14 Facts About Nickel-cadmium batteries

Ni-Cd Nickel-cadmium batteries are made in a wide range of sizes and capacities, from portable sealed types interchangeable with carbon-zinc dry cells, to large ventilated cells used for standby power and motive power.

Larger ventilated wet cell Ni-Cd Nickel-cadmium batteries are used in emergency lighting, standby power, and uninterruptible power supplies and other applications.

Up to this point, the Nickel-cadmium batteries were "pocket type, " constructed of nickel-plated steel pockets containing nickel and cadmium active materials.

Ni–Cd Nickel-cadmium batteries can be charged at several different rates, depending on how the cell was manufactured.

Ni-Cd Nickel-cadmium batteries usually have a metal case with a sealing plate equipped with a self-sealing safety valve.

When Jungner built the first Ni-Cd Nickel-cadmium batteries, he used nickel oxide in the positive electrode, and iron and cadmium materials in the negative.

Traditional NiCd Nickel-cadmium batteries are of the sealed type, which means that charge gas is normally recombined and they release no gas unless severely overcharged or a fault develops.

Specialty Ni–Cd Nickel-cadmium batteries are used in cordless and wireless telephones, emergency lighting, and other applications.

Up until the mid-1990s, Ni–Cd Nickel-cadmium batteries had an overwhelming majority of the market share for rechargeable Nickel-cadmium batteries in home electronics.

Recently, nickel–metal hydride and lithium-ion Nickel-cadmium batteries have become commercially available and cheaper, the former type now rivaling Ni–Cd Nickel-cadmium batteries in cost.

Where energy density is important, Ni–Cd Nickel-cadmium batteries are now at a disadvantage compared with nickel–metal hydride and lithium-ion Nickel-cadmium batteries.

Whilst lead–acid Nickel-cadmium batteries can be charged by simply connecting a dynamo to them, with a simple electromagnetic cut-out system for when the dynamo is stationary or an over-current occurs, the Ni–Cd battery under a similar charging scheme would exhibit thermal runaway, where the charging current would continue to rise until the over-current cut-out operated or the battery destroyed itself.

Some electronics designed to be powered by Ni–Cd Nickel-cadmium batteries are able to withstand this reduced voltage long enough for the voltage to return to normal.

Under the same EU directive, used industrial Ni–Cd Nickel-cadmium batteries must be collected by their producers in order to be recycled in dedicated facilities.