Hotronics - Nicad compatible with NiMh?

I just bought a set of hotronics; a few times a year I have to go in
because of cold toes and thought this would help.

Coincidentally I was digging out some ceiling paint and found a set of
Hotronics I bought at a garage sale a few years back; NiCad batteries. I
don't know if they even hold a charge, but if they do, are they compatible
with the new ones? They look to have the same plug, but you never know.

ted wrote:
I just bought a set of hotronics; a few times a year I have to go in
because of cold toes and thought this would help.

Coincidentally I was digging out some ceiling paint and found a set of
Hotronics I bought at a garage sale a few years back; NiCad batteries. I
don't know if they even hold a charge, but if they do, are they compatible
with the new ones? They look to have the same plug, but you never know.


Just snowballing and never having examined the product closely, but the
things are almost certainly resistance heaters. Therefore if the voltage
is compatible and the mechanics (i.e. the plug) compatible the NiCads
should certainly work. Holding a charge is another matter. If they don't
you could try alternating shorting the NiCads out through a 40-50 ohm
high wattage resister for 24hrs, and recharging them - try a few cycles
of this. This often resurrects NiCads.

lal_truckee wrote:
ted wrote:
I just bought a set of hotronics; a few times a year I have to go in
because of cold toes and thought this would help.

Coincidentally I was digging out some ceiling paint and found a set
of Hotronics I bought at a garage sale a few years back; NiCad
batteries. I don't know if they even hold a charge, but if they do,
are they compatible with the new ones? They look to have the same
plug, but you never know.
Just snowballing and never having examined the product closely, but
the things are almost certainly resistance heaters. Therefore if the
voltage is compatible and the mechanics (i.e. the plug) compatible
the NiCads should certainly work. Holding a charge is another matter.
If they don't you could try alternating shorting the NiCads out
through a 40-50 ohm high wattage resister for 24hrs, and recharging
them - try a few cycles of this. This often resurrects NiCads.

Unless you can discharge the individual cells of the batteries, doing that will
reverse charge the weaker cells, killing them.

"Bob F" wrote in message
...
lal_truckee wrote:
ted wrote:
I just bought a set of hotronics; a few times a year I have to go in
because of cold toes and thought this would help.

Coincidentally I was digging out some ceiling paint and found a set
of Hotronics I bought at a garage sale a few years back; NiCad
batteries. I don't know if they even hold a charge, but if they do,
are they compatible with the new ones? They look to have the same
plug, but you never know.
Just snowballing and never having examined the product closely, but
the things are almost certainly resistance heaters. Therefore if the
voltage is compatible and the mechanics (i.e. the plug) compatible
the NiCads should certainly work. Holding a charge is another matter.
If they don't you could try alternating shorting the NiCads out
through a 40-50 ohm high wattage resister for 24hrs, and recharging
them - try a few cycles of this. This often resurrects NiCads.

Unless you can discharge the individual cells of the batteries, doing that
will reverse charge the weaker cells, killing them.

If the NiCads have been sitting unused for a few years they will almost
certainly be useless. Doing what Lal says sometimes can resurrect them for a
while if you have the patience, but the best solution is to go down to your
local battery specialist, (Not Walmart) who sells batteries for cars, etc.
He will have a wall of small batteries which he stocks because its the same
suppliers and he will likely have or be able to order a lithium or NiMH
equivalent that will plug in. Probably cost all of about $25.00. I've subbed
batteries with different charge rates into circuits without any trouble as
long as the voltage is correct. You can probably even splice in the old
connector if that is not identical.

On Nov 3, 6:54*am, "ted" wrote:
*I just bought a set of hotronics; a few times a year I have to go in
because of cold toes and thought this would help.

Coincidentally I was digging out some ceiling paint and found a set of
Hotronics I bought at a garage sale a few years back; NiCad batteries. *I
don't know if they even hold a charge, but if they do, are they compatible
with the new ones? *They look to have the same plug, but you never know..

As I recall from having to order a new charger, they are NOT
compatible. You need a different charger.
Damn things are a godsend on cold days.