Surveyor Battery Failure Symptoms
We welcome any feedback you may have to improve our site:	Symptoms A surveyor's rechargeable Ni-Cd battery pack can fail for a variety of reasons. One of the main reasons for battery failure, as unlikely as it seems, is due to lack of use. Studies have shown that in industries where Ni-Cd batteries are used frequently and continuously, instead of being "pampered", have a much longer operating life-span. This website will help the surveyor using Ni-Cd batteries to understand some of the reasons for their premature battery failure. You will also be surprised to learn - what the battery industry is reluctant to admit - that an average of 60% to 70% of discarded batteries can be revived to full service when using basic exercise and recondition methods. In other words, many of the survey batteries under two years old will meet this criteria. The following are possible explanations for why your instrument battery may be failing. We try to use plain, easy to understand diagrams and terms, so the average person can assess the problem themselves. The diagrams used are not technical in nature and are not intended to be strict scientific representations of battery characteristics. Good Battery - battery that functions normally Cold Battery - problems caused with using Ni-Cd's at temperatures below freezing Memory Effect - majority of problems with Ni-Cd's having less than 500 cycles Stagnant Battery - batteries left for long periods not being cycled Unbalanced Battery Pack - no apparent reason for performance deterioration Internal Shorts - complete failure of individual cells in battery pack Low Shelf-Life After Charge - battery dies soon after charging without using Old Battery - battery approaching end of its cycle life-span