After nickel-cadmium batteries became more practical to manufacture, engineers began looking for uses where their unusual strengths justified their cost. Today we watch how these nicad batteries find their first applications, using their short form name for convenience.
The Early Market Was Not For Consumer Electronics
The early market was not for consumer electronics. Portable radios, mobile phones and cordless tools were still decades away. Instead, nicad batteries first found opportunities in specialized equipment, where reliability and long service life were particularly important.
Transportation and railway equipment were two more important areas. Rechargeable batteries were needed for lighting, signaling and other electrical systems, nicad cells offered advantages in situations where equipment had to remain dependable under demanding conditions.
They Also Became Useful In Industrial And Emergency Systems
Nicad batteries also became useful in industrial and emergency systems. A battery that could remain ready for use and tolerate repeated charging was valuable for backup power, control equipment and communications.
As nicad batteries find these first applications, the technology attracts attention in aviation as well. Aircraft designers needed batteries that could operate reliably, despite vibration, temperature changes and demanding electrical loads.
Nickel-cadmium batteries proved well suited to these conditions and eventually become an important aircraft battery technology.
These Early Applications Were Significant Because …
Those applications were significant because they demonstrated something laboratory testing could not prove: nicad batteries could survive real working conditions.
But the batteries were not perfect. Cadmium was expensive and toxic, and the manufacturing process was more complicated than for many lead-acid batteries. But where failure could have serious consequences, their reliability could outweigh these disadvantages.
Nickel-Cadmium Was Beginning To Move Beyond …
As engineers gained experience with the technology, they also learned how to improve charging methods, electrode construction and battery maintenance.
Nickel-cadmium was beginning to move beyond being an interesting invention. It was becoming a working industrial technology.
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