Rechargeable batteries + digital camera ?

Question

How did it help you ? Is it worth my 20$ ? I have regular batteries in my 5mp camera and the batteries die so QUICK!! What can i do?

Answer 1

Yes, it helps alot! I get 100 to 200 shots on a pair of rechargeable AA's.

Make sure you get NiMH batteries rated at least at 2100 ma.

Costco has a Sanyo kit of 6 AA's (2500ma), 2 AAA's and a compact, fast charger for $18.

Good Luck

Answer 2

It does not look like there at present are any rechageable AA lithium ion batteries. i think of this is especially with the aid of actuality that lithium ion cells have a plenty larger voltage (3.6 volts) than AA batteries (a million.5 volts). i've got self assurance some cameras that take AA batteries even have rechargeable lithium ion battery packs yet those packs are particular to the digital camera. 2 issues i think of you need to do. purchase the optimal potential NiMH batteries you will locate ( 2900maH). Or in case you have already got a bunch of NimH batteries, charge all of them up and then using a digital meter study the voltages on them. hit upon a pair that has the optimal voltages and use those. you are able to locate that pair final somewhat longer.

Answer 3

Definatley! But make sure you get a Good one like energizer or rayovac, the cheap ones suck. Saves you SO much money and they last longer than the "real" ones. They say you can recharge them 1000 times, I've been using the same batteries for over a year now.

Answer 4

Your batteries die quicky because of the power drain and power density of the cells you are using.

First, regular non-rechargeable cells come in 4 flavors, regular carbon-zinc, heavy duty (beefed up carbon-zinc) and alkaline, and then the real high end, Lithium. Each has a different "power density." The power density is the electrical capacity versus the physical size. Higher power density means a cell of the same size with a higher power density lasts longer. Alkaline obviously has a higher power density over carbon-zinc, so lasts quite a while longer, lithium even moreso, but at quite a price per cell. Think of it as a bank balance. Each picture consumes about the same amount of power, so if you start with a higher balance, you get more pictures before the batteries die. That said, recharageable batteries come with a price as well in addition to the higher per cell initial cash outlay, lower terminal voltage. Terminal voltage comes with the chemical reactions going on in the cell. Rechargbles come in 3 common flavors, Nickel-metal-hydride (NiMh), nickel-cadmium (NiCd) and lithium-ion (LiOH). Typically, a rechargeable cell runs about 1.2 to 1.3 volts at full charge. Non-rechargeables typically run 1.5 volts when new. This voltage difference can be significant in use. NiCd are the lowest power density, NiMh in the middle and LiOH the highest. Each costs proportionatly more per cell initially. Each requires a specific type of charger! The higher power density of the NiMh cells makes them a good choice for a couple of reasons. Higher power density than NiCd and not prone to the "memory effect" which plagues the NiCd's. Memory effect iwith a NiCd is when you discharge it 50% and then recharge. Over time, if you do this repeatedly at 50%, the cell "remembers" it only was discharged to 50% and stops delivering power at that point. The key to avoiding memory effect is to discharge completey before recharge with a NiCd. NiMh cells do not suffer from this memory effect. A typical NiCd cell has about 60% the power density of a comparable NiMh cell and costs much less. A typical NiMh cell has about 60% the power density of a LiOH cell and also costs less comparatively speaking. LiOH cells have a problem, they require very specialized charging to keep them healthy. Overcharging even a little bit will destroy a LiOH cell in minutes. NiMh are a little more forgiving on overcharging, but not much. NiCd's are the worst for having the ability to survive overcharging, as thy just go open circuit and die as the electrolyte evaporates out of the cell. If you choose to go the rechargeable route, you MUST get the appropriate cell charger to prevent damage from overcharging. Most people I know who were disapponted with rechargeables were so because they did not have the correct method for recharge. I use NiCd's in my amateur radios, and have the appropriate chargers, and my NiCd's have lasted for many years. Recently, I switched to NiMh, and adjusted my chargers accordingly and am enjoying success with the new NiMh cells in my radios, and I have the additional bebefit of higher power density making my radios run longer before I need a recharge.

Now, for the big problem which I referenced earlier, the terminal voltage. Some devices, digital cameras, for example, may not be designed for the lower terminal voltage of a rechargeable battery and see it as a "low battery" condition even though the batteries are fully charged. I have a portable CD/MP3 player in which I use NiMh cells. Even when they are fully charged, it warns me my batteries are "low" when I plug in the NiMh cells. I ignore the warning and go on because I know (through experience) the player will continue to play and not stop until the batteries are really discharged. The low battery warning comes on at 2.5 volts (It uses 2 cells) and I know my fully charged NiMh cels are at this point when fully charged, so a low warning would be expected. The CD player runs fine until the cells finally DO discharge 20 or more hours later. So, here is your problem, does your camera (or other device) complain about a "low voltage" condition and stop working based on the terminal; voltage? If so, then the lower terminal voltage of a fully charged rechargeable is not an acceptable solution and you are stuck with the non-rechargeables since they have the voltage necessary to make the circuitry work correctly. If, like my CD/MP3 player, complaining is one thing but does not stop it from working until the cells are really dead, then rechargeables are a way to make good on an investment. Rechargeables cost more per cell but then you can use them over and over and they pay back the higher cost in only a few recharges. The end result is this: If your device can tolerate the lower terminal voltage (like my CD/MP3 player) and still function until the cells are truly depleted, then go for the NiMh cells and tolerate the initial cost outlay for the benefit over time they provide. If you recharge about 10 or 15 or so times, you will recover the higher cost of rechargeables over standard cell. The caveat is this: you MUST have the right charger for the type of cell you choose to use. The charger is the key to longevity of the cells you recharge. I can NOT stress this enoough! You MUST have the correct charger or your cells will die a premature death and you WILL be disappointed in your results in using rechargeable cells.

On a last note, on the environment, standard batteries only end up in a land-fill whereas most rechargeables are recycleable! So, do the environment a favor, go rechargeable if you can with the correct recharger and recycle them when they finally die as they will eventually do, and buy devices which can tolerate the lower terminal voltage.

Go forth and conquer!

Answer 5

yes i have been using my rechargeable batt, for 6 months. its easy, and they stay charged for days,