NiMH AA's (Not enough to feed my camera)

[Flashanator]

My digital camera (Kodak z650) which runs on AA's, chews the power up on the NiMH's bad. When I use 2 full charged aa's for say 20mins,

(Not constant, few minutes in between I have the camera off)

then go to use them the next day, their dead as a maggot. Somtimes taken beamshots at night on a full charge the low batt sign comes up on my camera, & so I have to put in fresh aa's.


Could my camera's TFT display screen be whats using up all the battery juice?
EDIT: Most times I store my NiMH on a full charge. Then when I go to use them a week later, their almost dead & can't power my camera. This normal? maybe my charger?


ty.

 

[Anders]

Hello Flashanator.

It looks like you have to invest in LSD cells (Low Self Discharge).

NiMh is better than Alkalines, your NiMh cells is bad.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=176437&highlight=eneloop


Anders

 

[Flashanator]

hmmm, Ill look into these Eneloops.



thanks.

 

[Glock40]

sounds to me like your cells are bad for some reason. Maybe they are old or maybe they have been overcharged or over discharged. What kind of charger are you using?

 

[Alan B]

Regulator NiMH should not discharge that quickly. You have one or more bad cells.

I bought a new set of 4 Energizers recently. One of them behaves this way. The other 3 appear to be okay. It is just a bad cell.

-- Alan

 

[Flashanator]

Here is my charger.



Not sure exactly what type it is. If memorie serves me correct, when the green light goes off the batts are charged. But ive noticed lately the green light stays on even after a hole day of charging.

EDIT:::: I have 8 aa NiMHs & performance wise, all are the same. Me thinks its my cahrger.

later.

 

[jugg2]

My uncle has a bunch of NiMh cells for his RC cars, and the energizers have all died on him after less than a year. The other cells (not sure of brand) are still fine.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Flashanator 500 mW,

The problem is most likely with your 2500 mAh cells. These are known to have lots and lots of issues. All brands have been affected, but Energizer seems to have more than their share of problem cells.

Tom

 

[cave dave]

The energizer 2500's are well known to be poor performers. There are several threads on this topic.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=160139

Out of 12 I've bought over the last two years 2 were bad straight from the package and only 3 are still viable today.

 

[Flashanator]

I was lead to beleive the energizer NiMH were a gun, LOL.

My energizer aa NiMH are over a year old, so.

If I get aa eneloops batteries, can i charge them on my current charger? Is my current charger good enough?

Later.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

AA LSD batteries (eneloop,hybrid, etc) should charge on any nimh charger. If you have a voltmeter charge those suspected batteries and let them sit for a few days unused and not in any device then measure the voltage. If it is less than 1.3v (usually around 1.1v or less) then most likely you have a bad 2500 energizer. I was given a handful with a 15 min charger I bought from a CPF member and they have to be charged almost daily to be used they go flat that fast sometimes. I have 2300 energizers that work after 2-3 weeks in things while the 2500 wont work after but a few days. I have rayovac hybrids I got months ago that still have perhaps 85% charge from the factory in them I have yet to use. If you use anything on rare occasions not weekly and definately not but once a month the LSD (low self discharge) eneloops and other similar competing brands are highly recommended. I believe that charger is a 2 battery/channel smart charger so if one of the two batteries is bad it may not correctly charge either of them fully.

 

[ltiu]

I have Duracell 2650 NiMH and a Nikon CoolPix L11.

I have a similiar issue where after about 30 minutes of non-stop movie shooting or flash photo shooting, I get a low battery warning. But I ignore it and the camera keeps on going anyways. If I turn off the camera and let it rest for maybe 5 minutes, then turn it on again, the low battery warning goes away.

 

[Paladin]

IMO the problem is the lower NiMh voltage causes the camera to think the cells are run down. Mine always was givng a low battery warning and shutting itself off. Now I just feed it Duracell Alkaline cells and it works pretty well, and goes a long time between needing new cells. I should mention I was using the same charger and cells as the original poster.

Paladin

 

[matrixshaman]

Take SilverFox's word on these Energizers - he's one of our best battery Guru's. The Eneloop AA's will likely fix your problem.

 

[Anders]

Paladin: You may find this thread interesting.


Anders

 

[amanichen]

IMO the problem is the lower NiMh voltage causes the camera to think the cells are run down. Mine always was givng a low battery warning and shutting itself off. Now I just feed it Duracell Alkaline cells and it works pretty well, and goes a long time between needing new cells. I should mention I was using the same charger and cells as the original poster.

Paladin

+1. Many consumer electronics do not have any real voltage or power regulation and things like cameras are notorious for this.

 

[TorchBoy]

things like cameras are notorious for this.

Supposedly high capacity NiMH cells, especially the Energizer 2500mAh, are notorious for high self discharge, which I suspect is where you get that idea. Don't blame the camera for poor batteries.

 

[mdocod]

alkalines sag to well below NIMH voltages after only using about 10-20% of their capacity, so the lower voltage of the NOMH has nothing to do with the issue. lousy NIMH cells is the problem. Get eneloops and enjoy.

 

[BlackDecker]

Another option if you can't find Sanyo Eneloops locally is the Rayovac Hybrid AA's available at any Wal-Mart. They are LSD like the Sanyo's, and cost about the same, too.

If you have a Circuit City near you, you can currently buy a 8pack of the Eneloop AA's for $14.96.

 

[grandeyota]

If I get aa eneloops batteries, can i charge them on my current charger? Is my current charger good enough?

Later.

Thats the exact same charger I use with my eneloops. It's not the best but it gets the job done.