Need help charging NMHI batts.

[Mad Hatter]

First of all, didn't find much help searching.
Second, move it if it needs it, sorry.
Third, I am not new to r/c but don't have much experience with NMHI batteries.
I am charging them on an Indi 16x7. They are 3300mah packs charging them at 5 or 6 amps, discharging them 20 amps and I have a threshold of 8mv.
Here are my ?'s....
How warm is too warm?
Does a fan really make a difference when charging?
Is my DC rate too high?
Is my threshold set right?
How about storage, we only run them on the weekends and not consistantly.
Can someone point me in the right direction for an info source?
If you can just give me a good link to follow up with that will suffice, I'm not looking for a handout. Just want to ge tthe most out of my batts. We are starting to race touring sedans and need to get started in the right direction.
Thanks in advance for any help and please no flaming unless it is grammar related.

[Xtreme RC]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

First of all, didn't find much help searching.
Second, move it if it needs it, sorry.
Third, I am not new to r/c but don't have much experience with NMHI batteries.
I am charging them on an Indi 16x7. They are 3300mah packs charging them at 5 or 6 amps, discharging them 20 amps and I have a threshold of 8mv.
Here are my ?'s....
How warm is too warm?
Does a fan really make a difference when charging?
Is my DC rate too high?
Is my threshold set right?
How about storage, we only run them on the weekends and not consistantly.
Can someone point me in the right direction for an info source?
If you can just give me a good link to follow up with that will suffice, I'm not looking for a handout. Just want to ge tthe most out of my batts. We are starting to race touring sedans and need to get started in the right direction.
Thanks in advance for any help and please no flaming unless it is grammar related.

1. They only need to be warm to the touch. NOT HOT. This will depend on your charge rate. 6 amps is ok but they will get a little warmer. Some people i know only charge at about 4.5 amps. Less voltage but longer run times. The hotter you charge the batteries the more punch you will have at the beginning of the race but will get a shorter run time. And overall will shorten the life of the battery. In a 5 minute race that normally doesn't matter. How long are your heats.
2. A fan on the batteries? I wouldn't think it would help alot but not positive.
3. 20 amp DC is good.
4. Not sure on the threshold?
5. NMIH you want to store with some charge in them. Don't discharge them all the way and let them sit. If you are running them every weekend then it may not be that important. That is more for letting them sit for weeks or a month or so.

May check out trinity's website. they usely have good info on batteries or RC car actions website. hope this helps some.

[EeePee]

http://www.rccaraction.com/articles/NiMHbatcare1.asp

http://teamnovak.com/tech_info/tech_...ers/index.html

http://www.promatchracing.com/batteryins.htm

[Mad Hatter]

You guys Rock!!!

Thanks.