battery bafflement

[bcorton]

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I had a real surprise which has occasioned a couple of questions.

 

I don't take my R9/DMR out as often as I used to and it has seemed to me for a while now that the life of my two batteries has decreased dramatically. So this past weekend I decided to check things out properly. I charged both of my original equipment batteries, then ran both of them down until they gave it up. I was grading student papers, so I'd grade a few paragraphs and then shoot off 5 shots in quick succession (continuous mode), grade a little more and repeat. One battery gave me 385 shots before biting the proverbial; the other, a slacking 360. I even chimp'd a little with the playback just to impart some token verisimilitude.

 

So am I right in assuming that these batteries do not hold their charge over long periods very well? —because they obviously do OK when freshly charged.

 

Also, at what point do people decide its time for a rebuild typically? I've had mine for six years now.

 

Brent

 

'Great surprise, but I didn't get many papers graded.

[wildlightphoto]

I get them rebuilt when a freshly-charged battery doesn't show a full charge.

[bcorton]

Thanks, Doug.

 

(I was hoping someone would give me some practical advice.)

 

Brent

[jaapv]

385 shots is not too bad for a DMR.

[bcorton]

Hi Jaap,

 

Thanks. Yes it is. Strangely, they never seem to do nearly that well in real use, which is why I became concerned. Still, I figure I can well live with these batteries for a while longer. I just hope Michael Bass is still rebuilding DMR batteries when these finally do punk it.

 

Cheers,

 

Brent

[roguewave]

385 shots is not too bad for a DMR.

 

I agree. I never chimp and that makes a big difference. Also, I nearly never shoot multiple frames by just depressing the button. First, it doesn't get you better frames, unless it's sports related and most subjects don't react well to it. It ruins the mood. One problem is that in colder weather, the weaker batteries don't last nearly as long. I still have the same 5 batteries when I bought the R8/DMR kit. I always recharge them at least 2 or 3 times a week so that they remain full.

 

One little trick I have found to be useful: After each charging I remove the charger from the wall socket and after a few minutes I put the charger, with the battery already plugged into charger cord, back into the wall socket. Inevitably, it continues to charge for at least 4-5 minutes and in normal weather all is well. The cold is a killer on the batteries.