Battery Facts
Nickel Metal Hydride-NiMH
Nickel Metal Hydride batteries have an approximately 40% higher charge density and will run longer on a charge than an equivalent NiCd. They do not suffer to the same extent from the memory effect and do not need to be fully discharged before recharging although occasional discharging may be beneficial. They have a life of approximately 400 charge cycles.
Ni-MH batteries are a more environmental friendly alternative to Ni-Cd.
Lithium Ion – Li-Ion
Lithium ion batteries have the greatest charge density (twice that of Ni-Cd) and do not suffer from memory effect. Although more expensive they offer longer use, lighter weight and less self-discharge than other battery chemistries. They have a life of approximately 400 charge cycles. They are more environmentally friendly as they don’t contain toxic materials such as Mercury or Cadmium.
Care of new batteries.
New batteries come partially discharged and should be fully charged before using them. They generally do not reach their rated capacity until they have been charged and discharged at least 4 times. It is recommended that new batteries be charged overnight even though they may indicate that the charge is complete after a few hours. Sometimes charging may stop during the initial charge and it is necessary to remove the battery for approximately 15 minutes and then put it back on charge.
Battery Storage
NiCd, NiMH and lithium-ion batteries will discharge during storage which is normal. Lead Acid batteries should be stored charged and trickle charged if storage is longer than 3 months.
What is the expected life span of a battery?
Generally between 400 and 800 charge cycles or 2 to 4 years under normal conditions. As a battery ages its hours of use on a charge decrease and it may finally not accept a charge in some cells.
Should batteries be recycled?
In the interest of the environment all batteries, particularly NiCd and lead acid, should be recycled and not thrown in the garbage. Call 1-880-8-BATTERY or visit www.rbrc.org for the location of a recycling depot.
Brand new battery not working?
Some manufactures like Sony & Canon put a tiny chip inside of the battery. If the camera can not find that chip then the camera may not respond properly to the battery.
Battery Specification
Some manufacturers like Nikon have a menu selection for the battery type. To insure proper battery life and readings please choose the correct battery type.
Discharging Batteries
Ni-MH batteries that are “deactivated” or affected by “memory” suffer from the problem of only providing power for a short time after being charged. To prevent this problem, discharge and recharge them several times using the camera’s “Discharging rechargeable batteries” function. Check your manual to see if your camera has this feature. This feature is very common in Fuji cameras.
