Question on charging NIMH batteries

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MB_ - 20 Feb 2005 17:27 GMT

We use NIMH batteries in our Canon A75 digital camera. They work fine and I
normally recharge them when they are just about out of charge.

But, we are going on vacation soon. I would guess that the current batteries
are maybe half-charged. Can I just charge them up now, or would this shorten
the ultimate battery life?

MB

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Rick Brandt - 20 Feb 2005 17:37 GMT

> We use NIMH batteries in our Canon A75 digital camera. They work fine
> and I normally recharge them when they are just about out of charge.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> MB

Battery "memory" is mostly urban legend and not even that for NIMHs.

Charge away.

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SleeperMan - 20 Feb 2005 18:06 GMT

> We use NIMH batteries in our Canon A75 digital camera. They work fine
> and I normally recharge them when they are just about out of charge.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> MB

Kind off depends on your charger type. If it's slow one (that's 14 or more
hour), it doesn't matter much.
If it's quick one, like 1 or 2 hour type, it surely has voltage delta shut
off detection, and so it will stop charging sooner. Only bad side would be
possibly if charger is only time limited and charge time is a few
hours...like 2 - 4, and shut off system is ONLY time, but i don't think you
have such. Such chargers however are quite often shipped with lowest-priced
battery drills - they are usually 3 hour type and mostly they doesnt even
have time counter...so you can destroy battery in one single night if you
don't turn them off by yourself.

But, in short, one time it won't harm anyway. Maybe batteries are
empty...how long do they sit ? Remember that NiMH has typical dischagre rate
of appr. 15 per day, which makes them empty after 3 months of sitting in the
shelf.

In any case extra battery pack or travel charger would come very handy.

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MB_ - 20 Feb 2005 18:19 GMT

Thanks Sleeper. I have the slow trickle charge (Output: 2.8 v=120 mA).

I usually keep it charging for about 24 hours when the batteries are fully
discharged.

So, I guess I'll just charge it overnight (the batteries are not on the
shelf; the camera gets used every 14 days or so)

MB

>> We use NIMH batteries in our Canon A75 digital camera. They work fine
>> and I normally recharge them when they are just about out of charge.
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> In any case extra battery pack or travel charger would come very handy.

Reply to this Message

SleeperMan - 20 Feb 2005 19:06 GMT

> Thanks Sleeper. I have the slow trickle charge (Output: 2.8 v=120 mA).
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> So, I guess I'll just charge it overnight (the batteries are not on
> the shelf; the camera gets used every 14 days or so)

That would be perfectly OK.

> MB
>>> We use NIMH batteries in our Canon A75 digital camera. They work
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>> In any case extra battery pack or travel charger would come very
>> handy.

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J. A. Mc. - 21 Feb 2005 18:28 GMT

Charging more than 2 days before planned use means that your batteries are
already partly discgarged.

I've never seen a 'memory' effect or other reason to avoid charging, even
when just lightly used.

Some brands self-discharge faster than others, so that's the biggest problem
regarding when to charge.

>Thanks Sleeper. I have the slow trickle charge (Output: 2.8 v=120 mA).
>
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
>>
>> In any case extra battery pack or travel charger would come very handy.

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Duffaukid - 21 Feb 2005 19:25 GMT

Yes, definitely charge them every time you plan on using your camera
IF you haven't charged them or not.

Also, my camera was designed for akaline batteries so the NIMH work
for hours but give a 'low' reading when fully charged. In my case,
I like to top off the charge after a full charge cycle.

dk

>Thanks Sleeper. I have the slow trickle charge (Output: 2.8 v=120 mA).
>
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
>>
>> In any case extra battery pack or travel charger would come very handy.

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BILL bs.xxxxxxxxxx.corn - 20 Feb 2005 23:38 GMT

>We use NIMH batteries in our Canon A75 digital camera. They work fine and I
>normally recharge them when they are just about out of charge.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
>MB

You can charge them when ever you like, but NIMH batteries have a high
internal discharge rate of 1% a day I have read..

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Daniel - 21 Feb 2005 07:17 GMT

Pretty much all rechargeable batteries have the 1 % discharge loss a day.
And you should occasional fully discharge even the NIMH batteries and then
charge them up again. I have had my NIMH batteries for years and they still
perform very well.

Dan

<BILL bs.xxxxxxxxxx.corn> wrote in message
news:vp7i115uhfeh0edpi75jp5c01ak7iur8gg@4ax.com...

> >We use NIMH batteries in our Canon A75 digital camera. They work fine and I
> >normally recharge them when they are just about out of charge.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> You can charge them when ever you like, but NIMH batteries have a high
> internal discharge rate of 1% a day I have read..

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