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06/10/2003 09:33:21 PM · #1 |
I had the rather upsetting experience yesterday of replacing my batteries only to find that my spare set were flat too. Now I'm absolutely certain that I had charged them, yet they weren't even good for one photo.
I've since charged both sets (AA) with a "quick" charger. The set that had been in recent use took three hours to charge, while the spares took only an hour. Does this mean my batteries are faulty? I don't really feel I've used them enough yet for them to need replacing, but what happened yesterday doesn't sound right to me. |
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06/10/2003 10:01:13 PM · #2 |
After a time most rechargeable bateries will develop a "memory" and only charge to a certain level. This happens especially if they are put on charge before they are completely drained. To solve this, most of the new chargers have some sort of way of completely discharging the batteries built into the circuitry. This doesn't sound like your problem though. My guess is you have a faulty charger. An easy way to determine if it's charging is if the batteries are warm while on charge. They should be. Probably even hot once fully charged.
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06/10/2003 10:55:32 PM · #3 |
I also have a quick charger. It charges my batteries in about 30min. or so. The display on my camera show the batteries to have only about one half of the charge in compairison to charging them in the camera.
So, the charge seems to work with its speed service but I pay with losing actual duration time. actually I get about 2 1/2 hours on rapid charger and about 3 1/2 hours on camera.
un-sure about your issue since there are several senerios you pose.
one battery. |
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06/11/2003 07:47:38 AM · #4 |
| My camera can't charge the batteries. My old charger took about 13 hours which is ridiculous. And yes, my batteries do get hot when they are charged. I haven't tried using either set since charging them yet, so I don't know if there is going to be a problem there. And I haven't charged the batteries before they are fully run down, so that can't be the problem. |
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06/11/2003 07:55:46 AM · #5 |
I'm assuming that you have purchased typical consumer rechargeables like Lithium or Nickel Cadmium, but for a device like a digital camera you should consider adopting a Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery system. I say "system" because you will need a special charger for NiMH batteries. The charger plus batteries will, on the surface, seem expensive.
I don't have a choice with my camera, but I use them for my flash which would normally chew through batteries like a baby goes through diapers. I prefer the GP brand, but the Maha's are also quite good.
Here are some links to various resources:
Steve's Digicams' NiMH battery/charger info
Steve's Digicams' info on the Maha C204F charger (highly recommended charger)
The Great Battery Shootout (A must read)
Even if you don't want to use NiMH, do consider replacing your charger with (a good) one like the Maha C204F so that you're ready for the switch in future.
The "memory" problem to which orussell refers is an issue with NiCD, not NiMH. |
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06/11/2003 09:45:00 AM · #6 |
Speaking of batteries, if there is one thing that I found absolutely amazing with the Nikon D100, is the incredible battery power! When I first bought the camera a few months ago, the battery charge showed full so I didn't recharge when I got home. It was at least 3 weeks before I had to charge the battery for the first time and I have maybe recharged the battery a total of 4 times! I can go approximately 500 shots per charge, and that includes downloading from the camera with battery power, not external power!
......sorry that it has nothing to do with your issue.
I would agree that the nickel metal hydride are very good. I used those with my 990 and it was a significant improvement! |
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06/11/2003 07:43:06 PM · #7 |
| My batteries are NiMH, and are your preferred GP brand. This is the first time I have had any problems with them. My charger is made by Sony, so it should be a decent one. I don't think there is the same choice available in South Africa that there is in some countries and I really could not get too much information when I bought it, but it is a big improvement on the one that took 13 hours. I had to charge 3 sets of batteries last night (one set of AAA for my alternate camera (Sony U-10)) and managed it without any problems. |
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