UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Nickel Cadmium vented cell battery, advice sought

Argus25 · 9th Aug 2018, 4:22 pm

They look like NiFe cells to me. The originals had metal cases and they go back to the early 1900's . I'm not 100% sure but I think Thomas Edison might have invented or at least commercialised them. I know he had an electric car that he drove on a 1000 mile endurance course in 1915 that uses them. They were used extensively in vehicles like fork lifts in the 1960's.

I have a few NiFe cells in vintage marine lanterns, They are the wet electrolyte equivalent of the NiCad, in the analogous manner that the wet Leclanché cell is the equivalent of the dry zinc carbon torch cell of today, except of course the NIFE/NiCad are rechargeable.

In any case, to get them up and running I would replace the KOH electrolyte.

Beware of this though: Alkalais like KOH or NaOH are infinitely more toxic to human tissue (skin & eyes) than acids. The reason is alkalais liquefy proteins and keep penetrating into tissues, where acids coagulate them and create a barrier. So be extremely careful of skin & eyes mixing up KOH, uses gloves and protective eyewear.

9th Aug 2018, 4:22 pm	#11
Argus25 No Longer a Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia. Posts: 2,679	Re: Nickel Cadmium vented cell battery, advice sought They look like NiFe cells to me. The originals had metal cases and they go back to the early 1900's . I'm not 100% sure but I think Thomas Edison might have invented or at least commercialised them. I know he had an electric car that he drove on a 1000 mile endurance course in 1915 that uses them. They were used extensively in vehicles like fork lifts in the 1960's. I have a few NiFe cells in vintage marine lanterns, They are the wet electrolyte equivalent of the NiCad, in the analogous manner that the wet Leclanché cell is the equivalent of the dry zinc carbon torch cell of today, except of course the NIFE/NiCad are rechargeable. In any case, to get them up and running I would replace the KOH electrolyte. Beware of this though: Alkalais like KOH or NaOH are infinitely more toxic to human tissue (skin & eyes) than acids. The reason is alkalais liquefy proteins and keep penetrating into tissues, where acids coagulate them and create a barrier. So be extremely careful of skin & eyes mixing up KOH, uses gloves and protective eyewear.