Can NiMH batteries "just die" from non-use?

On Mon, 23 Oct 2006 15:01:29 -0500, Ron Hunter wrote:

> You would have enjoyed the cruise I was just on. People from over 60
> countries were the cruise ship staff. In almost all cases their English
> was very good, even understanding jokes. I guess English is becoming
> the world-wide language. Now if someone would just explain that to our
> 'uninvited guests' from Mexico... sigh.

I don't see that the same way, but maybe location makes a
difference. Here, there are many Hispanics, even a good number of
Mexicans. I'm sure that there are many that don't speak English,
but I don't encounter them. The ones that I do, such as store
owners or those working the registers all speak at least passable
English, and usually pick up cues so that they speak English to me.
I prefer the few times that they don't get it right, as it often
helps add a word or two of Spanish to my vocabulary.

BTW, I haven't seen any episodes of ABC's new show Ugly Betty so I
don't know if it has any Spanish references, but it is derived from
the world-wide hit from several years ago "Betty la Fea" from (I
think) Colombia, which had a large cast of very good actors and
actresses. Good enough so that even though I don't speak Spanish,
it was fairly easy to follow much of what was happening, and much of
the show's humor came through. I don't know how faithful the new
version is to the original, but knowing USA TV, the one character
they'd be least likely to eliminate would be the good looking blonde
bimbo, sort of a Wile Coyote character, whose every scheme quickly
backfires.

No Paul. The ???? has a self discharge of about 10% during the first day
after charge and after that about 30% per month. This is for new well
preserved batteries. If you have old batteries, for example two year old,
then a 1st month self discharge could be even 60% without this battery been
necessarily defective. Don't forget that self discharge specs are measured
in 20 C temp and is much-much worst in real life. Take a look in the
diagram.
http://www.starbatteries.com/seldisrat.html or google as "MiMH self
discharge rate"

The new technology NiMH batteries can be a little better. The best new
batteries in the market just 3 moths ago could have a 1st month self
discharge of 25 to 30%. But as you understand, Tommy's batteries are not as
new.

Sanyo who leads battery technology has just introduce a new technology that
promises self discharge of 15% per year (Sanyo eneloop).
http://www.eneloop.info/home_en.html
--
Dimitris M


? "Paul Rubin"

>
> The cell is defective or has gone bad if the self-discharge rate is
> that high.