10/13/2008

Battery Pack Care and Maintenance

The Do's and Don'ts of Battery Use

Battery Do's:

Fully charge/discharge battery up to 3 cycles before achieving full capacity of a new battery

Fully discharge and then fully charge the battery every two to three weeks for battery conditions.

Run the device under the battery's power until it shuts down or until you get a low battery warning. Then recharge the battery as instructed in the user's manual.

Remove from the device and stored in a cool, dry, clean place if the battery will not be in use for a month or longer,

Recharge the battery after a storage period

Ensure maximum performance of the battery by optimizing the device's power management features. Refer to the manual for further instructions.

Battery Don'ts:

Do not short-circuit. A short-circuit may cause severe damage to the battery.

Do not drop, hit or otherwise abuse the battery as this may result in the exposure of the cell contents, which are corrosive.

Do not expose the battery to moisture or rain.

Keep battery away from fire or other sources of extreme heat. Do not incinerate. Exposure of battery to extreme heat may result in an explosion.


My new battery isn't charging. Is it defective?

Usually NO. New batteries come in a discharged condition and must be fully charged before use. It is recommended that you fully charge and discharge the new battery two to four times to allow it to reach its maximum rated capacity

It is generally recommend an overnight charge (approximately twelve hours). It is normal for a battery to become warm to the touch during charging and discharging.

When charging the battery for the first time, the device may indicate that charging is complete after just 10 or 15 minutes. This is a normal with rechargeable batteries. New batteries are hard for the device to charge; they have never been fully charged and not "broken in." Sometimes the device's charger will stop charging a new battery before it is fully charged. If this happens, remove the battery from the device and then reinsert it. The charge cycle should begin again. This may happen several times during the first battery charge. Don't worry; it's perfectly normal.

How can I maximize the performance of my battery?

There are several steps you can take to help you get maximum performance from your battery:

Prevent the Memory Effect - Keep the battery healthy by fully charging and then fully discharging it at least once every two to three weeks. Exceptions to the rule are Li-Ion batteries which do not suffer from the memory effect.

Keep the Batteries Clean - It's a good idea to clean dirty battery contacts with a cotton swab and alcohol. This helps maintain a good connection between the battery and the portable device.

Exercise the Battery - Do not leave the battery dormant for long periods of time. We recommend using the battery at least once every two to three weeks. If a battery has not been used for a long period of time, perform the new battery procedure described above.

Battery Storage - If you don't plan on using the battery for a month or more, store it in a clean, dry, cool place away from heat and metal objects. NiCad, NiMH and Li-Ion batteries will self-discharge during storage; remember to recharge the batteries before use.
 
Battery Recommendation

10/09/2008

Re: How to Pick a Digital Camera

  • First of all, you must get to know your device:
    • What is device's input voltage? ( V)
    • What is its power consumption ( Wattage ) ?
    • What is Maximum current drain ( A) ?
    • What is your expected running time by a battery pack ?
  • Decide battery pack voltage you will choose
    • Battery pack voltage must be equal or a little higher than your device's need.
    • If you need a exact voltage, which battery pack can not provide, you may consider to use a DC-DC regulator
  • Decide Battery pack's Capacity  ( mAh or Ah)
  • Battery capacity is depended on how long you need to run your device ( hours ), which can be calculated as the follow:
  • ( Ah) = Device's Wattage (W) x Time to run ( Hours) / Battery Voltage (V)
  • For example, if using a 12V battery pack, and run 10W DC device for 10 hours, you need choose a battery pack with capacity > 8.3Ah, e.g

( 10x10)/12 = 8.3

  • 1000 mAh = Ah,  higher mAh will provide longer running time.
  • Decide Battery pack's Max. discharging current
    • Before order battery pack, you must pay attention on battery pack's Max. discharging rating on the specification or description. Please don't think any battery can take any current drain.
    • You shall know your device's max. discharging current. If you don't know , you must measure it by a multi-meter.
    • The battery pack's Max. discharging rate of the chosen Battery must be higher than that device requires
  • Choose Li-Ion, NiMH or Lead acid battery?
  • All types of rechargeable battery will work for you. Question is size and weight. The table below lists the advantages and disadvantages of these batteries for your reference

Chemistry

Cost

Weight

Temp

Cycle

Shelf Life

Volts

 

 

 

( ℃)

Life

(months)

per cell

Lead Acid

$$

Very Heavy

-65 to 80

300

12

2.0

Nickel Cadmium

$$

Heavy

-20 to 65

500+

6

1.2

Nickel Metal Hydride

$$$

Moderate

-10 to 65

500

12

1.2

Lithium Ion

$$$$

Light

-20 to 60

500+

12

3.7

Lithium Polymer

$$$$$

Light

-20 to 60

500+

12

3.7

  • Li-Ion batteries has the highest energy density ( mAh/weight), and become more and more popular. However, Li-Ion may explode and cause a fire if it dose not use properly.
  • In current stage, we always suggest customer to use NiMH battery pack for high current application ( < 1C rate ), not Li-Ion , because Li-ion  protection in high current application still is not matured yet
  • Choose a Battery Charger
    • Please always follow our suggestion to choose a smart charger. So called smart charger must has automatic power cut-off function when battery is full.
    • Never use NiMH battery charger for Li-ion battery pack, it will cause battery exploded
    • Always charging your battery with attention, and put battery in a fire-proof container ox box to avoid any accident.
  • Understand risk to use NiMH and Li-ion battery. Please read our safety warning before buying a battery
Camera Battery Recommendation:
Canon NB-1LH
Canon NB-2LH
Casio NP-20

Re: How to Pick a Digital Camera

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Canon NB-2L camera battery is a replacement camera battery for canon cameras

Canon NB-2L Battery[http://www.canon-digital-camera-battery.co.uk/batteries/canon-nb-2l.htm] fits for Powershot S30/S40/S45/S50/S60/S70,etc