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Do you keep batteries 100% fully charged or not?

Wolfgang1756
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Do you keep batteries 100% fully charged or not?

It is very convenient to store camera batteries (whether in camera or spare ones) completely full at 100%.

However, like all Lithium Ion batteries, keeping them fully charged for any length of time, is bad for them and shortens their life.

So, what do you do? I am curious...

Thank you.

Mar 31, 2024 at 06:37 AM

Abbott Schindl
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Do you keep batteries 100% fully charged or not?

I store batteries after charging them and let them deplete while in storage. When I need them, I always pop them into a charger before taking them to the field.

For batteries in my cameras, I'll use them until they're depleted to 70-80%, then top them off. Main reason is that R5 high-speed burst mode decreases when the battery charge is too low. My only exception is that if I'm heading out and the camera's battery is less than ~95%, I'll top it off (again, the burst mode limitation).

Most of my batteries are >2 years old and work great. That goes for both OEM and 3rd party batteries.

Mar 31, 2024 at 11:47 AM

skid00skid00
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Do you keep batteries 100% fully charged or not?

I have several dozen LiIon batteries from 10130 to 25800, and camera batteries a decade old.

I always charge to 100%. I have had very few batteries lose significant capacity.

I *do*, however, charge my brand-new smartphone to 80%, and recharge at 50%.

Mar 31, 2024 at 04:36 PM

Wolfgang1756
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Do you keep batteries 100% fully charged or not?

That's nice to know.

In any case, I guess the convenience of having them ready to use fully charged, outweighs any disadvantages.

Apr 01, 2024 at 06:24 AM

wordfool
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Do you keep batteries 100% fully charged or not?

I've learned not to overthink this when it comes to relatively cheap batteries like those for a camera. Yes, it can prolong the life of a Li battery a bit to store it partly depleted and never charge it to 100% but managing that when you need multiple batteries in a day is a PITA so I just charge them to at or near 100% and leave them ready to go at that level.

They slowly lose charge over time in storage so if it's been a while I might top them up before a trip, but otherwise I just don't really think too much about it. There's more to worry about in life than whether a $70 battery might last an extra couple dozen cycles over the course of many years. Just make sure you store them well -- excessive heat is a bigger battery killer than charging habits ever will be.

Apr 05, 2024 at 11:17 PM

DJT2020
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Do you keep batteries 100% fully charged or not?

I have three camera's, I check the charge levels of the batteries in the camera's every couple of months when I have not used them, if they are 50% or less I change the batteries with spare batteries, and recharge them at that time.

Apr 07, 2024 at 07:14 AM

AZHeaven
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Do you keep batteries 100% fully charged or not?

I have 4 Sony OEM batteries. 2 of which are from 2018. Still doing a decent job of holding a charge even after nearly 5 years. And I always charge all my batteries to 100%.

Apr 08, 2024 at 08:00 AM

wangxin311
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Do you keep batteries 100% fully charged or not?

I used to charge 100% for last 10 years, never had any issue, but recently learned probably 80%, so I start this way, not sure if it will make any difference, probably not much

Apr 28, 2024 at 02:27 PM

Max_Pain
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Do you keep batteries 100% fully charged or not?

I only have the one Canon 6DII camera with grip and two Canon oem batteries. After every shoot/event, I charge them to 100% and pop them back in the camera. I'm always ready to go. I've had the camera and these two batteries for several years now with no issues.

Apr 30, 2024 at 10:26 PM

angelafoushee
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Do you keep batteries 100% fully charged or not?

Yes, its a worry about missing anything - always keep my batteries 100% charged with a spare fully charged in my pocket.

May 10, 2024 at 03:20 PM

jeffbuzz
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Do you keep batteries 100% fully charged or not?

Li-ion cells retain higher capacity if only charged and discharged from ~80-20%. Phones and laptops typically have built-in charge limiting software now. Unfortunately, cameras and chargers I've seen do not. So you either have to monitor the charging yourself or just not worry about it. I opt not to worry about it. I am not going to sit and stare at a charger for 2 hours waiting to pounce on it when it gets to 80%. If it ain't automated, it ain't happening.

What I avoid is storing batteries on the charger. When they're fully charged, I take them off. I try to charge them a day before I need them since most bleed a bit of charge each day.

Do not leave li-ion uncharged for months. Set a reminder on your calendar to charge batteries that you don't use regularly. Some batteries are especially sensitive to this. Godox batteries (or at least the lights) seem very sensitive to over-discharge. I have had to "revive" several Godox batteries which had not been used for a few months so they could again be charged.

I think the expectation is camera batteries will be treated terribly and replaced frequently. Most cameras now have some flavor of battery "health" rating. Who knows what that really tests though. I doubt it is measuring capacity. Likely it just reflects a counter of charge/discharge cycles or age.

May 12, 2024 at 02:08 PM

nmerc_photos
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Do you keep batteries 100% fully charged or not?

I have a charging station on my wall that keeps all my batteries, battery banks, head lamps, etc. charged at all times.

That way if I ever need to do an impromptu shoot - it's all ready to go and just needs to be put into a backpack.

I'm not worried about battery life or health. I rarely keep equipment longer than 2 years, and batteries are cheap anyways.

May 13, 2024 at 11:37 AM

selski
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Do you keep batteries 100% fully charged or not?

nmerc_photos wrote:
I have a charging station on my wall that keeps all my batteries, battery banks, head lamps, etc. charged at all times.

That way if I ever need to do an impromptu shoot - it's all ready to go and just needs to be put into a backpack.

I'm not worried about battery life or health. I rarely keep equipment longer than 2 years, and batteries are cheap anyways.

Like this approach! Ive got pretty much all camera brands and the collection of chargers is mind boggling. I do have an in-cabinet organized layout, but I like the wall mounted pegboard style for easier visibility.

May 14, 2024 at 03:23 PM


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