Alkaline batteries are throwaways that are relatively inexpensive and available in many stores. However, they cannot power cameras as long as lithium or properly charged rechargeable ones can. And picture takers who do not take many photos should remove the batteries when not using the camera because they sometimes leak.
Rechargeable batteries can be used for hundreds, if not thousands, of photo-taking sessions. Nickle cadium (NiCd) and nickle metal hydride (NiMH) are the two types. Usually the battery type is printed on the battery. And if a battery is rechargeable, the words for rechargeable are printed on it too in the language of the country where the batteries are manufactured and/or sold. Though NiMH batteries keep a camera operating longer than NiCd ones do, rechargeable batteries do not last indefinitely. Eventually they lose their capacity to hold a charge.
How to Help Rechargeable Batteries Hold Their Charge
Even fully charged rechargeable batteries will start to lose some of their charge after only a few days at room temperature. Stop this loss by placing the batteries in a plastic bag and storing then in the freezer. The batteries will remain good for several months. Let them come to room temperature before using.. Overcharging will shorten battery life as will letting batteries lose their charge without charging them. Heat and cold also negatively affect battery charge.
Sometimes NiCd batteries that seem ready for the trash heap can be made useable by discharging them before charging them. NiCd batteries routinely lose voltage,and when they do their last weakest state is" locked in" the battery. So when they lose their effectiveness because the charge is low, perform a discharge-charge cycle several times. Discharging before charging lets the battery be charged with "a clean slate, or no residual weak charge so to speak. After this process, the batteries should perform well again if poor storage was not the problem. Combination dischargers-chargers are sold for this process.
Rechargeable batteries made with cadmium are said to be more toxic to the environment than NiMH ones. In the United States, NiCd AA and AAA batteries are not often sold today..
Discharging Rechargeable Batteries; How to Determine Charging Time for a Simple Charger
Usually, only NiCd batteries should be discharged. In fact, discharging NiMH batteries can harm them. The Green Batteries website states that only NiMH batteries that are used and charged every day should be discharged and then only infrequently. Do not charge NiMH batteries in chargers designed only for NiCd chargers because these chargers can damage NiMH batteries.
Some less sophisticated chargers rely on the user to charge the battery for an approximate number of hours as determined by the manufacturer of the charger. This imprecise charging method might lead to overcharging. If the user knows the capacity of the battery and the charge rate of the charger being used, the dcviews website offers a method to calculate the number of hours for charging. The capacity of the battery is expressed in mAh (milliampere-hours) and is usually printed on the battery. The charge rate is usually found on the charger's instruction sheet.
Of course, the better chargers are easier to use and conserve battery life because they let the user know when the battery is fully charged through a signal such as a ready light and then stop charging.
Pre-charged Batteries
Some rechargeable batteries can be used right out of the package. These "pre-charged" batteries can sit on the store shelf or be left in the camera for a long time and still hold the charge for almost a year. Rechargeable batteries that are not pre-charged should probably be charged before the first use because the user does not know how long they have been on the shelf. If a NiMH battery that is not pre-charged is kept at room temperature, it should be charged about once a month.
Lithium BatteriesThese are throw-away batteries that can be left in cameras for long periods of time, perform well in extreme weather and hold their charge for up to 10 years.
Finally, if using rechargeable batteries always carry a back-up set of fresh batteries whether they be alkaline, pre-charged, or lithium.
Linda N. Riggins - I have written freelance articles for Victorian Homes,Catholic Digest, the Old Farmer's Almanac, Fine Homebuilding, the Christian Science ...
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