battery question

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

I use rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride batteries in my Olympus D-560
camera. And recharge on an Energizer Class 2 charger. The batteries loose
their charge very quickly whether in or out of the camera. If I want to use
the camera after about a week or so, batteries are gone and so are the
standby batteries. Is this normal? What can I do to have a ready camera?

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Even when they're new, I've been told that Nicker Metal Hydride batteries
lose about 1% of their charge everyday even when not being used and out of
the camera. That's just the nature of the beast. The new Lithium ion
batteries are much better that way.

"Uno Hoo!" <kev@dropthisbigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:cpv4cf$32i$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk...
>
> "Cliffy" <cxxmayer@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:tqEwd.3068$uM5.2322@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> >I use rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride batteries in my Olympus D-560
> >camera. And recharge on an Energizer Class 2 charger. The batteries loose
> >their charge very quickly whether in or out of the camera. If I want to
use
> >the camera after about a week or so, batteries are gone and so are the
> >standby batteries. Is this normal? What can I do to have a ready camera?
>
> How old are the batteries? Re-chargeable batteries have a finite life and
> eventually begin to fail and lose their charge rapidly. If this is the
case
> then just throw them away and replace them - they are cheap enough. If the
> batteries are fairly new then I would suggest that you have problems with
> the charger - Ni-Mh batteries should not lose power as rapidly as this.
>
> Kev
>
>

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

punk wrote:

> Even when they're new, I've been told that Nicker Metal Hydride batteries
> lose about 1% of their charge everyday even when not being used and out of
> the camera. That's just the nature of the beast. The new Lithium ion
> batteries are much better that way.

Hi Punk... (somehow that doesn't feel right

I agree that they do self-discharge as all batteries do;
but I think that 1% per day is greatly exaggerated...

Nevertheless, even if it were fact; then instead of
going out and taking a couple hundred pics, he'd be
down to only 186... hardly noticable.

Take care.

Ken

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

> > Even when they're new, I've been told that Nicker Metal Hydride
batteries
> > lose about 1% of their charge everyday even when not being used and out
of
> > the camera. That's just the nature of the beast. The new Lithium ion
> > batteries are much better that way.
>
> Hi Punk... (somehow that doesn't feel right
>
> I agree that they do self-discharge as all batteries do;
> but I think that 1% per day is greatly exaggerated...

NiMH batteries have some interesting drawbacks, here's a good URL:

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000352.htm

Couple the facts that NiMH batteries are only good for about 500 cycles,
deep discharges shorten battery life, and that they can self-discharge 15%
to 20% within the first day, and with moderate use, it doesn't take terribly
long before you're just not getting much use out of them.

I have a good number of AA NiMH batteries that I've used on my digital
camera (light to moderate duty) for about two years, and they still work -
but don't hold nearly as much as when new, and if I want a lot of use out of
them, I have to grab them straight from the charger.

steve

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Cliffy" <cxxmayer@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:tqEwd.3068$uM5.2322@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>I use rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride batteries in my Olympus D-560
>camera. And recharge on an Energizer Class 2 charger. The batteries loose
>their charge very quickly whether in or out of the camera. If I want to use
>the camera after about a week or so, batteries are gone and so are the
>standby batteries. Is this normal? What can I do to have a ready camera?

Although NiMH cells are noted for their high self-discharge rate, I'd say
yours might be defective. Generally, they are still useful after 1 month of
non-use (at room temperature). Two months is pushing it and three months
generally means they are dead.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Charles Schuler" <charleschuler@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:rdidnVmGppoR_F7cRVn-sA@comcast.com...
>
> "Cliffy" <cxxmayer@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:tqEwd.3068$uM5.2322@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>>I use rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride batteries in my Olympus D-560
>>camera. And recharge on an Energizer Class 2 charger. The batteries loose
>>their charge very quickly whether in or out of the camera. If I want to
>>use the camera after about a week or so, batteries are gone and so are the
>>standby batteries. Is this normal? What can I do to have a ready camera?
>
> Although NiMH cells are noted for their high self-discharge rate, I'd say
> yours might be defective. Generally, they are still useful after 1 month
> of non-use (at room temperature). Two months is pushing it and three
> months generally means they are dead.
I've found good NiMH's do not lose their charge as fast as generally stated.
I got 22 weeks of in camera use taking almost 200 shots in my A40 using
Quest. My Digital brand also do about same. I have some Rinpoche and they
don't do at all well and I do not use in camera at all.
Dave Cohen

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

In article <FCUwd.197218$Np3.8141312@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca>,
"Denis Marier" <marierdj@nb.sympatico.ca> wrote:

> Before offering some information, how old are the batteries and what type of
> memory card you have. What is the present version of your firmware in you
> camera. Has the Olympus people made and update for your firmware.
> If you charge your battery and leave them in the camera how long will it
> take to discharge without taking any pictures?.
> If you leave a charged battery on the shelf how long will it take to
> discharge?
> Once I know the answers to these questions we will be in position to have a
> better picture of the situation.
>
> "Cliffy" <cxxmayer@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:tqEwd.3068$uM5.2322@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > I use rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride batteries in my Olympus D-560
> > camera. And recharge on an Energizer Class 2 charger. The batteries loose
> > their charge very quickly whether in or out of the camera. If I want to
> use
> > the camera after about a week or so, batteries are gone and so are the
> > standby batteries. Is this normal? What can I do to have a ready camera?
> >
> >

First does your charger fully charge your batteries?

On the back of your charger is the output in mAh.
On your battery is the capacity in mAh.
Add 40% to the battery capacity and divide the charger output into the
capacity (+ 40 %)

The result is the amount of time it takes for your charger to fully
charge your batteries.

Now, does your charger turn off before that amount of time? If so your
batteries are not fully charged.

Does your charger require that you insert pairs of batteries?

If so your charger probably stops charging the pair when after one of
the batteries is fully charged. In that case the other may not be fully
charged.

Does your charger test your cells to see what their condition is? And if
it detects a problem reform the cells? If not you are not getting full
charge.

Does your charger make the cells get hot during charging?

If so it is ruining the cells.

If your charger turns off before your cells are charged or requires
pairs of cells or does not test your cells or overheats the cells then
you will get far better performance from a smart charger.

With a good smart charger cells are always charged to 100% full capacity
and a set of cells can be left in without overheating so a spare set is
always ready.

--
To reply no_ HPMarketing Corp.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Fred McKenzie" <fmmck@aol.communicate> wrote in message
news:20041218182923.09690.00001482@mb-m20.aol.com...
> << I use rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride batteries in my Olympus D-560
> camera. And recharge on an Energizer Class 2 charger. The batteries loose
> their charge very quickly whether in or out of the camera. If I want to
> use
> the camera after about a week or so, batteries are gone and so are the
> standby batteries. Is this normal? What can I do to have a ready camera?
> >>
>
> Cliffy-
>
> I've fought the rechargeable battle for years. What you experience is
> normal.
> If not when the batteries are new, then certainly later in their life.
>
> My Olympus C-3040Z came with a set of CR-V3 lithium batteries, but I
> didn't
> want to spend the money it might cost to use them. However, I got so
> tired of
> the AA NiMH cells being dead when I needed them, that I decided to go back
> to
> the CR-V3s.
>
> Yes they cost more, but it is well worth it to me to be able to depend on
> them
> when it might be several weeks between uses of the camera. If your D-560
> can
> use them, you might give the CR-V3 lithium batteries a try. If the CR-V3s
> don't fit the D-560, there are lithium AA cells available that may work
> for
> you.
>
> As with any battery, it is a good idea to have a spare set. With the
> CR-V3s,
> you will have plenty of time to acquire a replacement for the spare.
>
> Fred
I've had Quest batteries in my canon A40 for over 20 weeks and close to 200
shots. Digital brand do just as well. I now have an A95 and the Digitals are
in that and show every indication of doing just as well. Yes, NiMH's will
lose charge over time, but with decent one's this shouldn't be a problem for
normal camera use. You either have bad batteries or they aren't getting
charged. If your experience were typical, nobody would use NiMH in cameras.
Dave Cohen

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

> When they're brand-new, I'd agree - when mine were new, I never worried
> about letting them sit, and never had a problem. But now that they're a
> couple of years old, they won't last two weeks after being taken out of
> the
> charger. Fresh from the charger, they're still pretty good, but letting
> them sit drains them fast. The newer sets that I've bought are better
> about
> it, but as they age, they're starting to lose it as well.

Yes, that is also what I have experienced.