Rechargeable batteries.

[Snowy Owl]

Being fairly new to digital photography, I have to ask a rather simple question....! When I have recharged my fully discharged batteries, do I.......

a) remove them from the charger until I need them?

b) leave them in the charger , switched off ? or

c) leave them in the charger swithced on, even though the red light has gone off?

Thanks in advance.

[figure]

I have more than one sets. I keep a set in the camera and a set in the charger. After two weeks, the batteries in the camera tends to go 'dead' if I don't use the camera. With frequent use of the camera, I noticed the batteries last just a couple days. So a set left on a continuous charge works for me. Hope this shed some light for you.

[weeal]

Hiya, batteries can explode if over-charged !! no joke

I would charge them and take them out of the charger, they shouldnt lose charge again too quickly if unused for a short while.

[figure]

Thanks for the info. Weeal. I've been doing that for years and so far no problems.

[heathfield]

Some chargers will recharge the batteries, then go into top-up charge mode. With these it's safe to leave the batteries constantly on charge. However, these are usually the more expensive microprocessor-controlled chargers. My favourite for a long time has been this one.

With a cheap charger, it'll keep trying to charge an already-charged battery at a high rate, with possible results Weeal mentions.

The charger manual will always tell you whether or not to remove fully charged batteries

[ianmunt]

Although at a slight premium,a number of companies now supply NiMH batteries with a much better self discharge performance,so they retain their charge much better.Examples are Uniross Hybroi,Sanyo eneloop and Ansmann MaxE The latter are from Tantronics.When you next need to buy replacements I can recommend these.

[Snowy Owl]

Thanks folks, really appreciate your help.

Heathfield...unfortunately, I can't find the manual....hence the question! Will check out your recommendation later.

[ACtheTROLL]

snowy

first point ... if you can ... don't fully discharge !
not much of an issue with LiLon but all the others prefer to have a little left in reserve ... (it's a chemistry thing)

when you store them ... best not to fill em right up if you intend to leave them more than a couple of days without use.... the optimum is 25% .... that's why when you buy new they always have a bit in em

one of these is ideal
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=b attery%20tester&source=15&SD=Y


If you have a 1 hour charger ... it's not too much of an issue ...
one of these
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=b attery%20chargers&source=15&SD=Y

also make sure your charger can handle the type of batteries you are using ....
some of the older or cheaper ones are nicad only

[Snowy Owl]

Excellent info Troll. Shall pay a visit to our local Maplins after the weekend and take on board your comments about discharging and recharging.

Cheers!