Battery ageing - how to check capacity?

[LocalHero1953]

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I have 5 batteries that are used in random rotation between my SL2-S and Q3-43. One of them is a BP-SCL6 from the Q3-43, and the rest are BP-SCL4 - one or two may date back to my SL(601).

I'm beginning to think that some are losing capacity. Is there any way to measure the remaining capacity of a battery? This would allow me to replace those that are obviously dying without tediously recording my exact usage of each one. Is there a charger that records the amount of charge it adds to a battery (like my EV charger)?

I charge them with the Leica dual charger, and I have a single charger that came with the SL2-S or my former Q2. When selling cameras on, there is no easy means of telling which battery or charger came with which camera.

 

(Please don't tell me I should have labelled every last item of kit and placed it on an equipment register with date of purchase, but then I'm not the sort of person who organises my sock drawer either).

[jaapv]

I marked my batteries with Tippex, making it easy to keep track of them. Nitecore chargers give good information

 

[LocalHero1953]

24 minutes ago, jaapv said:

I marked my batteries with Tippex, making it easy to keep track of them. Nitecore chargers give good information

 

Do they tell you the current capacity of the battery, or just the as-new rating? Or how much charge they have added in a session?

Edited July 6 by LocalHero1953

[jaapv]

No, they report the mA level, mA charged, Voltage and battery condition. 

[LocalHero1953]

I may have to get one. 

[frame-it]

3 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

I may have to get one. 

just make sure its plugged into a proper rated power source, a lot of early complaints were from people who simply plugged it in anywhere and then grumbled about the battery being undercharged or damaged

Edited July 7 by frame-it

[LD_50]

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6 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

I may have to get one. 

I remember reading recently Nitecore doesn't support the SCL6 battery. I haven't tried my Nitecore with either of my SCL6 batteries, but you may want to research before attempting. 

[LocalHero1953]

2 hours ago, LD_50 said:

I remember reading recently Nitecore doesn't support the SCL6 battery. I haven't tried my Nitecore with either of my SCL6 batteries, but you may want to research before attempting. 

Mixed reports. Some (@Le Chef?) say they have had no problems; others that the charger ignores the BP-SCL6, or registers an error (I think most of these were reports from a couple of years ago). Some say that earlier versions of the charger had a bug that was corrected.

It's actually the older BP-SCL4 batteries I want to test. The Leica USB-C dual charger is fine for charging both batteries - but gives none of the info the Nitecore gives.  

[LocalHero1953]

I've ordered the Nitecore charger.

Thank you, everyone, for your advice!

Edited July 7 by LocalHero1953

[jaapv]

6 hours ago, LD_50 said:

I remember reading recently Nitecore doesn't support the SCL6 battery. I haven't tried my Nitecore with either of my SCL6 batteries, but you may want to research before attempting. 

I guess my (older) Nitecore charger didn’t read that.