Rechargeable AA Batteries - Help Please!

Phil T

Phil T

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Phil Tufnell
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Hi All - I'm finding that the GP2100 NiMH batteries I bought have suddenly started playing up. I've left them on charge for 24hrs & only got maybe 30 flashes per set (failing at the worst possible time, naturally). What do you guys & girls use as I don't want to be let down like this again?
I'm using them in the Nikon SB800 flash unit.
Thanks in advance
Phil
 
Have you tried dischargin the batteries fully before chargin again phil? If you're flash can fir manuall I'd suggest sticking it on full and hitting the test button til it's dead. Then lower the power setting to half and do it again thne keep going down til it won't fire on the weekest setting. Then leave the batteries in and the flash switched on and that should finish them off. If you have tried dischragin them fully before chargin then that's me out of ideas I'm afraid.
 
Thanks Kev - I'll give it a go. It's weird that it's just suddenly started happening.
 
Maybe you are leaving the batteries charging too long - 24 hrs seems a bit excessive for 2100mAh batteries, has your charger auto circuitry that shuts the charging off when charged? Or there may be a fault with the charger. There is no need to discharge NiMH batteries, this was something only required with NiCd batteries, NiMH batteries don't suffer from memory problems. I use Fujicell 2700mAh batteries in our camera (Fujifilm S602Zoom), they are the best I've tried and last quite a while. If interested we got them from http://www.rapidbatteries.com
 
There is a new type of ready to use NiMH battery available now, it is a rechargable with a long charge shelf life (up to a year).

Ideal if you periodically need a camera or flash, no waiting for the batteries to charge first.

Look for "ready to use NiMH"
 
I use 2800 mAh batteries from 7day

They have a fantastic life span in my 430ex, and when they do start to take longer to recycle the flash, I bang in a spare set of 2500's from the same place.
 
Yup, go to 7dayshop, £3.50 odd for a set of 4 2700mAH, I have 3 sets now.
 
I use the Vapextech ones off ebay. £5 delivered for four 2700mah. Works out cheaper than 7dayshop if you only want one set and the batteries are great.
 
I've had similar problems with rechargeables, get yourself a battery tester from Maplin for a couple of quid.
you'll probably find 3 of the 4 are fully charged, and one has died prematurely.
identify the dead one and give it a full charge. if it dies again BIN IT ..
 
If you have continually recharged them before they are fully discharged they can suffer from the dreaded 'memory' effect. This is a phenomenon where the battery starts to be capable of only retaining a charge typical of the average use it has been given. It is possible to recover from this by completely discharging and then fully recharging the battery several times, but to be honest, AA batteries are so relatively cheap these days I'm not sure it's worth the bother. As Dave has said, it is worth investing in a cheap multimeter to test your batts though.
 
Bought two sets of 2500mah AA Nimh in Lidl today for £1.99 a set.
 
Talking of rechargeables! I bought some Energizer 2200mh batteries with a 15 minute recharger for £15 at Morrisons a couple of weeks ago. On 1 15 minute charge they have lasted just over two weeks in my camera and I have taken over 500 photo`s of about 150 with flash. They are on their second charge now!
 
chrisneil said:
Maybe you are leaving the batteries charging too long - 24 hrs seems a bit excessive for 2100mAh batteries, has your charger auto circuitry that shuts the charging off when charged? Or there may be a fault with the charger. There is no need to discharge NiMH batteries, this was something only required with NiCd batteries, NiMH batteries don't suffer from memory problems. I use Fujicell 2700mAh batteries in our camera (Fujifilm S602Zoom), they are the best I've tried and last quite a while. If interested we got them from http://www.rapidbatteries.com
Click to expand...

I can recommend the Fujicell 2700mAh AAs as well. I'd never even heard of them before but they are the best batteries I've ever used. I got mine from http://www.battery-box.co.uk
 
When I did a Nikon flash course last year they recommended a min of 2300mah. I use Uniross 2500 and have just brought a 2nd set.
 
Sanyo Eneloops for me. Can't recommend them highly enough for occasional use, because if you return to the, say flashgun a week later, the same charge will be in batteries as when you last used it..

Cheers
 
Ditto Sanyo Enoloops. Awesome batteries. sad as that may sound. :-)
 
chrisneil said:
Maybe you are leaving the batteries charging too long - 24 hrs seems a bit excessive for 2100mAh batteries, has your charger auto circuitry that shuts the charging off when charged? Or there may be a fault with the charger. There is no need to discharge NiMH batteries, this was something only required with NiCd batteries, NiMH batteries don't suffer from memory problems. I use Fujicell 2700mAh batteries in our camera (Fujifilm S602Zoom), they are the best I've tried and last quite a while. If interested we got them from http://www.rapidbatteries.com
Click to expand...

Thanks, just the link I was looking for. My second camera is a Fuji e900 and I find fuji brand batteries last for ages, but any other make soon run out. I couldn't find anyone who sold these though. Many thanks for a useful link.:thankyou:
 
have you got yourself a battery tester?
you will probably find 3 of the 4 are OK one will be a duffer, but it will take the others down too.
get a cheapie from maplins..:thumbs:
 
I didnt know that NiMH batteries suffered from memory loss like Nicad
 
I gave up on rechargies a long time ago - too unreliable. Cheapo packs of AAs from IKEA cost nack all so I can afford to carry 40+ with me without having to worry about where the nearest plug socket is.
 
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