Quite often people come to me with questions like which battery is best suited for their bicycle lighting systems…Is it lead acid or nickel-cadmium batteries? Technology, which is used in headlight system of bicycle, is Sealed Lead acid and NiCd. Generally NiCd is in the higher price range.

For regular and heavy use of bicycle, NiCd battery is advisable. In both the cases a third party battery charger is required.

Battery Characteristics
In terms of cost as I mentioned earlier, lead acid batteries are cheaper. In comparison NiCd batteries are expensive but if cared will they are rechargeable 5 times more before they wear out. Lead acid batteries require different charger than NiCd batteries.

Throughout the life of the battery, NiCd batteries prove to be less expensive than lead acid batteries, but NiCd as discussed are only suitable for regular use as the shelf life expires before even you use all its available charges. NiCd batteries lose their charge per day due to self discharge phenomenon.

Discharge Characteristics
Lead acid batteries  get discharged without any warning signal whereas NiCD batteries light remain constantly bright throughout the life of battery. Charge memory problem does not exist with NiCd batteries.

Charger Issues
Charging the batteries Lead acid or NiCD requires a smart charger. A smart charger can sense the condition of the battery during charging, sense it when it is full and cuts back the flow of current to keep it filled without any adverse issues. A NiCD battery can really benefit from a smart charger.