Do someone still use big NiCd at home/work for solar storage?

[Miyuki]

Hi,
I have a possibility to buy big NiCd battery (120Ah cells) for almost no price should be at 75-80% capacity

I want to ask if someone have experience with it ?

[NiHaoMike]

Do you have a way to test it first? NiCd is a very forgiving chemistry, even more so than lead acid. What I'm not sure about is disposing of it when it finally does fail, since it's hazardous waste just like lead acid, but I don't think auto parts stores would accept large used NiCd.

[Miyuki]

Disposing is not a problem here as here is still manufacturer and buy them back for a few cents per kilo 
What is best way to test them at first ?
I can buy 89 of 120Ah cells so it will be lot of cells to inspect

[james_s]

If it's really cheap just grab it, if nothing else it should be fun to play with. I use a deep cycle lead acid battery to power an inverter during power outages, a big NiCD battery would offer higher energy density.

[David Hess]

If these are flooded cells then you should be able to check the electrolyte (potassium hydroxide) level and top it off with distilled water and they are practically indestructible; only flooded nickel-iron cells are tougher.  They would be fabulous for off-grid solar storage if you can find a suitable charge controller.

[james_s]

Flooded NiCD? I don't think I've ever encountered such a beast, what are they used for? Aircraft batteries?

[David Hess]

Flooded NiCD? I don't think I've ever encountered such a beast, what are they used for? Aircraft batteries?

Aircraft and military applications were common because they have a wider operating temperature range, are more rugged, and perform better than lead acid batteries.  Flooded cell NiCd were also used in traction and backup applications.  Lead acid batteries are cheaper but do not last as long.

They still make them for demanding applications:

http://www.sbsbattery.com/products-services/by-product/batteries/nickel-cadmium-batteries-1.html
http://www.advancedbattery.ca/content/alcad-flooded-ni-cd

[james_s]

Those are neat, they look very expensive though.

[David Hess]

They were more expensive than lead-acid for a given energy storage but less expensive once service life was taken into account because they last so much longer.