OT: low price Sub-C NiCad cells for Cordless Vacuum

[Dan_Cousin]

I have a cordless vac that the Ni-Cad battery packs have gone south. The vas pulls 15 amps at full load and the current pack only lasts for 1 or 2 minutes before the vac starts slowing down.

I'm looking for a low cost 7.2V pack that can handle 10A load currents over say 10 - 15 minutes (2000+mAh)

The frappin Vac costs $25 new and I cant get replacement batteries for any less than this. I just cant bring myself to toss it out and get a new one even if the batteries cost the same as the a new unit.

I'd like get eomthign for less than $20 if possible.

Individual cells are OK too.

 

[Mike Hughes]

This will probably work. http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti00...LXDND9&P=ML

Mike

 

[tylerm]

heres cheaper:

http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/proddetai...prod=hrp-sp2000

 

[Dan_Cousin]

This will probably work. http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti00...LXDND9&P=MLMike

Thanks Mike,

The charge rate is indicated as 4-5 amps but my vac has a plug in for a 600mA wall wart charger. Will the slow charging cause problems with these nicads? The vac stays plugged in full time so it is ready to clean up when I am. I'm thinking the full time trickle charge is what killed the current batteries so I run them through a timer so they only charge for 12 hours and shut off.

I wonder if one of this daily light cyclers that turn lamps on and off when you not home would be better so the batteries ony get a few hours of charge a day instead of full time charging between uses.

NOTES FROM OUR TECH DEPARTMENT

This is the DuraTrax Piranha 6-Cell, 1900mAh Assembled Flat Battery Pack.

FEATURES: New Piranha 1900mAh NiCds replace the 1800mAh packs, creating one of

the best values in rechargeable R/C batteries!

Impressively higher in capacity--but priced to be surprisingly

affordable.

Quality construction featueres are standard, including reinforced

tubes, welded tabs and super-flex silicone wire.

Standard connector.

INCLUDES: One Piranha 6-Cell, 1900mAh Assembled Flat Battery Pack.

SPECS: Number of cells: 6

Cell type: 1900 SCX

Total assembled voltage: 7.2 volts.

Batteries are assembled in flat configuration.

Connector type: Standard with 2-1/2" (14 gauge) wire.

Charge rate: 4-5 amps. Timed or peak charge.

Discharge rate: 5-15 amps. Minimum discharge voltage: 6 volts.

Discharge average: Unknown.

Suggested usage: Sport racing.

Batteries are Unmatched.

Battery pack size: 5-1/4" (134mm) long, 1-3/4" (44mm) wide.

Weight: 10.40 ounces (295g)