I have two Ni-Mh batteries enclosed in plastic... they say they are 2.4 volts 500mAH. Does this mean that each one has 500mAH or 250mAH? They are in series by the way.
THank You
In series, so 4.8V, 500mAH available when charged.
Yah but I am wondering if I use just one battery will each have 500 mAH or 250?
500
So if I am not mistaken putting two 500mah and 300mah NiMH cells in series will result in a 4.8 volt 400mah battery? Sorry for the nooby questions
No, the lower rating will limit it. 300mA.
trellsbells2:
I have two Ni-Mh batteries enclosed in plastic... they say they are 2.4 volts 500mAH. Does this mean that each one has 500mAH or 250mAH? They are in series by the way.
THank You
This doesn't sound quite right. A single NiMH cell is 1.2V, so the 2.4V should be referring to a
series combination. 4.8V like Bob says would only be true if there are actually 4 cells in series.
You better take a DMM and measure what voltage you actually have, before trying to use.
Also, the 500 and 250 mAH values don't make any sense either. NiMH AA-cells run 1800-2500
mAH, and even AAA-cells run 600 mAH. It should be obvious from the size whether you have
AA or AAA. Other possiblity is 1/2 AA.
You should actually be able to tell how many cells and which size they are even if covered
by plastic shrink.
A Nimh cell is 1.2 volts. So it is more likely that you have two 1.2 volt cells in series for a total of 2.4 volts.
To actually have 4.8 volts, there would have to be 4 cells in there somehow.
CrossRoads:
No, the lower rating will limit it. 300mA.
Even worse, you'll destroy the 300mAh cell in normal use - never put unmatched batteries in series.
It could be:
That's 4 cells, giving 4.8V at 500mAh. But, because of the way the plastic stretches it makes it look like there's only 2 cells in there.
Well, that solves one problem, how to have 4.8V at measly 500 mAH. These are bizarre packs
with oval shaped "button" cells, never seen that before. Apparently there are 4 buttons, on
2 sides with 2 buttons each mounted one above the other. Probably used in european wireless
phones, etc.
There are also 1/2 AA's with 500 mAH, and N cells with only 360 mAH,
http://www.completebattery.com/index.php/rechargeable-dry-cells/nickel-metal-hydride/1-2-aa-flat-top-nimh-500-mah.html
http://www.completebattery.com/index.php/rechargeable-dry-cells/nickel-metal-hydride/n-cell-nimh-flat-top-1-2-volt-360mah.html
This one says on the package, 2/3 AAs,
Maybe ok for very low power apps, but NiMH AA-cells having 2200-250 mAH would be more
appropriate for general apps.