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Do battery chargers become a load?
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Dec 21, 2022 10:02:50   #
BebuLamar
 
Bison Bud wrote:
It depends is the right answer! However, the possibility of accelerating the discharge by leaving the batteries in the charger is a high probability. I once ruined a sealed lead acid battery (for my mobility scooter) by unplugging the charger, but leaving the charger hooked up to the battery for a long time. It totally discharged the battery and that's a really bad thing for lead acid batteries and after that it would not take a new charge. Most of today's rechargable batteries are not lead acid, but the same principle should apply. In any case, any rechargable battery begins to discharge once the charge cycle is complete and will drain somewhat just sitting there by itself, but leaving them in the charger may well accelerate that process considerably. I'd certainly remove them after charging just to be sure. Good luck and good shooting to all.
It depends is the right answer! However, the poss... (show quote)


Yes with that kind of charge it's very likely. With the camera battery charger is much less likely. But still I won't leave the battery connected to the charger if the charger is unplugged.

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Dec 21, 2022 10:13:40   #
TonyBot
 
I bought extra set of batteries and a couple of chargers for Canon LP-E6s, the battery that is now pretty standard in the Canon line.

*One* of the chargers said something like: "If removing the unit from the outlet with battery still loaded, wait a moment or two before touching the [plug-in part] - there may be a residual charge until the [electronics] completely damp any [reverse flow] of energy."

Their translation to English was probably a little better than my memory, but the gist is that it is possible to get a shock, therefore the charger is likely drawing down the charge.

So, as Bison Bob said: It depends!

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Dec 21, 2022 10:27:31   #
BebuLamar
 
TonyBot wrote:
I bought extra set of batteries and a couple of chargers for Canon LP-E6s, the battery that is now pretty standard in the Canon line.

*One* of the chargers said something like: "If removing the unit from the outlet with battery still loaded, wait a moment or two before touching the [plug-in part] - there may be a residual charge until the [electronics] completely damp any [reverse flow] of energy."

Their translation to English was probably a little better than my memory, but the gist is that it is possible to get a shock, therefore the charger is likely drawing down the charge.

So, as Bison Bob said: It depends!
I bought extra set of batteries and a couple of ch... (show quote)


If it's possible for you to get a shock the power doesn't come from the battery but rather the residual voltage from some of the capacitors in the charger.

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Dec 21, 2022 12:44:00   #
Lucasdv123
 
Also changing the subject. I have an 18 volt dewalt drill and the batteries gave out so I bought the 20v with the adapter so I could use the new batteries in the old 18v drill.after a few days I noticed the drill was draining the battery. I had just spent $99 for new batteries and now I have to replace the drill.i started looking into it and found out from other people that the adapter if left on the battery will drain it after a few days.as long as you are not using it and the adapter stays on the drill but the battery is removed,It will be fine.i sure as hell did not expect this from dewalt. I had been using them for 40 years..

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Dec 21, 2022 13:14:06   #
BebuLamar
 
Lucasdv123 wrote:
Also changing the subject. I have an 18 volt dewalt drill and the batteries gave out so I bought the 20v with the adapter so I could use the new batteries in the old 18v drill.after a few days I noticed the drill was draining the battery. I had just spent $99 for new batteries and now I have to replace the drill.i started looking into it and found out from other people that the adapter if left on the battery will drain it after a few days.as long as you are not using it and the adapter stays on the drill but the battery is removed,It will be fine.i sure as hell did not expect this from dewalt. I had been using them for 40 years..
Also changing the subject. I have an 18 volt dewal... (show quote)


And they don't sell the 18V battery? If the battery fit 20 and 18V is close enough there is no need to adapt.

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Dec 21, 2022 14:51:51   #
Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio
 
tradio wrote:
Recently I have started using rechargeable batteries more and was wondering if my routine is acceptable. I have a wall charger that holds four cells and when they are fully charged, I unplug the whole unit with the batteries still in the cradle and toss it into my bag of speed lights.
The question I have is; does the charger become a load when it's not energized? As in are the batteries powering backwards into the unenergized charging electronics and slowly draining the batteries?
It would be easy enough to check, I could slide a piece of paper in between the tip of the battery and the chargers tab and place an ammeter across that and see if there is any current.
Just a thought that came to mind as I was driving.
Recently I have started using rechargeable batteri... (show quote)


I have done exactly that on my DeWalt lithium battery charger. It was less than a milliamp but it did draw power. I'm sure all different types draw different amounts or none.

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Dec 21, 2022 16:20:46   #
Elias Amador
 
Yes, the batteries back leak a tiny bit of current into the unplugged charger. But the electronics in the charger, other than the LED red charging lights, do not use (circulate) current, they just get "filled up" with electrons which remain in them, like water in a drinking glass. Or so I visualize it.
Result, the batteries in the charger do not lose any significant current. When I travel I carry 4 AA batteries in each charger and when I unpack a few days later the batteries are still charged and usable.

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Dec 21, 2022 16:32:49   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
Elias Amador wrote:
Yes, the batteries back leak a tiny bit of current into the unplugged charger. But the electronics in the charger, other than the LED red charging lights, do not use (circulate) current, they just get "filled up" with electrons which remain in them, like water in a drinking glass. Or so I visualize it.
Result, the batteries in the charger do not lose any significant current. When I travel I carry 4 AA batteries in each charger and when I unpack a few days later the batteries are still charged and usable.
Yes, the batteries back leak a tiny bit of current... (show quote)

Evidently your scenario is minimal.

Maybe cheaper chargers are not so minimal.
Like someone said above, depends on the charger.

Some chargers/instructions even say remove battery after charging.
I wonder why that might be.....
To prevent over-charging?
To prevent leakage (discharging)?

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Dec 21, 2022 17:17:06   #
Otterbug
 
tradio wrote:
Recently I have started using rechargeable batteries more and was wondering if my routine is acceptable. I have a wall charger that holds four cells and when they are fully charged, I unplug the whole unit with the batteries still in the cradle and toss it into my bag of speed lights.
The question I have is; does the charger become a load when it's not energized? As in are the batteries powering backwards into the unenergized charging electronics and slowly draining the batteries?
It would be easy enough to check, I could slide a piece of paper in between the tip of the battery and the chargers tab and place an ammeter across that and see if there is any current.
Just a thought that came to mind as I was driving.
Recently I have started using rechargeable batteri... (show quote)

Unless there is a diode built into the charger, it will eventually drain the batteries

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Dec 21, 2022 17:17:41   #
Elias Amador
 
The question is:

If, after the batteries are charged. the charger is unplugged from the wall with the batteries left in, do the batteries discharge?

Easy to find out: Measure with a digital voltmeter the battery charge over time for one's batteries left in, or removed, after complete charging. It may be the amount of discharge, if any, depends on the battery and/or charger make and type, in addition to time left in the unplugged charger.

I have not noticed, but have not measured, any discharge in several makes of AA rechargeable batteries held in my chargers, of 3 makes, after several days of travel.

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Dec 21, 2022 17:30:02   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
Otterbug wrote:
Unless there is a diode built into the charger, it will eventually drain the batteries

Exactly.
On "cheaper" chargers they may have saved the expense by not using one (an isolation diode) and simply instruct people to remove the battery when charged.

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Dec 22, 2022 16:05:39   #
Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC
 
jerryc41 wrote:
I ran a test for a little over two weeks. Camera battery left in the charger and another one removed from the charger. The one left in the charger lost power gradually.

I found it. The spacing is messed up, but it looked okay when I posted it.

Battery Test
Wasabi EL-EN25 for Z fc
Nominal 7.6v


Date Out of Charger In Charger
8/9 8.58 8.58
8/10 8.58 8.57
8/11 8.57 8.56
8/12 8.56 8.52
8/13 8.56 8.51
8/14 8.56 8.48
8/15 8.56 8.46
8/16 8.55 8.44
8/17 8.55 8.44
8/18 8.55 8.44
8/24 8.53 8.43
8/27 8.53 8.41
I ran a test for a little over two weeks. Camera ... (show quote)


MAh's?

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Dec 22, 2022 16:12:36   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
Bultaco wrote:
MAh's?

Volts.

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