Charging eneloop batteries
I use eneloop batteries and so far have been thrilled with their performance. However, afew weeks ago my flash died and when I threw my backup I set of eneloops in they were dead too. This created a big problem for me! Since eneloops are known for their stellar shelf-life and the fact that I shoot with flash so frequently it was probably my fault. I must have forgotten to charge my backup set. Here's my question:
Can charging eneloop batteries before they are fully discharged cause memory? Ever since that happened I would love to charge all of my backup sets of batteries but I have no idea how close to being discharged they are and I do not want them to develop memory. Your advice is extremely appreciated!
Point of reference, I use the OEM eneloop charger. Peety3, I know I should buy the La Crosse BC-700 charger. It's on my list :-)
Re: Charging enepoop batteries
I don't know anything about eneloop batteries. But enepoop batteries are notoriously crappy.
Re: Charging enepoop batteries
I have some batteries that loose power (at a rate of about 1.5% a day) and some that work like the eneloops. While it's not the best practice, I charge nearly every battery that isn't an eneloop-like battery before every shoot (no matter how long its been since my last rodeo). I charge the eneloop-like batteries occasionally, but mostly I keep them for backup. I've never run out of battery power during a shoot--NEVER.
I know my routine may lead to a shorter life of the battery in the long run; however, I consider the cost of missing shots (or having to reschedule a shoot) to be much greater than the cost of another set of batteries.
Just charge your batteries before you shoot. Once they start losing the ability to charge, buy another couple of sets. :-)
Re: Charging enepoop batteries
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Originally Posted by alex
I don't know anything about eneloop batteries. But enepoop batteries are notoriously crappy.
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Oops!!! Hilarious, I'll fix :-)
Re: Charging enepoop batteries
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Originally Posted by Sean Setters
I've never run out of battery power during a shoot--NEVER.
Luckily my "shoot" was my Niece's 1st birthday party and not a paid gig!I was able to just crank up the ISO and continue shooting. I actually had more "backups" in my truck but I was too lazy to go grab them [:$]
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Originally Posted by Sean Setters
Just charge your batteries before you shoot. Once they start losing the ability to charge, buy another couple of sets. :-)
Unless someone with more experience tells me that's the worst thing to do in the world I think I'll follow your advice. I just hope that Costco continues to stock eneloops!
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Re: Charging enepoop batteries
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Originally Posted by Mark Elberson
I just hope that Costco continues to stock eneloops!
If they suddenly stop selling them, you can usually find the Duracell pre-charged batteries (like eneloops) at Wal-mart. The last few times I've gotten batteries, I've gotten them. They're not half bad.
Re: Charging enepoop batteries
I forgot where I read it at, but as I understand the problem of the old Nicad batteries developing a memory has been overcome with modern batteries-----does anyone know if this is the case with rechargable NiMh batteries?
Re: Charging enepoop batteries
Quote:
Originally Posted by bob williams
I forgot where I read it at, but as I understand the problem of the old Nicad batteries developing a memory has been overcome with modern batteries-----does anyone know if this is the case with rechargable NiMh batteries?
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Yes, that is basically true. However, after prolonged use, the batteries' capacity naturally degrades over time. There are some things you can do to aid in a battery's longevity, but in the end you have to decide whether it's worth the extra time and effort.
Re: Charging enepoop batteries
Re: Charging enepoop batteries
Quote:
Originally Posted by bob williams
I forgot where I read it at, but as I understand the problem of the old Nicad batteries developing a memory has been overcome with modern batteries-----does anyone know if this is the case with rechargable NiMh batteries?
I believe that's mostly correct - modern rechargeable batteries have overcome many of those issues It's still recommended that NiMh batteries be conditioned regularly in order to keep them at optimum performance. A charger with a conditioning cycle fully discharges the batteries before recharging them, but not all charges do conditioning.
Re: Charging enepoop batteries
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Originally Posted by WAFKT
I believe that's mostly correct - modern rechargeable batteries have overcome many of those issues It's still recommended that NiMh batteries be conditioned regularly in order to keep them at optimum performance. A charger with a conditioning cycle fully discharges the batteries before recharging them, but not all charges do conditioning.
That's kind of what I was talking about. I've got a pretty decent Maha battery charger that can do conditioning, slow charging, and slow conditioning (which takes a couple of days if I remember correctly). However, I decided long ago that it simply wasn't worth my time to do that. I slow charge my batteries...and that's all I do to aid in their longevity. When they stop working well, I'll buy some more.
Re: Charging eneloop batteries
Lots of great info at http://www.batteryuniversity.com.
Amongst other things, they say that discharging to <1.0V clears memory issues, but the batteries should be exercised every 1-2 months, and definitely no less often than 4 months.
I used to charge batteries after a gig, and again before a gig (if I had advance notice of the shoot). Nowadays, with Eneloops, I charge after a gig. My non-Eneloop batteries are now "set aside" for duty in PocketWizards, where I suspect the power demands are much smaller than flash.
Re: Charging eneloop batteries
NiMh are still prone to memory issues, but not on a single or double abuse basis. It takes them longer to develop the effect but it still happens. To prevent it just discharge them fully atleast every 5-10 cycles (the number I use, others opinions are different im sure). The other option is to go all out custom and use lithium AA rechargable cells (expensive and you have to have a special charger, not to mention potential voltage issues if you dont know what your doing). My general rule of thumb is to always have a set of non rechargable lithiums that I never use unless the rechargables are dead and then replace them after use (and use them in another device around the house that isnt as "critical").
Re: Charging eneloop batteries
When im shooting a wedding all day I always carry 2 sets of rechargable 2700 NiMH with me, and a set of pre-charged batteries as backup. After a full day of shooting I only tend to change batteries at about 8PM, and if im not shooting the evening session, thats not a problem.
Re: Charging eneloop batteries
I used Eneloop batteries for wedding so far i'm happy better than my sony.My advice it only last for 200++ continuios flash and it becomes HOT this is the time to remove it and leave it COOL and us Back up.Once it cool it respond normal and after a few shots i will happen again and that the time to recharge it. For me when this happen i will take more than 2 hours to recharge with OEM SANYO charger.
Re: Charging eneloop batteries
I am using Sanyo 2700 mAh NiMH on my 580 EX II. I also have Eneloop as backup (coz they are 2000 mAh only). The 2700 mAh ones seem to be working great except for the long charging time before each use.
Could anyone please educate me whether or not, performance wise (e.g. power, recycling time, etc), rechargeable NiMH batteries work better/worse than power pack (e.g. Canon CP-E4) in general?
Thanks in advance!
Re: Charging eneloop batteries
Depending on how well you keep the Sanyos charged, you could be using the batteries backwards: the non-Eneloops might be rated at 2700mAh, but if they haven't been charged in a week or more, they might provide less results to your flashes than the Eneloops would.
Regarding your question about the Canon power pack, CP-E4, you might not realize that it holds 8 AA batteries that you load into it. Your flash won't be any stronger (i.e. it'll still have a guide number of 58m), but it'll recycle faster, about double if CFn12=1, about triple if CFn12=0. I use the CP-E4s whenever I can, for one of two reasons: to visit the flash less often to change batteries, and/or to get faster recharge times.
Re: Charging eneloop batteries
Thanks peety3.
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Originally Posted by peety3
Depending on how well you keep the Sanyos charged
Every time before use, I fully re-charge all non-Eneloop Sanyo 2700 mAh. I am using the come-with Sanyo's charger so it's very slow. Any good suggestion on charger? Safety (don't wanna cause fire!) and performance are my concern.
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Originally Posted by peety3
Regarding your question about the Canon power pack, CP-E4, you might not realize that it holds 8 AA batteries that you load into it.
Wow, I really didn't know. Good that I ask. So do you still load 8 NiMH batteries?
How about other power packs that are not using AA batteries? Are they good (in terms of power and recycling time)? I know a photog who rented one for a wedding event. His 580 EX II got damaged after 30 minute use of the power pack. He said it might be electric shocked by the pack. Sounds very unsafe.
Re: Charging eneloop batteries
I've not read this thread in detail but I never, ever charge my Eneloops without flattening them first. To do this I use the excellent Lacrosse battery charger. I can't recommend it more - I won't repeat what I and another guy wrote on the Amazon review though, so take a look :).
Re: Charging eneloop batteries
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Originally Posted by waving_odd
Quote:
Originally Posted by peety3
Regarding your question about the Canon power pack, CP-E4, you might not realize that it holds 8 AA batteries that you load into it.
Wow, I really didn't know. Good that I ask. So do you still load 8 NiMH batteries?
How about other power packs that are not using AA batteries? Are they good (in terms of power and recycling time)? I know a photog who rented one for a wedding event. His 580 EX II got damaged after 30 minute use of the power pack. He said it might be electric shocked by the pack. Sounds very unsafe.
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Yep, 8 Eneloops into the CP-E4, 4 Eneloops into the flash. I've now set that CFn to drive the light from the external batteries only. I feel like the slower recharge keeps me from burning up the flashes too much.
AA-powered flashes are built with an expectation of duty cycle, allowing cooling in between shots. Using a big power pack makes it too easy to exceed the duty cycle. I shot a bicycling event, and the paid event dude was downhill from me a bit. He had the 600/4 on a low tripod, and 70-200/2.8 handheld with flash on a battery pack. He rotates amongst 3-4 flashes all morning to keep from burning them up, and told me that many of his flashes have been Canon-refurbished (repaired?) 3-4 times because he's burned them up. That's more than a clear sign to me that it's time for a battery-powered studio strobe (as Strobist has recently covered).
Re: Charging eneloop batteries
This type of battery does not hold a memory. The story about a ni-cad battery holding a memory was pretty much fiction according to battery experts. I nevery had one develop a memory.
I've been using enloops for about a year now, I have3 dozen or more. After 6 months, they still are almost fully charged, so I do not bother to do a recharge before I use them, but I do carry plenty of spares with me. I have 3 flashes that hold 4 batteries each, plus other equipment as well.
Thomas Distributing has some good information about the various types of batteries and their lives.
