Leica SL battery life?

[frame-it]

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34 minutes ago, SrMi said:

The battery “life” depends more on LCD and EVF use than on number of shots. The biggest battery drain is EVF, therefore, extended mode is recommended (LCD off, EVF with eye sensor). 

 

and using AF lenses, lasts a lot longer with MF R/M lenses

[Shepherdphotographer]

6 minutes ago, frame-it said:

and using AF lenses, lasts a lot longer with MF R/M lenses

Of course, for example, since I've only used manual lenses with my Nikon D810, I've seen its battery life triple!

[laowai_]

On 2/18/2023 at 12:55 AM, dem331 said:

Someone on this forum suggested to always run the batteries down before charging them. Great advice.

This has helped me to significantly increase battery performance on M8/M240/SL2. Previously I was often recharging when they were 50% full.

This is very interesting to hear. I have to privilege to work with battery scientists occasionally. As u understand it, theoretical models and measured data show that lithium ion cells do not like to be drained completely and they do not like to be fully charged either. You have a limited number if full charge/discharge cycles and a lot more Patrick charge/discharge cycles.

For the longest lifetime you would keep your battery around 60% to 80% state of charge, depending on the exact chemistry.

The old NiCad batteries had ‘memory effect’ and you had to fully discharge them periodically. This is no longer true for Lithium based rechargeable batteries.

[dem331]

7 hours ago, laowai_ said:

This is very interesting to hear. I have to privilege to work with battery scientists occasionally. As u understand it, theoretical models and measured data show that lithium ion cells do not like to be drained completely and they do not like to be fully charged either. You have a limited number if full charge/discharge cycles and a lot more Patrick charge/discharge cycles.

For the longest lifetime you would keep your battery around 60% to 80% state of charge, depending on the exact chemistry.

The old NiCad batteries had ‘memory effect’ and you had to fully discharge them periodically. This is no longer true for Lithium based rechargeable batteries.

Thanks for this. You obviously know a lot more about it than I do. My comment is based on what my son calls “bro-science”.  Here are the links I was referring to:

And my own experience:  

I’m really not sure how to go about recharging, specially on the M8. 

[laowai_]

2 hours ago, dem331 said:

Thanks for this. You obviously know a lot more about it than I do. My comment is based on what my son calls “bro-science”.  

Hi Dem331,

Thank you for the references. It’s hard to argue against personal experience.

In general, battery manufacturers and battery researchers argue against deep discharge and against fully charging lithium ion batteries. 
 

Here are a few easily accessible articles on the topic. 
Article by the University of Michigan (tip 3 and 4)

https://news.umich.edu/tips-for-extending-the-lifetime-of-lithium-ion-batteries/
 

Article by Saft (point 5). Saft is a French battery manufacturer that also provides batteries to the US military.

https://www.saftbatteries.com/energizing-iot/lithium-ion-batteries-use-5-more-tips-longer-lifespan
 

Somewhat older article in electronic design (a popular magazine for the electronic engineering community)

https://www.electronicdesign.com/markets/mobile/article/21190344/proper-care-extends-liion-battery-life?gclid=CjwKCAiA0cyfBhBREiwAAtStHL9K-aRr0_GfjzZte2xZYfTkMae9V-_vf6IvlPZHI7u4YYM_Rper5xoCVPcQAvD_BwE
 

 

 

 

[dem331]

1 hour ago, laowai_ said:

Hi Dem331,

Thank you for the references. It’s hard to argue against personal experience.

In general, battery manufacturers and battery researchers argue against deep discharge and against fully charging lithium ion batteries. 
 

Here are a few easily accessible articles on the topic. 
Article by the University of Michigan (tip 3 and 4)

https://news.umich.edu/tips-for-extending-the-lifetime-of-lithium-ion-batteries/
 

Article by Saft (point 5). Saft is a French battery manufacturer that also provides batteries to the US military.

https://www.saftbatteries.com/energizing-iot/lithium-ion-batteries-use-5-more-tips-longer-lifespan
 

Somewhat older article in electronic design (a popular magazine for the electronic engineering community)

https://www.electronicdesign.com/markets/mobile/article/21190344/proper-care-extends-liion-battery-life?gclid=CjwKCAiA0cyfBhBREiwAAtStHL9K-aRr0_GfjzZte2xZYfTkMae9V-_vf6IvlPZHI7u4YYM_Rper5xoCVPcQAvD_BwE
 

 

 

 

Thanks @laowai_said, 

Interesting reading.
 

I’m really not sure what is going on with my M8 in particular. Maybe I spent many years charging it to full when it was only 80% discharged, since it does not consume much battery, and a total discharge has kind of reset it. I don’t have a scientific explanation! 

 

 

[dem331]

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4 minutes ago, dem331 said:

Thanks @laowai_said, 

Interesting reading.
 

I’m really not sure what is going on with my M8 in particular. Maybe I spent many years charging it to full when it was only 80% discharged, since it does not consume much battery, and a total discharge has kind of reset it. I don’t have a scientific explanation! 

 

 

Doing a bit of Googling I have found this advice on many sites:

“Pro-Tip: After every 30 charges, allow your lithium based battery to completely discharge before recharging. This helps to avoid a condition called digital memory. Digital memory can mess with the accuracy of the power gauge of the device you’re using. By allowing it to discharge completely you will allow the power gauge to reset.”

 

Maybe this is what myself and others are observing. 

 

 

[jaapv]

It is wrong advice for other than vehicle batteries. And it is wrong even there. It prevents the BMU to compensate for the SOH (state of health) of the battery. Otherwise it may need a BMU reset, which in itself is a dubious idea as there are strong indications that battery life will be shortened by the procedure. 

With camera batteries it is a good way to reduce the capacity and longevity. Lithium batteries have no memory effect.

[dem331]

4 hours ago, jaapv said:

It is wrong advice for other than vehicle batteries. And it is wrong even there. It prevents the BMU to compensate for the SOH (state of health) of the battery. Otherwise it may need a BMU reset, which in itself is a dubious idea as there are strong indications that battery life will be shortened by the procedure. 

With camera batteries it is a good way to reduce the capacity and longevity. Lithium batteries have no memory effect.

You’re most likely correct. 
 

Mind you, when batteries start misbehaving it does seem to be worth a try discharging them totally. It seems to have worked for a few of us. 

[Shepherdphotographer]

I knee it to be a problem only for NiMH Batteries, not for Lithium!