In article ,
ben wrote:
I suspect that the OP's admission "Despite using it only on the very
rare occasion, " may have something to do with it.

True, batterys need charging regulary and if the charger is not of the
kind where it cuts out after a set charge then this will shorten the
life of the battery.

Ni-cads - in theory - don't suffer from being left discharged. Although
very discharged packs may suffer from one or more cells reverse charging.

Overcharging is the killer, though.

--
*I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.

Dave Plowman London SW
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