Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Recharging battery before fully depleted?

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nomo4me
10-29-07, 12:37 AM
I've got a 2 year old PB Alias 10 watt Halogen headlight with a big plastic battery strapped to the top tube.
I don't know what kind of battery it is, probably L ion of some sort. In terms of battery life and rechargeability, is it ok to recharge after depleting the charge by about 50% (1 ride for me) or should I deplete it nearly all the way ( 2 rides) before recharging?

I'd rather recharge it after every ride to be sure I never come home on the cateye blinky but would like to know the recommended recharging practice.

Thx

Nomo

rodrigaj
10-29-07, 05:47 AM
Recharging fully is fine.
dekindy
10-29-07, 07:46 AM
I would need to know exactly the battery (nicad, nimh, li-ion) type and charger type (walwart=dumb or smart) that you have before commenting.

n4zou
10-29-07, 08:19 AM
I would need to know exactly the battery (nicad, nimh, li-ion) type and charger type (walwart=dumb or smart) that you have before commenting.
+1
If it's a NiCad it needs to be almost fully discharged before recharging. This type of battery can develop a memory. If you recharge it after every use of about the same level of discharge it will start to "remember" that typical usage point and quit even if it's not fully discharged.
NiMH and other battery types developed after NiCad batteries do not have memory problems and can be recharged without fully discharging them first.
flipped4bikes
10-29-07, 12:21 PM
IIRC Planet Bike recommends not running the battery down completely. It just messes things up. I own a PB Alias and it will go into emergency mode (powering down) in order to protect the battery. But I wouldn't run it much longer than you need to.

My commute is a little under an hour, but since the battery barely lasts 1.75 hours in the cold, I always recharge it once I get home. Don't want to risk it with two commutes between charges.
nomo4me
10-29-07, 05:39 PM
It's 6v NiMH, so I'll charge it up after every hour or so of useage.

Thx

Nomo

+1
If it's a NiCad it needs to be almost fully discharged before recharging. This type of battery can develop a memory. If you recharge it after every use of about the same level of discharge it will start to "remember" that typical usage point and quit even if it's not fully discharged.
NiMH and other battery types developed after NiCad batteries do not have memory problems and can be recharged without fully discharging them first.