Marking Batteries That Are Charged...
Nov 19, 2012 04:54:12 #
Good Morning HedgeHogs,
I keep getting confused over which of my batteries are charged and which are not.
I have two or three each of different styles of battery for different camera bodies and once they are charged I have no way of identifying them against the discharged ones.
Apart from a sticky label or writing on them, (which isnt particularly convenient), do any of you have a clever way of noting which are charged and which are discharged?
R's
EnEs63
I keep getting confused over which of my batteries are charged and which are not.
I have two or three each of different styles of battery for different camera bodies and once they are charged I have no way of identifying them against the discharged ones.
Apart from a sticky label or writing on them, (which isnt particularly convenient), do any of you have a clever way of noting which are charged and which are discharged?
R's
EnEs63
Nov 19, 2012 05:04:05 #
usually they come with a plastic guard or mine did,when charged i leave it on .so maybe a plastic guard over contacts or a small resealable bag will do the trick.
Nov 19, 2012 05:13:56 #
Hi Brendan,
Yes, good idea but mine don't all have them.
Maybe they are available on E-bay?
Yes, good idea but mine don't all have them.
Maybe they are available on E-bay?
Nov 19, 2012 05:14:40 #
I never allow my batteries to get fully discharged, so this can be a problem for me as well.
I use a simple system of storage designation. I keep fully charged batteries in one location and discharged batteries in another. That holds true for my back pack, travel storage cases or in my studio.
It is not perfect, but anytime a battery goes into my camera, strobe, etc., it gets put away in a seperate location from the batteries that come out of the charger. It seems to work for me.
Maybe one day all batteries will have a digital read-out tellling us how much charge they have remaining.
I'm interested in other ideas, (but I hate to break a good habit just because someone else has a better one.) :roll:
I use a simple system of storage designation. I keep fully charged batteries in one location and discharged batteries in another. That holds true for my back pack, travel storage cases or in my studio.
It is not perfect, but anytime a battery goes into my camera, strobe, etc., it gets put away in a seperate location from the batteries that come out of the charger. It seems to work for me.
Maybe one day all batteries will have a digital read-out tellling us how much charge they have remaining.
I'm interested in other ideas, (but I hate to break a good habit just because someone else has a better one.) :roll:
Nov 19, 2012 05:16:59 #
EnEs63 wrote:
Hi Brendan,
Yes, good idea but mine don't all have them.
Maybe they are available on E-bay?
Yes, good idea but mine don't all have them.
Maybe they are available on E-bay?
That plastic guard is there to prevent the battery terminals from shorthing out on something conductive.
Even a discharged battery has some current left.
Leaving the plastic safety covers off is probably not a good idea as a shorted battery can start a fire.
Nov 19, 2012 05:46:22 #
You make a very good point Festine Lente...
Your storage idea would work I guess. It is a case of 'getting into the habit'!
Yesterday I was out walking and photographing a river. I had two charged batteries seperately in my back pockets and after having changed one to replace a low one in the camera I forgot which one was charged and which one wasnt... Hence the reason for this question.
The plastic covers is a good idea to avoid the possibility of shorting.
I think I will try and get some replacements online. Not all my batteries have them because a couple of bodies were purchased second hand and the covers were not supplied....
Thanks again for your ideas...
R's
Your storage idea would work I guess. It is a case of 'getting into the habit'!
Yesterday I was out walking and photographing a river. I had two charged batteries seperately in my back pockets and after having changed one to replace a low one in the camera I forgot which one was charged and which one wasnt... Hence the reason for this question.
The plastic covers is a good idea to avoid the possibility of shorting.
I think I will try and get some replacements online. Not all my batteries have them because a couple of bodies were purchased second hand and the covers were not supplied....
Thanks again for your ideas...
R's
Nov 19, 2012 06:05:20 #
To prolong lithium batterys should be stored only at 40%
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_store_batteries
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_store_batteries
Nov 19, 2012 09:35:09 #
Hi dirtpusher,
Yes, I am aware of that.
My other hobby is flying scale helicopters and they use all kinds of batteries - NiMh, Li-Po & Li-Fe's...
The batteries have to be in tip top condition as one failed cell will bring a heli down and they dont glide like a fixed wing!
I use some pretty in-depth computer processor software to charge, discharge and condition... and have learnt the hard way!
Thank you for your thoughts...
R's
EnEs63
Yes, I am aware of that.
My other hobby is flying scale helicopters and they use all kinds of batteries - NiMh, Li-Po & Li-Fe's...
The batteries have to be in tip top condition as one failed cell will bring a heli down and they dont glide like a fixed wing!
I use some pretty in-depth computer processor software to charge, discharge and condition... and have learnt the hard way!
Thank you for your thoughts...
R's
EnEs63
Nov 19, 2012 10:31:45 #
Festina Lente wrote:
That plastic guard is there to prevent the battery terminals from shorthing out on something conductive.
Even a discharged battery has some current left.
Leaving the plastic safety covers off is probably not a good idea as a shorted battery can start a fire.
EnEs63 wrote:
Hi Brendan,
Yes, good idea but mine don't all have them.
Maybe they are available on E-bay?
Yes, good idea but mine don't all have them.
Maybe they are available on E-bay?
That plastic guard is there to prevent the battery terminals from shorthing out on something conductive.
Even a discharged battery has some current left.
Leaving the plastic safety covers off is probably not a good idea as a shorted battery can start a fire.
Some of the batteries for my SX40 have a plastic cap that has a 'notch' on one side. There is also an arrow on the battery that can be left showing through the notch. It is suggested the cap be put on so the arrow is visible if the battery is charged. Not all my batteries have those caps so I have a 'pouch' for my CHARGED batteries and a zip-lock baggie for the 'used' ones. When I get home I start charging any of the used ones and then put them back in the pouch.
I also used a magic marker to number my batteries (1, 2, 3, etc) and ALWAYS use them in sequence. If I take out #2, I use #3 next, etc. in order to rotate and give them all equal usage.
Nov 19, 2012 10:46:02 #
Any battery in my camera bag is fully charged !!
Any battery on my desk needs to go onto the charger and then gets but in a camera bag.
If it's "in the bag" it's charged and ready !!!
Any battery on my desk needs to go onto the charger and then gets but in a camera bag.
If it's "in the bag" it's charged and ready !!!
Nov 19, 2012 11:20:11 #
GC likes NIKON wrote:
so what happens to the ones that die when your out! ooops forgot them.Any battery in my camera bag is fully charged !!
Any battery on my desk needs to go onto the charger and then gets but in a camera bag.
If it's "in the bag" it's charged and ready !!!
Any battery on my desk needs to go onto the charger and then gets but in a camera bag.
If it's "in the bag" it's charged and ready !!!
Nov 19, 2012 12:08:55 #
Hi all,
Thank you for your ideas.
GC likes Nikon; your idea is good and would work well if using your batteries soon after charging. Batteries, (with the exception of Lithium Polymer & Li-Fe etc.), dont like being stored fully charged. Their internal resistance slowly depletes the battery shortening their life...
As I tend not to know when I am next going out shooting I prefer to leave batteries discharged from their last use and charge them the evening or morning before using them again.
The 'used' batteries have probably 30% left in them so would do ok for an impulse shoot but long term I find the batteries last a lot longer when treated this way.
As Warhawk suggested, it would be helpful if the manufacturers put a very simple idea on the case or cap to indicate whether a battery was ready for use or depleted.....?
R's
EnEs63
Thank you for your ideas.
GC likes Nikon; your idea is good and would work well if using your batteries soon after charging. Batteries, (with the exception of Lithium Polymer & Li-Fe etc.), dont like being stored fully charged. Their internal resistance slowly depletes the battery shortening their life...
As I tend not to know when I am next going out shooting I prefer to leave batteries discharged from their last use and charge them the evening or morning before using them again.
The 'used' batteries have probably 30% left in them so would do ok for an impulse shoot but long term I find the batteries last a lot longer when treated this way.
As Warhawk suggested, it would be helpful if the manufacturers put a very simple idea on the case or cap to indicate whether a battery was ready for use or depleted.....?
R's
EnEs63
Nov 20, 2012 05:27:34 #
I made little sliding flaps that i glue on the end of my batteries
green is charged red is discharged .......
green is charged red is discharged .......
Nov 20, 2012 05:30:36 #
I use 2 at a time in a grip so I have numerous sets. I also have multiple sets of AA batteries for my speedlites and multiple AAA for my flash triggers.
I have put them into sets or groups and numbered them with Sharpie pens. Typically sets 1-4 and again I use 1-4 on AA's and AAA's
I actually used coloured insulating tape as well but this made some of the batteries tight to install so I gave up on this. The sharpie pens do wear off so I carry spare pens in my kit. I also carry insulating tape. If I get a dodgy card or battery fault I apply tape and write on any problems.
I also use battery cases to store my AA's see link
http://www.7dayshop.com/chargers-power-batteries/battery-cases-storage I then mark each case and make a point of putting each set back in the correct case.
I have put them into sets or groups and numbered them with Sharpie pens. Typically sets 1-4 and again I use 1-4 on AA's and AAA's
I actually used coloured insulating tape as well but this made some of the batteries tight to install so I gave up on this. The sharpie pens do wear off so I carry spare pens in my kit. I also carry insulating tape. If I get a dodgy card or battery fault I apply tape and write on any problems.
I also use battery cases to store my AA's see link
http://www.7dayshop.com/chargers-power-batteries/battery-cases-storage I then mark each case and make a point of putting each set back in the correct case.
Nov 20, 2012 05:32:00 #
Cakey wrote:
I made little sliding flaps that i glue on the end of my batteries
green is charged red is discharged .......
green is charged red is discharged .......
Would be interested to see how you did this. Sounds a good Idea.
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