| Re: Digital Camera Batteries [message #67086 is a reply to message #67080] |
Sun, 17 April 2011 00:32   |
Thermionic
Messages: 208
Registered: May 2009
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Master |
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| Shane wrote on Sat, 16 April 2011 20:28 | If you get rechargeables, invest in a good charger like a Maha, as they won't abuse your batts.
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Yes, definitely! Your batteries will last longer if you use a top-notch trickle charger. Whatever you do, avoid speed chargers! A 30 minute charge time might be very attractive, but your batteries wear out far faster. No wonder there; they get so hot while charging in one of those things that you can hardly touch them.
I've used inexpensive, generic AA NiMh cells in our church's wireless mics for about 3 years now. One batch charges while one is in use. They finally began wearing out around 2 months ago, and I replaced them with better quality ones. I'd always used a standard, non-electronic trickle charger, which I replaced at the same time with an Ultra microprocessor-controlled charger.
The Ultra is very similar to the Maha that Shane uses. It shows you how much charge each battery has, and will even tell you when it's worn out and needs to be replaced. It has a discharge function, to completely drain the cells before charging. NiMH cells don't form a "memory" the way that NiCads do, nevertheless completely draining them every now and then supposedly extends their useful life.
In summary, I got three years and far in excess of 250 charges out of each set of generic NiMH cells, that were charged on an old-school charger. I expect I'll get close to twice that from the better quality cells and microprocessor charger. It's an investment that'll no doubt pay for itself many times over, just like the old cells and charger did. Going through six or eight Duracells per week is a mighty pricey endeavor, not to mention having them die on you in the middle of a service. With the rechargables, you start with fresh batteries every time. It's a win-win situation.
Thermionic 
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