2006-08-01 20:17:07 · 6 answers · asked by the world see our world 1 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Other - Electronics
The memory effect is an effect observed in some rechargeable batteries that causes them to hold less charge. The term has become almost universal in describing any such effect, though in its original meaning it describes one very specific case.
In the good old days when rechargable batteries were new on the market, we used NICKEL CADMIUM batteries.
They suffered from the memory effect.
This means that if you do not completely use the charge in the NICAD battery, it will hold less of a charge after you recharge it and won't last as long.
If it is suppossed to last 1 hour, the memory effect would cause it to only last 30 minutes or less.
Nickel Metal Hydride NiMH batteries do not suffer from the memory effect so you can use them and recharge them without worrying about whether or not they are completely discharged.
They will in effect last longer and hold more charge than NICAD.
2006-08-01 20:20:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rechargeable batteries have a history of gaining a "memory". Essentially, if you put it back on a charger after 20 minutes of use (before the battery has completely run down), it starts to work for only 20 minutes, or whatever other set time you use.
The old way to cope with this problem was to completely run the battery down before recharging, in order to preserve the life of the battery. If a battery has no memory effect, it doesn't need this step, and will perform better.
What brand is it? I might want to buy...
2006-08-01 20:22:19 · answer #2 · answered by Yah00_goddess 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It used to be in the past that if a battery didn't fully discharge and you recharged it, the next time you used it it would only discharge to the point where you started the recharge. So if you only used half the power in the battery and then recharged it it would only discharge to the halfway point
2006-08-01 20:23:04 · answer #3 · answered by Jackal 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in the good old days, unless a rechargeable battery was fully discharged, it would experience a sudden drop in voltage at the point where the last charge was held.
For detailed explanation, go to the link I have included.
2006-08-01 20:21:37 · answer #4 · answered by blah_in_az 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sometimes when you buy stuff with rechargeable batteries they ask you to totally discharge the batteries before recharging them (to prolong battery life), but you don't have to do this with NiMH batteries
2006-08-01 20:20:36 · answer #5 · answered by ♪ ♫ ☮ NYbron ☮ ♪ ♫ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that u can charge them without waitng them to discharge completely
2006-08-01 20:20:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋