[RE-wrenches] Nickel-Iron Batteries

[Exeltech]

Bob is correct in his warning about the Chinese Ni-Fe
cells.  As I recall, they had a translucent white case,
but there may have been others .. and as Bob mentioned,
they did indeed have a very high failure rate.

Thanks Bob for remembering this.

Mine are (and were) Edison cells, and were imprinted with
the word "Edison" on the caps and the cell cases.

A quick word of advice ...

You *can* get the charge voltage (and subsequently current)
too high in the sense the cells out-gas hydrogen and oxygen
just like lead-acid, and will do so vigorously when fully
charged.  The plates won't warp due to heat as will lead-acid,
but the risk of of an H2 explosion is still very real.  This
also causes the electrolyte to be deposited all over the tops
of the cells and elsewhere.  It's oily and difficult to clean
up.


Dan


--- On Mon, 5/7/12, bob ellison <reellison at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: bob ellison <reellison at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Nickel-Iron Batteries
> To: "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> Date: Monday, May 7, 2012, 4:38 AM
> 
> The bigger warning is with the "Chinese" NiFe cells.
> 
> There was a company importing them 15-20 years or so ago.
> The failure rate was very high and the factory support was
> almost nonexistent. Unless you're a tinkerer, they are great
> cells to stay away from!
> 
> I know people who use the original Edison cells in power
> systems and have seen people just using them as a DC source.
> Don't worry, you can't get the voltage too high when charging
> them. They just take it. They don't freeze and if I remember
> correctly, temp does not alter the output either. There are
> plenty of the original Edison Cells still out there.
> 
> Later,
> Bob Ellison