i have a 9.6v nimh pack with 8 cells - they are fairly new only 35 cycles - can anyone advise if I can add a couple more new cells to it to make 12v or 14v, and still use my existing charger only?
ie the charger is fine for higher voltages, but my concern is more how to balance up the new cells with the older ones, would I have to slow charge for a few times so that all the cells balance themselves out? Or is it not possible?
thanks for the help
If your charger is designed to charge battery packs of different voltages, like some are, then as long as the charger is capable of charging a 12 or 14 volt pack you can use it.
As far as adding new cells to old to increase the voltage of the pack, it is never a good idea to mix old cells or batteries with new cells or batteries. If you want to do this as a test then you can get away with it for a short time.
If you balance all the cells at the end of usage and again at the end of a charge cycle you may get the new cells to integrate into the pack over time. This is what I would try. It may take some extra work and time but it would increase the life of the battery pack even though it is not recommended.
Grandpa Chas S.
thanks!
I would cycle the extra cells a few times before adding them to the pack.
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