Nickel Iron

[Deddly]

I've been reading a little about Nickel Iron batteries - those indestructible batteries that last over 60 years and can be deep discharged, overcharged and still keep going.

Is it something worth considering for my boat project?

--
Ed

[social misfit]

I've been reading a little about Nickel Iron batteries - those indestructible batteries that last over 60 years and can be deep discharged, overcharged and still keep going.

Is it something worth considering for my boat project?

--
Ed

i used to have some Nickel iron batterys which were about 40 years old when i got them and did quite well,also i read in the battery bible that changing the electrolyte once a year prolonged the life and power output.
the electrolyte is sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) and lithium, and they are 1.2 volts per cell dont know wether they have so-called memory problems like Ni-cads.
the ones i had were edison cells with silver plated terminals so need to be well protected from salty conditions in a boat.
also when charging they gas all the time and you need a well regulated charger to get the best from them.

[Deddly]

Oh thanks for the help! I'd almost given up hope that someone would reply to this thread

From what I've read, they don't have a memory effect at all and they tolerate abuse rather well, so over-charging and deep-discharging doesn't seem to bother them. The only disadvantage I can find is the weight, but that's not a huge concern on a boat.

By the way, my boat will be on a freshwater lake, so salt is no problem here. I was thinking of keeping them in a plastic box anyway, with just the wires coming out leading to the motor...I haven't got that far yet!

If only I could find a supplier in Sweden...

[social misfit]

Oh thanks for the help! I'd almost given up hope that someone would reply to this thread

From what I've read, they don't have a memory effect at all and they tolerate abuse rather well, so over-charging and deep-discharging doesn't seem to bother them. The only disadvantage I can find is the weight, but that's not a huge concern on a boat.

By the way, my boat will be on a freshwater lake, so salt is no problem here. I was thinking of keeping them in a plastic box anyway, with just the wires coming out leading to the motor...I haven't got that far yet!

If only I could find a supplier in Sweden...

it says on a page that the electrolyte is potassium hydroxide electrolyte,so i may be wrong when i said sodiom hydroxide,have to dig out the book and see as it gives the charging details.

[Alan Ward]

I also bought old misused second hand NiFe cells in the early 60s, they proved amazingly good. Once, after 2 years sitting neglected on the garage floor, they still had reasonable voltage, so I tried them in an old Austin with a large bonnet space for the battery, and they started the engine! I wish I had not given them away. For a different purpose, I now want to buy one (just one!) NiFe or NiCd cell of about 50 Ah capacity. I'd appreciate your suggestions. Alan Ward