Charging batteries

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jack Ricci
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J

Jack Ricci

I know this is off topic, but I don't know where else to turn since my
computer is down and I am using my neighbor's.

I was given a digital camera (2 megapixels). I bought a charger for the
batteries (AA) and they have been charging for six hours now! There are
some red lights that are supposed to go off when charged. Is that too
long? I don't know who else to ask. I am elderly and not too technically
savvy. It is my first digital camera and I am very hesitant. Thank you
for the help.

Jack
 
I know this is off topic, but I don't know where else to turn since my
computer is down and I am using my neighbor's.

I was given a digital camera (2 megapixels). I bought a charger for the
batteries (AA) and they have been charging for six hours now! There are
some red lights that are supposed to go off when charged. Is that too
long? I don't know who else to ask. I am elderly and not too technically
savvy. It is my first digital camera and I am very hesitant. Thank you
for the help.

Jack
[/QUOTE]
You've left out the important details like milliamphour capacity of the
batteries and brand of charger. Batteries can take 10 hours or more
depending on charge rate. At least AA spare batteries don't cost much.
 
Jack Ricci said:
I know this is off topic, but I don't know where else to turn since my
computer is down and I am using my neighbor's.

I was given a digital camera (2 megapixels). I bought a charger for the
batteries (AA) and they have been charging for six hours now! There are
some red lights that are supposed to go off when charged. Is that too
long? I don't know who else to ask. I am elderly and not too technically
savvy. It is my first digital camera and I am very hesitant. Thank you
for the help.

Jack
Click to expand...

Jack
Are the batteries rechargeable? Sorry to ask the obvious question but normal
batteries are not rechargeable.
If they are rechargeable some of the rechargers can take up to 14 hours. In
that case I would not worry until say 14-16 hours have elapsed.
Tony
 
May I suggest a more specific answer to the rather complicated question,
might be better had from one of the electronic news groups.

You will need to give them not only the size of the battery but the type,
(ie;zinc-carbon, alkaline, magnesium, or cadmium). Also make certain that
you are using the same type of batteries that the camera manufacturer
recommends.

Good luck
Albert
 
Jack said:
I know this is off topic, but I don't know where else to turn since my
computer is down and I am using my neighbor's.

I was given a digital camera (2 megapixels). I bought a charger for the
batteries (AA) and they have been charging for six hours now! There are
some red lights that are supposed to go off when charged. Is that too
long? I don't know who else to ask. I am elderly and not too technically
savvy. It is my first digital camera and I am very hesitant. Thank you
for the help.

Jack
Click to expand...

Jack, take a look at the batteries and see if they are Nickel Metal Hydride
(or NIMH) batteries. If they are, you should also see 1.2 volt for each of them.
NIMH batteries can be safely recharged 1000 times. Each time you can recharge
fully, partially or slightly and it won't hurt them. Just make sure the batteries
don't heat up (slightly warm is normal). Depends on the charger you have it may
take 10 to 12 hours to recharge them. If you are in a hurry just stop any time
and use them. As long the batteries stay cool it is safe to charge them all
day long (if you have forgotten to turn the charger off after 12 hours). If you
have a fast charger it may only take 2 to 4 hours to charge. But it should have
the auto shutoff to stop charging after the batteries are fully charged. The
batteries will be hotter if charged by a fast charger.

If your batteries are NiCd (also 1.2 volt) it will be a different story. I don't
think that will be the case. I am not aware of any digital cameras using NiCd
batteries. Another possibility is your batteries are Lithum rechargable batteries.
They are just like NIMH but have a greater capacity. Again just make sure they
don't get hot when they are charged.

Sam
 
Jack Ricci said:
I know this is off topic, but I don't know where else to turn since my
computer is down and I am using my neighbor's.

I was given a digital camera (2 megapixels). I bought a charger for the
batteries (AA) and they have been charging for six hours now! There are
some red lights that are supposed to go off when charged. Is that too
long? I don't know who else to ask. I am elderly and not too technically
savvy. It is my first digital camera and I am very hesitant. Thank you
for the help.

Jack
Click to expand...

You've had several very good responses to your inquiry. A few more bits of
info on Nimh batteries. The first charge takes longer. The batteries I
purchased most recently had instructions to leave them on the charger
overnight. I have a good charger - auto switching for US and European
current, automatic stop when charge is complete, and trickle charger when
batteries are left in it. Also, the charge degrades over time when the
batteries are stored and not used for a while. Someone told me that they
can degrade as much as 5% per week. If you anticipate when you will need
them for shooting lots of picture you should recharge them just before you
need to use them. Also, be sure to have two sets and carry the extra set in
case the batteries in the camera are depleted and you still want to take
more pictures. Rotate the battery sets in use so you keep the number of
recharge cycles pretty even between them. My camera uses four AA batteries
and I travel with the charger and three sets of batteries. On a trip I
remove the set I used each day and recharge them and install the next set in
sequence.
 
Besides making sure they are NIMH rechargeables try this. With your finger
roll the battery slightly in the charging socket as it's charging. I've
noticed on several chargers sticky LEDs that don't seem to go out when the
charge is done. Rolling the battery breaks the connection to let you know
it's finished.
The charge could conceiveably take 10 hours. Some chargers will charge
more quickly than others contingent upon the milliamps they'll push. Best
thing is to look at the charger's documentation.
 
Jack Ricci said:
I know this is off topic, but I don't know where else to turn since my
computer is down and I am using my neighbor's.

I was given a digital camera (2 megapixels). I bought a charger for the
batteries (AA) and they have been charging for six hours now! There are
some red lights that are supposed to go off when charged. Is that too
long? I don't know who else to ask. I am elderly and not too technically
savvy. It is my first digital camera and I am very hesitant. Thank you
for the help.
Click to expand...

It's probably fine. Some chargers are designed to charge the battery slowly
(10-14 hours) and others charge more quickly (As short as 20 mins in some
cases). The charger I have takes between 4 and 8 hours depending on the make
and capacity of the cells (batteries).

To give you a better answer we would need more technical information on the
charger. If you tell us the make and model we might be able to find the info
on the internet.
 
I bought a charger for the
Click to expand...

Mfrs usually recommend a 10 hour rate, or slower, and a 14 hour
charge from fully discharged to allow for losses, they also
seem to recommend a 24 hour initial (first time of use) charge
to minimise memory effect. In general the slower the charge the
better since once the battery is fully charged additional current is
turned into heat and at high charge rates this can damage the
battery. NiCd's suffer from memory effect, NiMh less so, but a
slow initial chage is still a good thing. Unfortunately you are
stuck with what the charger gives you, although there are more
expensive chargers that do a discharge/charge cycle and a
monitored charge that controls the charge rate as the battery
approaches its full charge.
 
Batteries should be charged at 10% of their total capacity for 1
hours

A cell with a 1.2 Ampere per hour discharge capacity should b
charged at 0.12 A or 120 mA for 16 hours, this is the normal goin
rate

You can of course charge them at 0.22 A or 220mA for 8 hours, or eve
0.44 or 440mA for 4 hours. There are what you call 'fast chargers
that works on this principle but there are usually well protected t
prevent cell damage and indeed even explosion..

The faster you charge cells the greater heat the cell produces an
greater the 'gassing'

Note dry cells are 1.5 Volts, rechargeables are only 1.2V when full
charged, the 9 Volt 'radio' types are usually made up of slabs o
1.5V cells, or 1.2 V cells if rechargeable

Thought I'd mention it in case it helps any

Dav
 
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