Charge NiMH w/ Tekin BC100L?

[pullinteef]

Hi, i'm new to this forum and I'm just getting back into RC after a long hiatus. I was just wondering if it's safe to charge NiMH batteries with my old Tekin BC100L charger. I thought I read that if you monitor the voltage carefully it's do-able, but I figure I'd check before buying any new cells. However, I'm sure that I'll invest in a new charger should I see myself getting back into any serious racing. Thanks for any help.

[AreCee]

You could use that old charger (I still have one also) but it was designed to charge the old 1200mah NiCADs which were popular at that time. It has a linear charge cycle but the delta voltage detection is way off for the newer NiMH cells, much too coarse. If you do decide to use it then keep an eye on the temperature (about 110 to 130 degrees) rather than the voltage because by the time you notice a voltage drop the cells are too hot.

[highroller]

Yes you can use it, provided you use a DVM to moniter the voltage threshold. Set it to the linear (SCE) mode, plug in DVM and set the amp rate to whatever you use. Pack should be completely discharged before recharging. Monitor the pack closely near the 25 min mark (takes 35-45 min for a complete charge depending on charge rate) when voltage stops climbing and stays at the level it done, waiting to see a drop can be to late or battery may get too warm by the time you see a drop in voltage.