Toronto Photography Meetup Group

I have a question on when you should recharge AA batteries: is it when they are fully drained or before each use (i.e., the batteries may not be fully drained or exhausted)?

Some context: I am thinking of 4 AA Energizer rechargeable batteries being used in a Nikon SB-800 flash. And, say you shoot a few hundred flashes one day (batteries aren't fully drained yet as SB-800 is fairly efficient on battery use) and then next week or a few weeks later you have to do the same. Should you recharge before the next shoot? Or use until fully exhausted? Also, what to do with a spare set of 4 AA rechargeable batteries - should these be recharged fully too, or left uncharged?

Thoughts please. Thanks.

Since I'm most concerned about not running out of juice, I'll charge my batteries 1-2 days before the shoot, unless they have not been used at all.

NiMH batteries and lithiums-ions don't have a memory, so it doesn't matter when.

NiCds though have a "memory"...if you use it for 5 minutes and recharge it (like a rechargeable shaver), it will soon have a life of five minutes.

The one exception with lithium-ions is you should NEVER drain them fully, or else you may not be able to recharge them...that's why your laptop stops working before the battery is drained.

A good charger will drain the battery before charging it again and will do each cell individually. A lot of the cheap chargers sold with the batteries will stop once the first battery is charge while leaving the other not fully charged,

I use the Maha C800s and the M9000 for some advanced features.


http://www.mahaenergy.com/store/viewIte ... roduct=422

http://www.mahaenergy.com/store/viewIte ... roduct=423

Both can be bought at Canada Computers.

I have one of those advanced chargers too. In Refresh mode, it drains the battery and charges it back up and then drains it again like 6 times in a row, which brings it back to new apparently. Every six months or so, i try to refresh my batteries this way.

NiMH battery has no memory, as I understand.

I use Sanyo Eneloop - very slow in draining power when in storage. Rechargeable to 1000 times.

+1
I have the Maha and do a full burn-in once a year with all the cells, it breathes new life into them.



+1
Eneloops are the way to go - they also have the new XX eneloops (2500 MaH verses 2000 MaH). All of which are available at Canada Computers.

I have a few Maha's that seem to have reached their end, and won't recharge anymore.

I had a couple of Ultra's (TigerDirect brand) give a read of HIGH in the Maha C9000 charger. I tried to drain the battery and recharge but no go.

I have yet yo see an Eneloop do that.

I have also noticed these batteries not lasting very long.
I will not buy them again.

pretty much Eneloops all the way!

The black ones give you 50% more charges. Although I am not sure if someone can charge them 1500 times before losing them somewhere. ha ha

Personally, I've had a lot of luck with the Ultra's, but not using the Ultra brand quick charger. I put them in my Energizer charger and get great performance over many years. Much Much better performance than the Energizer batteries at the same time.

i stick with eneloops, their charges last for LONG
i tried energizers and duracell, they dont live up to my expectations

The white top Duracell's are in fact Eneloops - they are dubbed 'DuraLoops'. Shoppers Drugmart sell them.

FYI

8 Cell AA Maha charger on sale at Canada Computer during Boxing week for $39.99 each.

is it okay to use other brand charger for diff brand battery?

Powerex Imedion 4xAA Pre-Charged 2400mAh (High Capacity Low Self Discharge) $8.99 reg price $16.99

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_ ... _id=035134

Just pick up 4 sets at Markham Unionville and they still have at least 20 in-stock.

This is not an issue as long as the the batteries and charger match (e.g. NiMH).