DSLR battery charging

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

Tim Smith wrote:

> I have a Nikon D100, which has now become the backup for my D2X. So
> the D100 batteries (which are not the same size as the D2X's) won't
> get used much.
>
> Is it better to just let the D100 batteries run down, and then charge
> them up just before a trip on which I'm taking the D100 (maybe
> 4x/year), or is it better to charge them every month or so to keep
> them from running down?
>
> I've read that L-ion batteries have a limited number of charge cycles,
> but that they won't be damaged if left to run down (as some earlier
> NiCads would).
>
> Any advice?
>
If the L-ion batteries last only one quarter of the 1000 or so charge /
discharge cycles that they are supposed to, and if you do charge them
once a month, then how long might they last? I don't think you have
any worries either way.

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

John Keiser wrote:

> Li-ion batteries are different chemistry than other rechargeables. For
> notebook Li-ion the better rule for longevity seems to be to charge [or
> discharge] to 40% and keep in a cold place [refrigerate].
>
> I assume the same rule would apply to my Canon Li-ion battery.

Whatever the best recipe is, it's not very practical. I just charge it
up and use the camera. When the 'batt low' has been on for a while or
the camera shuts down, I recharge the battery.

I have no means to determine if the battert is at 40% capacity in any case.

My advice: Shoot a lot of images and keep that battery busy.

It's cheap compared to film if you need to buy another one.

Cheers,
Alan

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

Charlie Self wrote:

> Alan Browne wrote:
>
>>John Keiser wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Li-ion batteries are different chemistry than other rechargeables.
>
> For
>
>>>notebook Li-ion the better rule for longevity seems to be to charge
>
> [or
>
>>>discharge] to 40% and keep in a cold place [refrigerate].
>>>
>>>I assume the same rule would apply to my Canon Li-ion battery.
>>
>>Whatever the best recipe is, it's not very practical. I just charge
>
> it
>
>>up and use the camera. When the 'batt low' has been on for a while
>
> or
>
>>the camera shuts down, I recharge the battery.
>>
>>I have no means to determine if the battert is at 40% capacity in any
>
> case.
>
>>My advice: Shoot a lot of images and keep that battery busy.
>>
>>It's cheap compared to film if you need to buy another one.
>>
>
>
> It's cheap compared to computer batteries when you have to buy one. I
> can't find a sensible generic for my Toshiba, so I'm looking at about
> $115 minimum. It's not much of a battery, either, but I think there are
> so damned many different laptop battery configurations, generics are
> not likely to happen. To keep it on topic, I download my CFs to the
> laptop when they're full.
>

For computer batteries try www.apcc.com .

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

Tim Smith <tssmith@sonic.net> wrote in
news:l194911eq8sl5d2h29ln268kbrggjgg637@4ax.com:

> Frederick <nomailplease@nomail.com> wrote:
>
>>If the L-ion batteries last only one quarter of the 1000 or so charge /
>>discharge cycles that they are supposed to, and if you do charge them
>>once a month, then how long might they last? I don't think you have
>>any worries either way.
>
> Uh, good point.

Here's another good point:
I bought 4 Sterlingtek 1800mAh batteries for my 10D, they cost $12 each.
They work well and if they are good for a couple of years then I am happy.
I don't mind replacing batteries now and then when they are that cheap. My
point is that I read these posts about batteries, but don't see what the
big deal is!

Batteries are consumables, rechargeables are no exception.


--
Mark Heyes (New Zealand)
See my pics at www.gigatech.co.nz (last updated 3-May-05)
"There are 10 types of people, those that
understand binary and those that don't"

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

Alan Browne wrote:
> John Keiser wrote:
>
>> Li-ion batteries are different chemistry than other rechargeables.
>> For notebook Li-ion the better rule for longevity seems to be to
>> charge [or discharge] to 40% and keep in a cold place [refrigerate].
>>
>> I assume the same rule would apply to my Canon Li-ion battery.
>
>
> Whatever the best recipe is, it's not very practical. I just charge it
> up and use the camera. When the 'batt low' has been on for a while or
> the camera shuts down, I recharge the battery.
>
> I have no means to determine if the battert is at 40% capacity in any case.
>
> My advice: Shoot a lot of images and keep that battery busy.
>
> It's cheap compared to film if you need to buy another one.
>
> Cheers,
> Alan
>
Agree...Picked up a handful of extra batteries so I never run out and I
just don't worry about it...Had my first Li-ion die on me this past week
(for the Canon 300D) Got almost 18 months out of it in constant use...

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

MarkH wrote:

> Frederick <nomailplease@nomail.com> wrote in
> news:1116890785.169828@ftpsrv1:
>
>
>
>>These days, everything that uses power to operate should be considered
>>a consumable. I have a feeling that Lithium Ion batteries might
>>outlast the practical life of most DSLRs. 1,000 charge cycles X 500 -
>>2000 shots per charge is several shutter and mirror mechanism
>>replacements.
>
>
> I doubt that most people would get anywhere near 1000 charge cycles.
> Lithium Ion batteries have a limited life in terms of year since
> manufacture - the performance will degrade over the years and after 3 - 5
> years most people will be dissatisfied with the amount of charged stored.
> Unfortunately this probably means $12 down the tubes for a replacement, how
> could life be so unfair!
>
> BTW
> If anyone has a Lithium Ion battery that is over 6 years old and giving
> just as long a life on each charge as when brand new, you are probably
> delusional. My experience with laptops, cell phones and digital cameras
> would suggest that you would have less then half the original runtime after
> 6 years.
>
Agreed,
Laptop batteries seem to have about half the original _claimed_ runtime
even when they are brand new. Somewhere in the fine print the specs
probably say x hours per charge - so long as you don't use it. I have
had better luck with cellphones and cameras.

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

"Alan Browne" <alan.browne@freelunchVideotron.ca> wrote in message
news6vdnb$sve$1@inews.gazeta.pl...
> Frederick wrote:
>
>> Agreed,
>> Laptop batteries seem to have about half the original _claimed_ runtime
>> even when they are brand new. Somewhere in the fine print the specs
>> probably say x hours per charge - so long as you don't use it. I have had
>> better luck with cellphones and cameras.
>
>
> I've had nominal (spec like) performance from my Li-ion battery. Frankly
> it was an area of some trepidation as I launched into digital SLR's but
> has proven to be something I barely worry about.
>
> For a trip this summer to Labrador I'll be getting an inverter for the
> truck to recharge it and the laptop. I'll possibly buy another battery
> but I'm not convinced it's a neccessity.
>
> Cheers,
> Alan.
>

Remember, the specs always say "up to." Up to 4 hours can be two minutes.
<BG> Up to 100 shots can be 3.