Hi,
What charging cycle do people here use to maintain the Mark III batteries. Charging every time it falls below ?? % or above number of flashes?

I am trying to figure the optimum charge cycles for maximum shots and maximum life of the batteries.

Any suggestions?

I charge it when it gets below 10%, or when I'm sure it doesn't have enough juice for the next shoot. I don't worry too much about optimization, since the new batteries are so efficient.

for Li batteries in general it's never a good idea to drain them completely on a regular basis... keeping them topped up is usually best strategy and they don't need any sort of deep cycling. They also do not like extreme heat and have a finite shelf life whatever you do to them (as do all rechargeable batteries to some extent). I read that for storage, 45% charge is optimum.

Not sure if the 1D3 batteries have any specific recommendations.

The camera tells you when to do a conditioning recharge. In red letters too

I have been rotating 2 LPE4s for 5 months now on my 1D3. The camera hasn't yet instructed me to do a reconditioning charge. Generally I charge the batteries when the level indicates 40% or less.

Alistair Watson wrote:
I have been rotating 2 LPE4s for 5 months now on my 1D3. The camera hasn't yet instructed me to do a reconditioning charge. Generally I charge the batteries when the level indicates 40% or less.


it it is wise to do so due to the chemistry in a Li pack starts to deteriorate the day is manufactured. its average lifespan (depending on the user and environment) is about 2-3 years with or without use. so beat them up while you have them. on the point of charge item. the battery itself has designed into it circuitry that prevents both overcharge and overdischarge.

Like this:

HA ! I guess that says it all. How many shutter clicks have you used? I just passed 10,000 after 5 months.

I don't rightly know. I'm about to trip either 40 or 50,000. I'm in my sixth month and I know the counter tripped 3 times.

mogur2 wrote:
HA ! I guess that says it all. How many shutter clicks have you used? I just passed 10,000 after 5 months.

How does the counter work on the 1D3? IIRC you couldn’t see how many shots you’ve taken without sending the camera to Canon. Or am I misunderstanding something?

When I got mine back from 'the fix', it called for the conditioning charge.
I've also found that, since then, I don't get near the shutter count I used to. As a matter of fact, right now, my batt shows 34% charge and shutter count of 372!!!

Has anyone else experienced this??

Barry

I believe the shutter count in the battery screen is shots on that battery, not a true shutter count.

Ive heard 40% is good to keep li-ion stored. So I usually let my batteries shoot til they get to that point,and I don't charge a battery until the night before an event.

Max

nathanlake wrote:
I believe the shutter count in the battery screen is shots on that battery, not a true shutter count.

that is the shutter count on that battery for that charge

Concur. But does anybody else experience only 3-400 shots per charge since the 'fix'??

Right I understand the question now, I've seen no significant decrease, but maybe a decrease all right, I was regularly getting over 3,000 SPC before the fix, now I think it is dropped a bit ~ but then I've the recondition message so that's a plausible explanation for that ~ I'd say.

Certainly nothing as low as you mention.

bshamilton wrote:
Concur. But does anybody else experience only 3-400 shots per charge since the 'fix'??

bshamilton wrote:
Concur. But does anybody else experience only 3-400 shots per charge since the 'fix'??

I'm currently sitting at 798 and 33% (my new-ish Blue Dot), but that's a bit off due to taking some 2, 4, and 8 minute exposures last night.

Swapping 2 x LP-E4 from last May. I have not seen the calibration warning too and I normally re-charge when it hits 10-15%.