Colibub
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Battery CareBATTERY CARE
The two type of batteries we use for our Airsoft guns are as we know them Ni-Cad batteries and Ni-MH batteries
Ni-Cad batteries (Nickel Cadmium)
It is best to discharge Ni-Cad batteries before recharging them because this type of battery has what they call a "Memory Effect". This means that if you do not discharge the battery after use you will shorten the run time of the battery. For example if you use 50% of the battery each time you use it and recharge it without discharging you will end up with the battery giving you only 50% of useful output. So to get the best out of your Ni-Cad battery USE IT - DISCHARGE IT - RECHARGE IT
Ni-MH batteries (Nickel Metal Hydride)
The "Memory Effect" does not apply Ni-MH batteries, so you can use the battery and recharge it without having to discharge, although it will do no harm to discharge and then recharge it. So if your battery has no outer markings to let you know what type it is you are safe to do as you would with a Ni-Cad battery.
Charging your batteries
Allot of Airsofters only have the small chargers, the ones where the charger unit plugs straight into the socket and have a fixed output. With this type of charger its very important to monitor the charge time as the charger will continue to charge the battery which can lead you to overcharging and damage the battery.
There is an equation you can use to work out how long you need to charge your battery for best results
For example, if you use a 3,000mAh battery and have a 300mA charger you would use the following
3000 divided by 300 times 1.4
= 10 times 1.4
= 14hrs charge time
Or a 600mAh battery and have a 100mA charger you would use the following
600 divided by 100 times 1.4
= 6 times 1.4
= 8.4hrs charge time
so that is THE mAh OUTPUT OF THE BATTERY DIVIDED BY THE OUTPUT OF THE CHARGER TIMES 1.4
By far the best type of charger to buy would be one with DELTA PEAK. This type of charger will charge the battery and detect when it has reached maximum charge and switch off or switches to pulse charge to keep the battery topped up.
Most modern chargers can trickle charge or fast charge batteries but it is not recommended to continually fast charge your batteries as it builds up too much heat and can lead to damaging the battery, (with my charger I can charge one of my 3000mAh batteries in about 1hr and 20mins on fast but after this the battery is hot to the touch) .
BATTERY OUTPUTS
Batteries come in various different sizes and power outputs. By far the most common in the Airsoft world is the 8.4v battery which is used in 99% of all standard AEGs.
If you wanted your battery to last longer you would choose one with a high mAh rating or if you wanted a higher rate of fire (ROF) then you would go for a higher voltage output
for example:
8.4v 600mAh compared to a 8.4v 3000mAh will give you the same ROF but the 8.4v 3000mAh will last more than 4 times longer than the 8.4v 600mAh
If you wanted a higher ROF then you would use something like a 9.6v or 10.2v battery (WARNING using a higher voltage will put more stress and ware on your AEGs gearbox and is not recommended unless your AEG has an upgraded gearbox).
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davy
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colin, your to clever to play with us 
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Colibub
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A just learn it from the net the same as anybody can m8 
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davy
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a used to pull ma hair out tryin to work out the charge times of ma batteries until a bought the Pro Peak charger, soon realised i had been so wrong for years, its a must buy
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mutter
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thanks for that post col, great stuff.
i will upload to the website when i get a mo.
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smiffy94
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Coli U 4got Ti Mention That U Can Put Yir Battery's In The
Washing Machine As Lang As U Hae Mind Ti Recharge Them
L8r As They Cum Oot O The Machine Decharge'd Save's U
Hours On The Decharger's 
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Colibub
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Damn a new there was sumthin a forgot
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scoobydoo
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does putting ur batteries in the washing maschine work i thought it would blow up (or r u havin a laff)
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Colibub
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 Hes havin a laugh m8 it's just that he put one in the washing by mistake and luckily got away with it so dont do it
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smiffy94
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Aye Woz Jst A Mistake A Make Them Often Lol
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Gmac_Ironfoot
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NiCds and recycling chargeAlthough there is a an ongoing belief that you need to discharge NiCd batteries each time to charge them, it is based on misconception.
The original memory effect was found during the early space program with satellites which orbited the earth and repeatedly got exactly the same charge day in day out. This does not happen in Airsoft or most other applications.
All batteries before their first charge ( Break in Charge ) should be discharged then charged at 1 tenth their capacity for about 16 hrs. e.g. 3700 mAh battery at 370 mAh
We have been running the same NiCd batteries for over 3 yrs for rental guns, and we have never done the urban myth recycle, and they are quite fine, still taking pretty well maximum charge.
When you fully recycle you are just wasting battery life.
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Colibub
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Hey Gmac having used my own batts for about the same time 3 - 3 1/2 yrs and because of the sometimes 4 - 6 weeks between games my NiCads always get discharged and recharged a couple of days before the next game and like yourselves I've never had a problem with any of my batts.
Some of the guys I've seen come to the site and their batts only lasting half a day and I end up getting asked "can you charge ma batteries your good at it"  so I decided to start this thread with some information on how I and many others care for their batteries, but on saying that I think Smiffy "correct me if I'm wrong smiffy" never discharges his batts just sticks them on charge and has as far as I know never had a problem. 
So in essence I'm not disagreeing with you I'm just saying the method I use works for me, but you being in the industry obviously have a great deal more experience with a lot more airsoft kit
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smiffy94
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Well I Hav Been No'in To Discharge Mine In The Washing Machine (ahem) But I Dont Always Discharge B4 Rechargeing And Av Had The Same Two Battery's Since I Started Airsoftin
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