checking quality and testing replacement Ni

[Norm]

I have built trays holding 5 cells each, now I can check each cell and
determine which cells will be suitable to use.
To start with after laying around for months I figure if they are at least
1 volt they are candidates for use.
putting 10 of these at a time .....when I have 20 ready
I will be using 15 .
So they are charged and when they read 14.00 , I take each one
and write on the side of the cardboard tube  what their voltage
is ....when I have finally selected 15 of them that read at least 1.37
or 1.38 ....(after laying around for a day they drop down to about 1.34-136
the closer the readings to each other the better. they are ready for testing
 putting them all in a PVC tube
and connecting to an 18 volt cordless drill  I run the drill with no load
until the voltage is 18.6.
  Now I write on the side of each cell their voltage .....all cells must be
close to the average any cell lower than the groups average is set aside
and another that I have on hand that is close to the average
recharge and check until they all read 1.38 .
Now for the final test .
I take these and run the drill here are the results:
run drill 1 minute no load with 3 min. rest after each minute:
20.3
19.90
19.40
19.00
18.93
18.90
18.82
18.70
18.40....here is where it slowed down to about 1/2 speed after 30 seconds
18.00 ...now about 20 seconds and it slowed down quickly.
it was ready for a recharge !
Now after installing them in a battery case they should be ready for their final test .
Norm.
 
 

[Wolvenar]

The ever evolving work with batteries  :-)

[Norm]

 Put the bunch that I checked yesterday in the form and connected and soldered them
together ....while they were back in the trays after charging they all read about 1.34
couple 1.35 and one was 1.33....good enough  total voltage 20.01 calculator says
15 * 1.34=20.1.
   So onto charging and testing the next batch.
Trying for completion of one per day ......
Norm.

[Norm]

The ones in black and white are from Voltman.com .....new tabs, new batteries, spot welded.
mine are original ,used with original tabs repositioned and re soldered to negative end of battery .
Norm.

[Norm]

finally got another bunch of cells selected and tried them out 15 in a PVC (test tube?)
started out at 20.3 .
Then drilled 12 1' holes in a 2x4 1/2' deep ....on the 12 hole it slowed down dramatically
.....which it shouldn't have down.....voltage had dropped down to 17.53 I checked each battery and
found that all were pretty good except one which had dropped to 0.05.
which just goes to show that just onebad battery can make the rest look bad .
This is what I check for before I even think of actually hooking them up and sending them off.
Norm.

[Watt]

finally got another bunch of cells selected and tried them out 15 in a PVC (test tube?)
started out at 20.3 .
Then drilled 12 1' holes in a 2x4 1/2' deep ....on the 12 hole it slowed down dramatically
.....which it shouldn't have down.....voltage had dropped down to 17.53 I checked each battery and
found that all were pretty good except one which had dropped to 0.05.
which just goes to show that just onebad battery can make the rest look bad .
This is what I check for before I even think of actually hooking them up and sending them off.
Norm.

Good to know Norm.

[Norm]

Even at this would be quite a hefty job of driving quite a few dozen
deck screws.  A 1 inch speed bit takes quite a bit of torque , also
the line drop of 19 20 volts delivered thru an 3ft. extension cord.
and deck screws.wouldn't be driven as a steady load.
  I remember when I got my ....then new 14.4v cordless drill with
the new battery packs was amazing ....for about 4 or 5 cycles.

  Now for one to think about.....If you had a pack that you could
select and check each cell or twin cells .?

    Another of my ongoing projects inspired ....but not using my PVC
NiCad holders.
Norm