# NiMH or NiCD batteries? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 23, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413 "2009-05-23T19:04:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/1 "2009-05-23T19:04:24Z")
I just got a new booklight that will take NiMH or NiCD recharable batteries. Any advice as to which is better and/or longer lasting? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/2 "2009-05-23T19:16:14Z")
NiMH have a higher capacity, are easier to maintain and are more tolerant of poor charging habits. They are slightly more expensive and require chargers specifically designed to charge them (charging NiMH batteries with a NiCd charger will shorten their lifespan) but those are minor issues over the long term. Go with the NiMH. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/3 "2009-05-23T19:18:06Z")
> [@KlondikeGeoff](#): > > I just got a new booklight that will take NiMH or NiCD recharable batteries. Any advice as to which is better and/or longer lasting? Spend the extra money and get Sanyo Eneloops or the equivalent. These are low-self-discharge NiMHs, and will and up lasting much, much longer between recharges. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/4 "2009-05-23T19:20:52Z")
I believe NiMH are a newer technology than NiCD. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/5 "2009-05-23T20:05:59Z")
Thanks, guys for the good advice. NiMH it is for me. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/6 "2009-05-24T02:33:47Z")
NiCads are also more polluting. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/7 "2009-05-24T16:46:10Z")
The best battery information I’ve ever seen is here: > **[Battery University Homepage](https://batteryuniversity.com/)** > > Battery University™ is a free educational website offering hands-on battery information. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/8 "2009-05-24T17:10:07Z")
If it’s a modern LED booklight, and assuming you don’t use them for many hours every day, I wouldn’t use standard NiMH _or_ NiCD batteries. They both have high levels of self-discharge. On a low-power device such as a book light, you’ll be charging the batteries every couple of weeks - not because you’ve used up the charge, but because the batteries have discharged by themselves. Use low self-discharge rechargeable batteries such as Sanyo Eneloop, or just use standard (non-rechargeable) alkaline batteries. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/9 "2009-05-24T17:22:18Z")
NiMHs have been known to help old ladies cross the street. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/10 "2009-05-24T19:07:02Z")
Yes, but they’ll also beat you up and take your lunch money. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/11 "2009-05-24T23:37:22Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > Yes, but they’ll also beat you up and take your lunch money. Those are in the minority. In fact they’re probably NiCads in disguise. ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/12 "2009-05-25T00:09:21Z")
Outside of specialized uses there’s no real reason to use nicad. They underperform and have terrible memory issues compared to more modern materials. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/13 "2009-05-25T00:51:02Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Those are in the minority. In fact they’re probably NiCads in disguise. Ya’ really gotta love the Dope. I ask a question and get good answers within minutes. Then it generates other posts that make me LOL. Or degenerates into humor, whatever. What a place! ---
**Author:** ![TheBoltEater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheBoltEater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoltEater)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/14 "2009-05-25T04:53:01Z")
> [@KlondikeGeoff](#): > > Ya’ really gotta love the Dope. I ask a question and get good answers within minutes. Then it generates other posts that make me LOL. Or degenerates into humor, whatever. What a place! Not a lot of places you can go for genuinely funny rechargeable battery humor. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/15 "2009-05-25T05:03:55Z")
The big difference, far as I can tell is NiCDs don’t have a secret. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/16 "2009-05-25T11:47:42Z")
Oh yes they do! Like do they really have a memory? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/17 "2009-05-27T04:35:48Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > NiMHs have been known to help old ladies cross the street. OK, I don’t get this reference. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/18 "2009-05-27T06:13:52Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > OK, I don’t get this reference. Boyscouts. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/19 "2009-05-27T06:25:57Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > The big difference, far as I can tell is NiCDs don’t have a secret. Probably why Mrs. Frisby doesn’t use 'em. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413/20 "2009-05-27T14:54:32Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Boyscouts. OK, then what do Boyscouts have to do with NiMHs? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nimh-or-nicd-batteries/497413.md?page=2)