Modern camera batteries
Sep 24, 2013 11:44:50 #
My Nikon D7000 uses the EN-EL15 battery. I've gotten into the habit of popping the battery (both of them - I bought an extra so as to always have a hot battery on hand for extended shoots.) into the Nikon charger after each shoot.
But then I recalled the early days of rechargeable batteries. At that time, one had to occasionally drain the battery all the way down, because repeated partial charges could leave a "signature," I think it was called, which would eventually result in the battery's only holding a partial charge.
My question is (sorry if this has been covered before) do I still need to do this "full-drain" routine with today's batteries?
But then I recalled the early days of rechargeable batteries. At that time, one had to occasionally drain the battery all the way down, because repeated partial charges could leave a "signature," I think it was called, which would eventually result in the battery's only holding a partial charge.
My question is (sorry if this has been covered before) do I still need to do this "full-drain" routine with today's batteries?
Sep 24, 2013 11:46:25 #
Newer electronic batteries do not have the old nicad 'memory' problems.
I use my D7000 all day and then pop the battery into the charger while I put in a fresh battery.
Sarge69
I use my D7000 all day and then pop the battery into the charger while I put in a fresh battery.
Sarge69
Sep 24, 2013 11:48:54 #
JaiGieEse wrote:
My Nikon D7000 uses the EN-EL15 battery. I've gott... (show quote)
I think you're safe in that regard with the newer batteries these days.
Sep 24, 2013 11:50:14 #
No need to fully drain them. Just run em to low, recharge. They do still have a lifecycle. They wont last forever but know that not fully discharging, wont cause them to fail sooner than later.
Sep 24, 2013 11:51:33 #
sarge69 wrote:
Newer electronic batteries do not have the old nicad 'memory' problems.
I use my D7000 all day and then pop the battery into the charger while I put in a fresh battery.
Sarge69
I use my D7000 all day and then pop the battery into the charger while I put in a fresh battery.
Sarge69
Thought that might be the case, but I wanted to know "fer sure." Many years ago, in another life, I was a TV newsman. Our videographers used these hideously heavy batteries that attached to the back of the video cam and also a similarly heavy waist belt battery for their lights. They came up with a doo-hickey - a light bulb that they'd plug into the batteries every so often to run them all the way down. They'd tell me there is nothing worse than having history unfolding in front of you and have your battery go down.
Sep 24, 2013 11:53:36 #
JaiGieEse wrote:
My Nikon D7000 uses the EN-EL15 battery. I've gott... (show quote)
In the early days batteries were of the NiCd variety. These batteries had "Memory Problems". Which meant if the battery was not fully discharged it would not fully recharge. The end result was a much shorter usage time.
Today's batteries are of the Lithium Ion type. These batteries do not have the memroy problems of the NiCd type. It is ok to place these on the charger after use to recharge even if they were not fully discharged.
Hope this helps. Cheers,
Tim
Sep 24, 2013 11:57:26 #
Another thing. When I got the D7000 last November, it, of course, came with the battery. They offer a battery grip, looks like an old motor drive, sort of, which takes an extra EN-EL15 or, with an included adapter, AA batteries. I considered that and then decided that sticking an extra battery in my pocket was better than adding all that weight to the camera. The D7000 is heavy enough as it is.
So then I researched the web and ran across a number of third-party batteries, all considerably cheaper than is the Nikon EN-EL15. I was about to buy one when my wife asked me whether I'd ever had a cheap battery start to leak in a flashlight. Hm. Methinks it better to go with the Nikon battery rather than have to trash the D7000 because an off-brand battery had gunked it up.
So then I researched the web and ran across a number of third-party batteries, all considerably cheaper than is the Nikon EN-EL15. I was about to buy one when my wife asked me whether I'd ever had a cheap battery start to leak in a flashlight. Hm. Methinks it better to go with the Nikon battery rather than have to trash the D7000 because an off-brand battery had gunked it up.
Sep 24, 2013 12:22:14 #
Make sure you utilize the battery end plastic cover if you put it in your pocket with change or anything metal. You don't want to cook your thigh or something else close to your thighs.
Sarge69
Sarge69
Sep 24, 2013 12:23:48 #
sarge69 wrote:
Make sure you utilize the battery end plastic cover if you put it in your pocket with change or anything metal. You don't want to cook your thigh or something else close to your thighs.
Sarge69
Sarge69
Oh, yes. I do that faithfully. I mean. I do get a charge out of photography, but not that way....
Sep 24, 2013 12:36:19 #
Something I have noticed.
As I say, I have an extra battery. When I take the battery out of the camera to charge, I put the second battery into the camera. When the first one is fully charged, I cap it and put it back into the camera knapsack.
I've just done that, and I saw something I've come across before. The battery I took from my bag was fully charged when I stuck it into the bag a week or so ago. When I reinserted it into the camera, I checked the battery life setting in the menu, and it shows the battery at 94 percent. Hm. I guess these things will lose a dab of charge while their not in use.
BTW, both of these batteries are new. One came with the camera ten months ago and I bought the other about two months after that. Who knows how old they actually are, though.
As I say, I have an extra battery. When I take the battery out of the camera to charge, I put the second battery into the camera. When the first one is fully charged, I cap it and put it back into the camera knapsack.
I've just done that, and I saw something I've come across before. The battery I took from my bag was fully charged when I stuck it into the bag a week or so ago. When I reinserted it into the camera, I checked the battery life setting in the menu, and it shows the battery at 94 percent. Hm. I guess these things will lose a dab of charge while their not in use.
BTW, both of these batteries are new. One came with the camera ten months ago and I bought the other about two months after that. Who knows how old they actually are, though.
Sep 24, 2013 13:32:34 #
JaiGieEse wrote:
Something I have noticed. br br As I say, I have ... (show quote)
LiOn batteries have a self discharge rate of 5-10% per month.
NiMH batteries are 30%/mo, and NiCads are 10%.
And they DO wear out. But their life expectancy is pretty good.
Sep 25, 2013 06:08:34 #
CajunLou
Loc: SW Louisiana
JaiGieEse wrote:
My Nikon D7000 uses the EN-EL15 battery. I've gott... (show quote)
Just returned from 2 week France trip with over 2000 shots. On the subject of carrying extra battery in pocket - the storage cap has a tendency to pop off if other things in pocket. My solution is a small heavy duty rubber band to hold in place. PS= I did buy an extra off brand battery, has only 50 to 60 percent life. Stick to camera brand.
Sep 25, 2013 07:18:13 #
JaiGieEse wrote:
Another thing. When I got the D7000 last November,... (show quote)
I have the battery grip for my d7000 which I think weighs less than the battery itself...(not a fact) What is nice about it is when you shoot verticals, you have the same controls with same hand position as shooting horizontals. I have had a few Rotator Cuff repairs so it's easier on my shoulder than raising my arm up and over for verticals without the grip.
Sep 25, 2013 08:07:37 #
JaiGieEse wrote:
My Nikon D7000 uses the EN-EL15 battery. I've gott... (show quote)
One bit of advice I've heard about modern batteries is to charge them fully before using them. How necessary that is, I don't know, but I do it.
Here's some battery from Nikon.
http://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/16567/~/caring-for-your-camera-equipment---part-i---proper-care-and-storage
Sep 25, 2013 08:26:21 #
I've used aftermarket batteries for years without problems starting back with my old Nikon D70s & the ENEL-3 ...That said, to each their own, if you feel uncomfortable doing so, then follow your gut. There was just a thread on UHH about aftermarket batteries, Bottom line, some use em, others don't. My comment was, why would the larger outlets like B&H, Adorama, et al sell them if they were no good? That would leave them liable to be sued. As for your wife's reference to "leaking" batteries, that was & still is a fault of the battery chemistry & alkaline ,not Lion are the culprits.... Any battery can fail...Look at Sony's laptop batteries that exploded. They were OEM batteries. Plus it seems most all batteries are made in China these days, OEM or not...Note: my post is referencing "aftermarket" as opposed to "counterfeit" batteries..I'd be leery of "counterfeit" batteries. Aftermarket batteries are designed to operate just like the OEM versions
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