> If they are dead, you will not loose any more by trying > zapping. > I've resurrected (even several times) many NiCd cells. > I use a lot of them, and I've zapped many, only a couple > of times zapping > did not work. > > Here is what I do: > I use a variable voltage power supply (even a fixed supply > may work) and I > short the pack with a voltage higher than the charging > voltage I use a largish capacitor (N,000 uF) and a supply somewhat higher than the NiCd voltage. Charge cap, short to battery, repeat as required. Usually clears "whiskers" in the first few attempts. Cells are always subsequently more liable to reoffend but often work well indefinitely. For a little more sophistication use an (ideally current limited) supply plus voltmeter. Adjust supply to > battery voltage Monitor battery voltage. Connect cap across supply. After zap from cap [tm] and before supply is removed the voltage will tell you whether the short has cleared. when it does the voltage will rise by ~= a cell voltage Repeat until whisker clears. Don't try this at home: Using a car battery and flicking the contact across the battery terminal for a shorrrrrt burst of 12V also works well. Probably about equivalent to human ECT :-). The slow of hand may experience spontaneous dismantlement of the rather solid cell casing [ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_grenades], although I never have. Russell -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist