Looking after rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders. Maximising battery life.

Looking after your battery.

Initial Charge Cycle: New batteries should be charged for 14-16 hours continuously. All batteries require a "break-in" period, so don't be alarmed if your battery doesn't hold a full charge right away. A new battery may show false full charge as indicated on your phone or charger after a short charging period, if this happens ignore the charging indicator and leave the battery charging for the recommended period. Also the battery may not power up the phone when brand new because of low voltage, it is not unusual for the phone to require several minutes charge before it begins to show that it is charging. For the first 3 - 5 cycles, please be sure to charge the battery fully and drain it fully before recharging. This will properly condition the battery and will ensure that it will operate at its maximum capacity.

Memory Effect: If you have a NiMh battery that is only usually discharged to 50% of its capacity, it will eventually not run below that 50% and in effect will lose the part of its capacity which is not used. Therefore it is advisable to allow a NiMh battery to discharge occasionally.

How to maximize the life of your Battery: Don’t leave your rechargeable batteries dormant for extended periods. Camcorder and Digital Camera batteries in particular are often left unused for months at a time, and if left in a discharged state for a long period will sometimes not then accept a charge, it is advisable to charge them before storage. Batteries that sit idle for extended periods of time without charging begin to lose their ability to hold a charge and will self-discharge, so remember to charge them again before use. Always store batteries in a cool, dry place away from metal objects. Li-ion batteries will deteriorate if store in a warm environment.