Batteries

There are 4 major types of rechargeable batteries in our business, they are

Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd.)
Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-Mh.)
Lithium Ion
Sealed Lead Acid.

The general rules to keep a good healthy battery-
**Never store any kind battery with an empty stomach.
**Always exercise your battery correctly on a monthly base.

They require different ways to keep them healthy.

Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd.) battery---
This kind battery has "Memory " problem, The problem goes like this----
Let's say you only use 50% of the power of this Ni-Cd battery , then you plug the battery back to the charger right the way, After few times, the battery will remember this guy only need 50% power from me.So let's just quit the section he doesn't need. Now you only have half of the power of that battery. Very soon, you will have nothing left, and the problem is not reversible. Once they are gone, they are gone forever.

To prevent this problem, you must drain the power down to zero every time before you recharge it. You may let the battery run the camcorder till it is complete down to nothing, or use the discharge function on the charger to run it all the way down to zero. By this way, A Ni-Cd battery can be recharged up to 500 times.
Here is the routine process to take care a Ni-Cd battery--

After use it, Drain the power down to zero, or discharge it, then go back to recharge it right away.
After fully charged, take the battery out of the charger base, keep it in the shelf.
Every 30 days or so, even if you don't need to use it, You still need to take it out, discharge it, then recharge it. Because every battery will self-drain the power 1 to 3% on the daily base. By the 30th day. The battery may down to zero already. That is the time battery getting hurts.

Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-Mh.) battery---
This kind of battery doesn't have "Memory" problem. You may go back to recharge this kind of battery at any level you want to. You should not use the discharge function button on the charger to discharge a Ni-Mh battery. One out of ten times, if you can use the battery down to zero, it is good for the battery. but you don't need to do it every time.
Here is the routine process to take care a Ni-Mh battery--
After use it, you may go back to recharge it at any level you want to.(A.S.A.P.)
You shall not use the discharge function button on the charger to discharge a Ni-Mh battery.
After fully charged, take the battery out of the charger base, keep it in the shelf.
Every 30 days or so, even you don't need to use it, You still need to take it out, and recharge it. Because every battery will self-drain the power from 1 to 3% on the daily base. By the 30th day. The battery may down to zero already. That is the time battery getting hurts.
Ni-Mh battery can be recharged up to 400 times.

Lithium Ion (Li-On.) battery---
Lithium Ion battery doesn't have "Memory" problem either, You may go back to recharge this kind battery at any level you want to. You shall not use the discharge function button on the charger to discharge a Lithium Ion battery.
This kind battery is much lighter, require much less space. So they can contain much more capacity than a Ni-Cd or Ni-Mh battery. They are representing the newest trend in the battery business.

Here is the routine process to take care a Lithium Ion battery--
After you use it, you may go back to recharge it at any level you want to.(A.S.A.P.)
You shall not use the discharge function button on the charger to discharge a Lithium Ion battery.
After fully charged, take the battery out of the charger base, keep it in the shelf.
Every 30 days or so, even if you don't need to use it, You still need to bring it out, and recharge it. Because every battery will self-drain the power from 1 to 3% on the daily base. By the 30th day. The battery may down to zero already. That is the time battery getting hurts.
Lithium Ion battery only can be recharged up to 300 to 400 times.

Sealed Lead Acid Battery---
Lead Acid battery doesn't have memory problem either, Most of the 12V battery like to use it. If you take care them right, they are the longest lasting battery . Yes, The longest lasting battery . You never complain about your car battery , do you?

Here is how --

You shall not discharge or drain the power down to zero when you are using a Lead Acid battery.
You MUST go back to recharge a lead Acid battery right after you use it.
After fully charged, you must take the battery out of the charger base.
The more often you use a lead acid battery, the longer it will serve you. At least, every 30 days, you MUST recharge it.
Think about your car battery, because you start your car so often, the battery gets to exercise routinely. Then, the generator always pumps the power back to the battery right away. So your car battery always come with 5 years' warranty. Because they known you will take care of it right.
Sealed Lead Acid batteries' life goes by years. Lead Acid needs to be exercised on the monthly base. If you take care of them right, they will work for you 5 years and up.