Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Land Models / July 2004

You would only need to remove the batteries if the units wont be used for a
really long time such as several months...just in case a cell leaks. Other than
that you will be fine. No they wont discharge by being plugged or left in.

As posted by Nascar, they won't discharge because of being left in but NiMH
and NiCad batteries discharge over time anyway.  Generally speaking you
should charge the battery fully before you use them if you've left them for
some time but for NiCad batteries you should flatten the battery completely
before charging it.  Unless you have a dedicated NiCad charger which is
capable of topping up the batteries.  These are relatively hard to come by
and are relatively expensive, you probably don't have one.

Also, as Nascar said do remove the cells from the units if you're going to
leave them for any length of time.  NiCad cells in particular will leak if
left for some time and that's not good for the unit that the batteries are
in.

My main reason for pulling alkalines is that they can leak over time.
I just wrecked a nice LED flashlight that way.

I pull NiMH batts to charge them.  :-), so I end up pulling all batts.