Abstract: A sealed nickel-cadmium battery having a voltage-charge characteristic with a single peak voltage value that is in the overcharge region is charged by applying a charging current to the battery while monitoring the battery terminal voltage, and terminating or substantially reducing the charging current when the battery terminal voltage reaches the peak value. Specifically, to determine when the terminal voltage of the battery reaches the peak value, the maximum value attained by the battery terminal voltage is stored on an ongoing basis while applying the charging current, and the stored maximum value is compared with the instantaneous value of the battery terminal voltage. When the stored value exceeds the instantaneous value, the peak value is indicated.