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The Kitchen Table

Question on NiCad Batteries

11 years ago

I found a solar powered outdoor light in our garage. It's been through several cold winters. We never used it, and it looks like new, but it's not working after a day in the sun. I suspect its batteries need replacing. The bulb looks fine.

The literature says it requires 4 AA NiCad Rechargeable Batteries. Can I not use 'regular' AA rechargeable batteries? I have three brands of AA 1.2 volt rechargeables that say Ni-MH. One says up to 2100 mAh. One says 2450 mAh. One says 2650 mAh.

Would I be money ahead to just buy a new solar light?

(This has surfaced because our wooden flag pole has swollen so much that I can't get it out of the brass holder beside our front door. I thought I could at least light the flag overnight.)

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Comments (3)

Elmer J Fudd
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I'd never put any battery into a charger (of any kind) that doesn't have the specs called for by the charger. Your potential risk is fire, not worth it.

The solar lights I've seen give off a very feeble and inadequate light. Will the solar panel get direct sunlight most of the day to allow a full recharge?

Chisue, you're potentially causing a second problem by not addressing the first problem. If lubrication or trying to cut/drill out pieces where the pole is stuck doesn't do the trick, you really need to cut/drill out the stuck flagpole and get one of smaller diameter. If you want a lighted flag feature, better to do it with a wired fixture and an LED bulb.
malna
11 years ago
Yes, you can use NiMH batteries. You may find you need to replace the batteries slightly more often (in something that doesn't use so much battery power as opposed to, say, a digital camera) than you would if you had NiCad's, but they are a lot better for the environment and don't have the "memory effect" problem that earlier rechargeables did.
chisue thanked malna
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chisue
Original Author
11 years ago
Right now flood is more of a potential problem than fire around here! LOL This will be outdoors, well away from the house wall.

If it ever dries out around here (!) I think I can get the pole out and get the base of it whittled down a bit to fit the holder. I'm loathe to remove the holder lest I have trouble re-seating the screws in the wall.

I'll try the non-NiCads and we'll see it this works (temporarily).

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