The 3M compact NiMH battery is almost half the weight and size of the standard NiCad batteries used in 3M Airstream and Powerflow powered respirators, helping to make them more comfortable to wear.
These batteries are compatible with 3M’s Intelligent Quad Charger, which features pulse-charging technology that charges both NiCad and NiMH batteries in three hours. The intelligent cycle charging reduces heat build-up and improves battery life and performance. A single station version is available to charge NiMH batteries only.
A battery monitor enables the charger to analyse battery requirements before and during charging, indicate when the battery is charged to improve battery performance and provide warnings of potential battery faults.
3M has initiated a NiCad battery recycling initiative as part of its product lifecycle management program. This will help 3M customers without access to internal battery recycling schemes to dispose of their NiCad batteries. These batteries can release toxic cadmium that is detrimental to the environment, so spent batteries should not go into landfill. The service involves taking batteries to a Battery World store or contacting 3M to organise the batteries to be shipped to Battery World for safe disposal.