RC Model Reviews

As an interim thing I am considering using NiMh batteries in my tx and rx (will go to more up to date batteries shortly). Can I use the standard (old) Futaba Nicad charger for the nimhs? In other posts Nicad/Nimh chargers seem to be referred to as one and the same, but I might just be seeing what I want to see rather than what I need to know!
Thanks.

If you short change or short cut anything to do with your batteries their reliability and longevity will always come into doubt. Not to mention your safety.
My un-qualified recommendation would be NiCad for NiCad and NiMh for NiMh.

Check out this link from ergocentric

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/

If it's a trickle / overnight charger as it probably is it will be, it will be OK however the charge capacity may be for a smaller battery and it may require longer to fully charge the battery.
A lot of older trickle chargers are for a 1300 Milliamp hour battery whereas most useful Ni-Mh start at 2000 Milliamp hours. So if its a 14 hour charge specified on the old 1300 battery it will require about another 7 hours in this case for a full charge to a 2000 battery.
In any case it won't damage your batteries which is what you are asking isn't it.
More modern peak chargers are also OK as they cut off and deal with Ni-cd and Ni-Mh automatically but they can't be used through the protection diode attached to the charging socket in the TX .

If you go for the NiMh cells use Sanyo Eneloop or the Turnigy LSD cells, any other none LSD cell will go flat just sitting on the shelf. Yes the standard radio charger will work fine, will possibly take longer to charge because the newer cells are 2 to 3 times the capacity of the old Nicd cells. The LSD cells are touted as when fully charged and left to sit will only lose 15% capacity over 12 months.

Hi Craig,your Futaba or other simple ni-cad charger will be just fine with nimh's.Give a new pack a deep 16 hour charge ,and after that just an overnight charge before you go out flying.This assumes a fairly standard 500-700Ah battery.For higher capacities,leave on charge longer.

Nice to know we are all singing from the same song-sheet!!

Thanks for the responses chaps, my question was in part prompted by an AA charger we have at home having a nicad and nimh setting, with the label on it suggesting the difference was the time to charge. For conveinience being able to use the overnight (or maybe over several nights!) charger suits me at this stage but eventually I'll be dragged into the world of 21st century batteries. And probably electric powerplants too!