Can I use ni-mh batteries in my garden solar lights?

weijing3333 · 07-23-15, 04:10 AM

The solar light batteries in my garden are dead. Upon replacing them, I realized they were the old Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries.
I have heard that these batteries are not so good for the environment because they contain toxic chemicals (see Wikipedia). I would like to use Ni-MH batteries instead.
Would this be recommended or will slowly charging these batteries using solar panels shorten its life span?

jeff5may · 07-23-15, 08:03 PM

They will work great. Nimh batteries typically have 50 per cent more capacity vs nicd in the same size and do not build up memory as bad as nicd batteries.

MN Renovator · 07-24-15, 07:43 PM

They both accept the overcharging abuse of long sunny days with no charge control equally well. If you were charging them at a high rate with a NiCd charger, they have the potential to overcharge at a high rate, generate a bunch of heat and usually fail quickly. With a slow charge from a solar panel, it's a non-issue.

07-23-15, 04:10 AM	#1
weijing3333 Lurking Renovator Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Shanghai Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Can I use ni-mh batteries in my garden solar lights? The solar light batteries in my garden are dead. Upon replacing them, I realized they were the old Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries. I have heard that these batteries are not so good for the environment because they contain toxic chemicals (see Wikipedia). I would like to use Ni-MH batteries instead. Would this be recommended or will slowly charging these batteries using solar panels shorten its life span?

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07-23-15, 08:03 PM	#2
jeff5may Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: elizabethtown, ky, USA Posts: 2,428 Thanks: 431 Thanked 619 Times in 517 Posts	They will work great. Nimh batteries typically have 50 per cent more capacity vs nicd in the same size and do not build up memory as bad as nicd batteries.

07-24-15, 07:43 PM	#3
MN Renovator Less usage=Cheaper bills Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 939 Thanks: 41 Thanked 116 Times in 90 Posts	They both accept the overcharging abuse of long sunny days with no charge control equally well. If you were charging them at a high rate with a NiCd charger, they have the potential to overcharge at a high rate, generate a bunch of heat and usually fail quickly. With a slow charge from a solar panel, it's a non-issue.