NICAD battery discharge device

This Nicad Battery Discharge Device provides a method of automatically discharging a nickel-cadmium battery at a pre-set constant current, and measures the length of time the battery under test can deliver this current. From the timer data, the cell's ampere-hour rating can be confirmed. The remainder of the process includes shorting the battery terminals for a period of time to drain the cell totally, and then reinstalling the cell into the original piece of equipment for recharging. By putting the nicad battery through this process, an important preventive maintenance function is performed which will increase the battery's useful life. Deep discharging erases any "memory" effect the nicad may have developed and brings the cell's power storage capacity back to its original level.