall wart charger). I purchased them because they cost almost nothing brand new and I have previously read that NOS NiCD batteries tend to recover well for light load applications - and they cost <$5 per set.
I own a lab bench power supply I can use for manual priming if required.
Any advice appreciated! I have old eneloops from 2005-2006 that I have kept in good condition, but those see use. This will be the first time I attempt to prime old NiCD cells.