Mixing mAh batteries

Many of the chargers for individual cells charge a pair at once.. Match the batteries in the pairs..

For actually running an engine, then if they are all you have, then play trains! - But possibly stop well before the batteries run-down..

If you are making up a set of batteries to live in a loco, and be charged from outside, then NO. - End-of.
 
As my father used to tell me, "You're not very often right but you're wrong again!!!!! Doooooooo.....Grrrr......

I need 6 AA batteries for my Playmobile locomotive. I bought a charger and 8 AA 2000mAh of the same batteries off ebay. This morning Lidl had an offer of 2300mAh in a pack of 4 at a very good price. I bought just the one pack. Oh blow as they say. I don't want to buy anymore.

SW
 
So, you are intending to mix them in the same "pack".

Also you did not indicate the chemistry, are these nicad, nickle metal hydride, or lithium?

In any case, don't do it, even though it is a small difference.

Basically the charger could cause an issue, i.e. trying to charge the 2000 mah batteries to 2300....

Greg
 
Sarah, Don't mix them to charge. - Outside the loco.. Do NOT charge them in the loco (if a mixed set)..

To run your new Playmo loco they will be fine to mix for a running session. - I always remove removable batteries at the end of a session.. That way, I never have a nearly-flat set in a loco, and they do not get left in case they don't get looked at for a few months.
 
Greg Elmassian said:
So, you are intending to mix them in the same "pack".

Also you did not indicate the chemistry, are these nicad, nickle metal hydride, or lithium?

In any case, don't do it, even though it is a small difference.

Basically the charger could cause an issue, i.e. trying to charge the 2000 mah batteries to 2300....

Greg
Click to expand...

Once my charger and batteries are delivered I'll post details for your comments please.

Thanks,

SW
 
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I make it a rule not to even mix different makes in the same pack, for use or for charging. Perhaps a bit OTT but that way I can't go wrong.
 
That is a wise rule, different batteries with the same specs can charge differently. Also, many times batteries are advertised with "better" specifications to get more sales. There is a distributor here in the US that was selling his lithium batteries with a higher mah rating than the manufacturer had. Since the battery packs he assembled were all in shrink wrap, no one figured it out, until someone opened one up, and noticed the manufacture of the batteries. His comeback: "Oh I tested them and this is what I got"... so since the batteries he tested yielded more than the manufacturer claimed, he advertised them as such.
 
In boom-days of PC's..
'We' used to get power supplies by the container-full.. The (Chinese) supplier would ask what wattage we wanted printed on the labels!
 
I have now received my batteries and charger for my Playmobil locomotive.

There are 8 AA 2000 mAh batteries. Four came with the charger and I bought another 4 separately.

The charger and the batteries are all Energiser make. I don't think they have been used previously although the carton they came in is pretty battered.

All 8 batteries look identical. They are marked NiMH.

The other 4 batteries I bought from Lidl are Ni-MH 2400mAh.

SW
 
So your Loco requires 6 AA Batteries, and the Hand Controller on mine has a PP9 type 9volt Battery. Is yours the same or have you not opened up the Controller to look at the Battery?

Not sure why people are geting in a fuss about mixing different Mah Types in the Loco. So far as I can see the lower ones will just run out of power earlier and thus be the cause of your Loco Stopping. NiMH which is what you have, I have always happily (in ignorance) mixed different values cos I never knew the difference

REAL EXPERTS

does it matter?
And will a charger care if they are different so long as it is not one of those horrible things that does not have separate compartments for each Battery?.

EDIT MY Tronic (from Lidl) charger says 6x1000/5000 MaH type AA/AAA OR 4x1000MaH C or D that will be Charge Rate Value not Battery Value which is a different thing. Oh dear I fear that we may be getting into Battery Confusion next!

Now if you were talking Lipo or other newer tech Batteries I can understand why you would not mix differing MaH values.
 
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I believe the danger is that different ratings of battery will charge/discharge at different rates due to differing internal resistance, possibly causing one or other to overheat.
 
Exactly correct. More likely causing damage to the battery... remember the charger uses certain criteria to understand when to stop charging. Having a mix of batteries will result in not correct charging for at least one of the types.

With smart chargers so inexpensive why risk damage?

Anyway there will always be someone chiming in that they have done this for years and no problems. If you want good advice, this is it.

The charge rate is just one component of the charging procedure.

Greg
 
The charger I use for 'loose' cells charges them in two pairs of two..
I would not mix the type / rating in a pair being charged.

As stated before, running a loco on a mixed set while not ideal is acceptable.. Preferably not to a point where (some of) the cells are so flat the loco stops.

I used to use the el-cheapo 4-cell plug-top charger, but they are not very good, and break easily! :(:nod::nod:
 
Greg is correct.
Just remember with AA size hybrid NiMh/Alkaline cells, the cells are not designed to allow much over 1 amp continuous drain.
Eneloop batteries, for example, were designed for supplying very short bursts for a long time, and to not self discharge as rapidly as regular NiMh cells. They cannot handle continuous heavy drain.
If you try drawing more current you will damage the batteries and reduce their life span in terms of the number of charges they can take.

Do not mix brands and capacities.
 
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The battery charger and batteries I received off ebay and not new. That is to say, they haven't necessarily been used but seem to be 2 years old.

I have contacted the seller but received no response. I have therefor requested a return.

So it looks as if it will be a while longer before I can run my Playmobil R/C locomotive.

In the meantime I do have the lidl tronic mAh2400 batteries but only 4. Bearing in mind I am not particularly interested in having the best of everything as it would be a waste of money, however would I be ok to obtain another 4x 2400mAh batteries and a suitable charger please?

Thanks.

SW
 
I'm sure that would work Ok, though there is still a small (very) risk that they are slightly different internally. Keeping to the same make just removes even that small risk.


Edit - GAP's reply crossed with mine.
 
Sarah Winfield said:
The battery charger and batteries I received off ebay and not new. That is to say, they haven't necessarily been used but seem to be 2 years old.

I have contacted the seller but received no response. I have therefor requested a return.

So it looks as if it will be a while longer before I can run my Playmobil R/C locomotive.

In the meantime I do have the lidl tronic mAh2400 batteries but only 4. Bearing in mind I am not particularly interested in having the best of everything as it would be a waste of money, however would I be ok to obtain another 4x 2400mAh batteries and a suitable charger please?

Thanks.

SW
Click to expand...
Sarah you said that you had 8x2000 mah Batteries (see I am listening) why can you not run your loco with 6 of them? if your charger does 4 at a time do them in 2 hits then when you next run recharge just 4 and put them with the two that you have not used then when they are flat you will need a recharge all 8 again.
 
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