For all you matchers or battery marketers ,,,,,why does a nimh cell loose runtime consistently after just a few runs ??? Ok , maybe more than a few.

I realize we abuse them in the rc world but you'd think they would hold up better.

3300's drop to 2700-2800

3700's are pathetic , maybe 3100

3800 's not so bad , maybe 3500-3600

Whats actually happening to the cell that causes this to happen.

These are discharge mah #'s .

I am not an expert... but I believe the internal resistance build up inside the cell is the cause of this.

For all you matchers or battery marketers ,,,,,why does a nimh cell loose runtime consistently after just a few runs ??? Ok , maybe more than a few.

I realize we abuse them in the rc world but you'd think they would hold up better.

3300's drop to 2700-2800

3700's are pathetic , maybe 3100

3800 's not so bad , maybe 3500-3600

Whats actually happening to the cell that causes this to happen.

These are discharge mah #'s .

Re-zap your cells to clear up hair-like size shorts and bubbles inside each cell.
These shorts are caused by heating/cooling of the cells under heavy use around the internal plates.


The liquid inside the cell heats up into a gas if the cell gets too hot it will vent the gas.

If the cell cools to fast the gas and liquid can crystallize around the plates reducing performance.

Most zapped cells will be restored. Some cells won't make it.
If this sound like too much work then I would invest in some new battery packs. :thumbsup:


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No. I just stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night!!

Much better answer than mine.

So your saying Re -zapping your cells will give you back some capacity ?

I've never played with one .

My IR has stayed decent with the 3800's , the old 3700's would gain IR at a much faster rate.

At what voltage do you zap ? and if some make it and some don't then you have a miss matched pack ?

Thanks for your feedback

R S

So your saying Re -zapping your cells will give you back some capacity ?

I've never played with one .

My IR has stayed decent with the 3800's , the old 3700's would gain IR at a much faster rate.

At what voltage do you zap ? and if some make it and some don't then you have a miss matched pack ?

Thanks for your feedback

R S

On the GP and other cells ''YES"" you get an increase in capacity.

On IB3800 packs once the pack falls short of 0-.3 volt/cell capacity is lost FOREVER.. :cry:

Re-zapping removes most bubbles and shorts from the plates improving the cell internal resistance. This is called a maintenance zap.

It really wakes up the cells by LOWERING the IR.
YOU DO NEED TO REMATCH EACH CELL. (Much more racing matcher $200)

This seems to be the normal zapping voltage to use:

I re-zapp the each cell depending on there age.
3 months old - 70 to 80 volts for 3300 and lower
6 months old - 60 to 70 volts for 3300 and lower

60 volts for 3800 cells or higher

The lower the internal resistance the FASTER the cell releases its power.

If this is to much work or you have only a few cells then buy new cells.

But, if you have a ton of cells and the time to rematch them you can make some killer packs... its a hobby. :)