Battery check: How do you check your batteries to see if they're still viable. A couple of mine seem to need re-charging after a relatively short time of shooting.

Buffalolensman

How do you check your batteries to see
if they're still viable. A couple of mine seem
to need re-charging after a relatively short
time of shooting.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Buffalolensman wrote:

How do you check your batteries to see
if they're still viable. A couple of mine seem
to need re-charging after a relatively short
time of shooting.

I don't.
Never occurred to me to do so.
If they fail I get rid of them.

Jim70 Loc: Delaware

I keep 2-3 extra batteries in my bag and recharge them from time to time. I also rotate them in my camera. I do what architect does, if one goes bad, I chuck it. So far, they are all working fine after 3-4 years.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Jim70 wrote:

I keep 2-3 extra batteries in my bag and recharge them from time to time. I also rotate them in my camera. I do what architect does, if one goes bad, I chuck it. So far, they are all working fine after 3-4 years.

tcthome Loc: NJ

If you use to get , eg. 700 photos out of them new & now only 300, it is getting close unless you want to ride them all the way to the end. If all of them are in the same shape, it wouldn't hurt to get at least one new one if you plan on keeping the device they are used in.

Tomfl101 Loc: Mount Airy, MD

Actually your fast recharge time is the best indication of “empty” batteries. They have no more capacity to fill up with a complete charge. Fast recharge = fast deplete.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

There is a battery check on my Nikons that show the status of the battery. It indicates if the battery is new or what % of life it still has.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

About once a month I put all my batteries in each camera one by one. Turn the camera on, count to ≈10, and if the camera says "full" I put the battery back in the camera bag. If any are not indicated as full I put them in the charger.

If a battery doesn't seem to last very long on an outing, I'll charge it and see how it performs again. If it only lasts an hour or two, I'll replace it. And of course if the charger blinks red when charging a battery, the battery gets replaced.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Tomfl101 wrote:

Actually your fast recharge time is the best indication of “empty” batteries. They have no more capacity to fill up with a complete charge. Fast recharge = fast deplete.

Sure seems that way....

Just Shoot Me Loc: Ithaca, NY

Your only going to get 3-4 years out of your batteries. If they are in use constantly (maybe shorter) or if they are sitting on a shelf. Chemical compositions degrade with time. Use em while you got em. Then chuck them and buy new. Nothing like fresh batteries, at least that s what my wife tells me, for her camera of course.

Ron

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Battery technologies have changed over the years. Use to be that nickel-cadmium batteries were the standard issue for rechargeable batteries and had certain predictable characteristics. Nowadas there are many types and variations of each. Nowadays, most are Lithium ion types and there are various makes and qualities. Cameras have more and more features, someof which draw more current than others and photographers have diverse shooting habits which also influence battery charging cycles and longevity.

The battery percentage of the charge indicator in the camerar may not detect the all-over condition of the batteries as to longevity. If the camera is operating properly, the best indication of a battery nearing the end of its useful life or reliability may simply be the battery's ability to hold a charge for the usual lengh of time- or not. If there are no changes in your feature usage or shooting habits, a battery holding a charge for an abnormally shorter time is usually a warning that it is time for a new battery.

Testing a battery for charging rate in milli-ampers is difficult in camera batteries because the milliampere meter has to be in series with the battery and the charger. Most chargers being modular in design would make their procedure difficult and impractical. The voltage level, even under load, may not be a valid test as well because some battery characteristics are such that there is no gradual fall off of voltage, however, the battery may simply "drop dead" without warning.

Spare batteries are the best preventative solution to avoid the consequences of an unexpected battery failure at an inopportune time.

SteveInConverse Loc: South Texas

Bridges wrote:

There is a battery check on my Nikons that show the status of the battery. It indicates if the battery is new or what % of life it still has.

Canon has this feature too.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Just Shoot Me wrote:

Your only going to get 3-4 years out of your batteries. If they are in use constantly (maybe shorter) or if they are sitting on a shelf. Chemical compositions degrade with time. Use em while you got em. Then chuck them and buy new. Nothing like fresh batteries, at least that s what my wife tells me, for her camera of course.

Ron

I have batteries for my 10D from about 2004 that seem to be working just fine.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Buffalolensman wrote:

How do you check your batteries to see
if they're still viable. A couple of mine seem
to need re-charging after a relatively short
time of shooting.

I've never had that happen, but if it did, I'd stop using them. Whether or not they work is the best test.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

When a little voice in my head says, “boy… this battery isn’t giving me very many shots anymore…”
It gets recycled.