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To charge or not to charge? That is the question
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Nov 24, 2017 09:54:27   #
NJphotodoc Loc: Now in the First State
 
Hi all. When I get back from a day taking pictures, I invariably charge my D7200 battery (use a Nikon rather than a 3rd party). The battery typically has plenty of charge left, but force of habit has me throw it in the charger. Should point out I also have a spare so never really at a loss for power, but was wondering what the consensus of of UHHers is.
I know that modern batteries don't suffer from "memory" as older NiCads did but trying to vindicate my "Type A" personality
Thanks!

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Nov 24, 2017 10:15:41   #
BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England
 
NJphotodoc wrote:
Hi all. When I get back from a day taking pictures, I invariably charge my D7200 battery (use a Nikon rather than a 3rd party). The battery typically has plenty of charge left, but force of habit has me throw it in the charger. Should point out I also have a spare so never really at a loss for power, but was wondering what the consensus of of UHHers is.
I know that modern batteries don't suffer from "memory" as older NiCads did but trying to vindicate my "Type A" personality
Thanks!
Hi all. When I get back from a day taking pictures... (show quote)

Since I have multiple batteries (all Canon) I usually leave the battery in the camera and start the next shoot with it, changing when it gets down to less than 30% unless I have a shoot which requires me to take a lot of photos with little time between, in which case I put in a fresh battery to start.
Bud

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Nov 24, 2017 10:48:41   #
mas24 Loc: Southern CA
 
NJphotodoc wrote:
Hi all. When I get back from a day taking pictures, I invariably charge my D7200 battery (use a Nikon rather than a 3rd party). The battery typically has plenty of charge left, but force of habit has me throw it in the charger. Should point out I also have a spare so never really at a loss for power, but was wondering what the consensus of of UHHers is.
I know that modern batteries don't suffer from "memory" as older NiCads did but trying to vindicate my "Type A" personality
Thanks!
Hi all. When I get back from a day taking pictures... (show quote)


I recharge all my batteries when I return home. I have Force Of Habit just like you. Charge it. You never know when your power will be interrupted by a storm, etc. Does doing that constantly lessen the battery life? Perhaps, but is doesn't matter to me. Buying another battery is not going to break the bank. Better safe than sorry. I use Nikon and Watson batteries. Watson is the only third party battery I use now. They are easier to purchase than Wasabi batteries.

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Nov 24, 2017 10:49:59   #
Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC
 
I use Nikon, but many here on the Hog use after market.

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Nov 24, 2017 11:35:17   #
PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago
 
WF2B wrote:
Since I have multiple batteries (all Canon) I usually leave the battery in the camera and start the next shoot with it, changing when it gets down to less than 30% unless I have a shoot which requires me to take a lot of photos with little time between, in which case I put in a fresh battery to start.
Bud


I am in Bud's camp. Charge at about 30 percent and always carry a fully charged spare. I use only Nikon batteries.

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Nov 24, 2017 11:40:35   #
Angmo
 
Ive got an old Nikon D300 and two Nikon batteries. I only charge them when they show less than half juice left in them.

They’re like 10 years old by now. No issues. Camera says the batteries are still in pristine condition based on how the camera sees them.

You’re free to top them off every shoot or not. No harm will befall your batteries.

The only thing I do is when I charge them I swap places with the in-camera battery and battery grip. I prioritize grip power before using in camera battery in the settings.

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Nov 24, 2017 12:11:04   #
ejones0310 Loc: Tulsa, OK
 
NJphotodoc wrote:
Hi all. When I get back from a day taking pictures, I invariably charge my D7200 battery (use a Nikon rather than a 3rd party). The battery typically has plenty of charge left, but force of habit has me throw it in the charger. Should point out I also have a spare so never really at a loss for power, but was wondering what the consensus of of UHHers is.
I know that modern batteries don't suffer from "memory" as older NiCads did but trying to vindicate my "Type A" personality
Thanks!
Hi all. When I get back from a day taking pictures... (show quote)


According to Battery University:

Similar to a mechanical device that wears out faster with heavy use, the depth of discharge (DoD) determines the cycle count of the battery. The smaller the discharge (low DoD), the longer the battery will last. If at all possible, avoid full discharges and charge the battery more often between uses. Partial discharge on Li-ion is fine. There is no memory and the battery does not need periodic full discharge cycles to prolong life. The exception may be a periodic calibration of the fuel gauge on a smart battery or intelligent device

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries

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Nov 24, 2017 12:11:48   #
MichaelH Loc: NorCal via Lansing, MI
 
Modern batteries do not have the "memory" issues that older rechargeable batteries did -- but does that mean they have no "issues" with partial charging?

And most rechargeable batteries specify a number of recharges it will take -- does that number also include partial charges? So, if you normally used only 25% of your battery's charge after a shoot and recharged it every time you would not get as many shots per battery life span.

I default to swapping out the battery for a fully charged one if I am doing something more important than goofing off. If timing is not an issue I will sometimes let it go until the camera tells me it is time to switch. (I buy the camera manufacturer's batteries but am cheap enough to not want them to wear out sooner than they should.)

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Nov 24, 2017 12:19:19   #
rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA
 
MichaelH wrote:
Modern batteries do not have the "memory" issues that older rechargeable batteries did -- but does that mean they have no "issues" with partial charging?

And most rechargeable batteries specify a number of recharges it will take -- does that number also include partial charges? So, if you normally used only 25% of your battery's charge after a shoot and recharged it every time you would not get as many shots per battery life span.

I default to swapping out the battery for a fully charged one if I am doing something more important than goofing off. If timing is not an issue I will sometimes let it go until the camera tells me it is time to switch. (I buy the camera manufacturer's batteries but am cheap enough to not want them to wear out sooner than they should.)
Modern batteries do not have the "memory"... (show quote)

Do "we" know how a partial charge counts as one recharge? I've been wondering that for some time now.

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Nov 24, 2017 12:30:08   #
Angmo
 
After 10 years of charging with half or less power left in mine, the cost per year is a pittance.

For me, I am vastly more interested in shutter lifespan than battery life.

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Nov 24, 2017 13:20:26   #
rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA
 
Partial charge after less than 100% discharge was an issue with NiCad batteries, which is why Lithium Ions have taken over. Also, is there anything less useful to a Photographer than a partially charged battery?

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Nov 24, 2017 14:11:20   #
rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA
 
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
Partial charge after less than 100% discharge was an issue with NiCad batteries, which is why Lithium Ions have taken over. Also, is there anything less useful to a Photographer than a partially charged battery?

A totally discharged battery is less useful to me.

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Nov 24, 2017 21:31:13   #
mas24 Loc: Southern CA
 
Angmo wrote:
After 10 years of charging with half or less power left in mine, the cost per year is a pittance.

For me, I am vastly more interested in shutter lifespan than battery life.


A shutter repair after warranty can cost about $350. That's about 5 new Nikon camera batteries.

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Nov 24, 2017 21:43:17   #
LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field
 
Charge it!

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Nov 24, 2017 22:22:13   #
Angmo
 
mas24 wrote:
A shutter repair after warranty can cost about $350. That's about 5 new Nikon camera batteries.

...and that's the concern!!

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