Once a day for IB3800? - RC-Monster Forums

nbcaznmaster · **Once a day for IB3800? -** 10.25.2005, 10:03 PM

I heard you can only charger ib3800 packs once a day. Whys taht?

10.26.2005, 12:12 AM

That would be stupid imo if you could only charge them once a day lol. I heard you shouldnt charge gp3300 packs more than 3 times a day?

rchippie · 10.26.2005, 12:38 AM

If you can only use them once a day there not worth having in my opinion. On the 3300's i also read its recomended not to use them more than 2 or 3 times per day. But if your using them more than once you absoluty must let them cool down between uses, i'm talking about the internals of the battery must be cool not just the outside.

squeeforever · 10.27.2005, 04:41 PM

what i do with my 2400s is i set them on a little fan for about 5 minutes and there at room temp. in half that time. it worked for be since they've lasted for 4 years:rolleyes:

Nick · 10.27.2005, 05:05 PM

Yeh, just sit them on top of a house fan or baking tray after use. Works a treat.

If you use Nimhs too much and not let them cool down, they will loose life over time, as the batteries "warp".

Discharging after each use adds to that problem in my opinion, so I don't bother.

nbcaznmaster · 10.27.2005, 05:40 PM

lol, why dont ya just toss them in a fridge! i heard keeping batts in frigde makes them last longer. Like i see durecels batts in my fridge everynow and then.

squeeforever · 10.27.2005, 05:47 PM

i always wondered why people did that.

10.27.2005, 05:57 PM

So i should store my batteries in the fridge? or just put them in there after i use them in my truck?

MetalMan · 10.27.2005, 06:10 PM

Only put the batteries in the refrigerator if they have already cooled down. If you do it while they are hot, then the outside will cool down (shrink) while the inside is still hot. This can lead to a shortened life later on, so it isn't worth it. As far as i know, alkaline batteries last longer when cold because that way the internals are more stable (heat would make them less stable), so that the voltage won't drop as much.

Gustav · 10.27.2005, 06:31 PM

They'll cool alot faster if you sit them on something metal (or stone?),they'll take forever to cool on wood 'cause it's insulating.

coolhandcountry · 10.27.2005, 06:31 PM

I was told that it is not recommended to charge the ib 3800 more than once a day. That is one reason I run the gp 3700.

Nick · 10.27.2005, 06:37 PM

Whats peoples sources for this "charge for only 1 day"? I can't see why not...

coolhandcountry · 10.27.2005, 07:06 PM

My therapist told me. I may have misunderstood him. Have to wait until he gets on to find out for positive.

RC-Monster Mike · 10.27.2005, 08:54 PM

All nimh packs are sensitive to over usage. The 3800s can be charged more than once a day as long as ample time is allowed for them to cool. If they are used excessively, the life will be shortened. This is the case with all nimh batteries. The 3800s are perhaps a touch more sensitive to this than the gp3700s, but running them twice a day with a cooling off period is perfectly acceptable. They will usually run a little stronger on the second charge, actually. I would keep the batteries out of the fridge, too. A fan or something will help cooling, but it isn't as good idea to try to cool them too fast, either(as metalman already mentioned, the batteries need to cool completely and thoroughly).

Batfish · 10:25 AM

I've always gotten a kick out of this question and the way it's approached. If someone can find where the timer and/or clock is in a sub-c battery, please show me a picture :)
Batteries have no idea what time it is, what day it is, or even what millenium it is. All the batteries care about is how hot they are. If you let them cool down to ambient temperature between uses, they will most likely last for the amount of cycles that the manufacturer has rated them. The reason I say "ambient temperature" is that you can't really let your batteries cool to 70F when it's 90F out. At the same time, you don't need to let them cool all the way down to 50F just because it's colder where you are.

The information I have read at various places over the past couple years comes down to the following for the nimh sub-c cells we currently run:

For racing purposes , packs charged at 5A will have good punch and performance for 25-50 charges. After that, they are good for practice packs up to about 100 charges. After about 100 charges, they become bashing packs.

For bashing purposes, packs charged at 5A will have good results for about 200 charges and may even be acceptable for quite a bit more.

A lot of the information that people run with is information from sponsored drivers running at national events. This represents less than .1% of the people using these batteries, and should not be taken as gospel for those looking to get the most out of their $. Many of these drivers will run a weekend of racing on a couple packs they got from a sponsor, then get rid of the packs before the next big race. Taking their advice for the best performance is great if you're also running "disposable" free packs, but doesn't make much sense if you actually pay for your own batteries and need them to last.

Follow the manufacturers guidelines for charging rates and make sure your packs are cooled to ambient temperature before re-charging, and you'll get the best life out of your batteries, regardless of how many times you run them each day.