Keeping track of charged/discharged batteries

Weehee! My new UZI just arrived from buydig.com. What a deal...there's so much stuff in the box for what I paid. But I digress.

Here's my question: How do you (the person reading this) keep track of whether your rechargeable batteries are ready to go or need to be charged? I have my own personal system (involving rubber bands), but am curious as to whether others have a more clever system of their own.

So, if you find that you constantly know what state some cells are in, let us all know how. Or, if you are constantly wondering what state your cells are in, you might want to follow this thread. TIA...

• Craig

Craig said:

Here's my question: How do you (the person reading this) keep
track of whether your rechargeable batteries are ready to go or
need to be charged...

Click to expand...

The one of us who can operate a sewing machine made a bunch of small flat bags with four compartments, one for each battery. Just take a rectangle of cloth, fold almost double, sew edges, turn inside out, sew three dividing lines. Leave a fold over flap.

Charged batteries go in button up, discharged go in button down. Roll up and secure with rubber band. Keeps sets together.

Some stretchy material works great.

CraigF2004 said:

Weehee! My new UZI just arrived from buydig.com. What a
deal...there's so much stuff in the box for what I paid. But
I digress.

Click to expand...

The most important thing I missed in the manual is that you half to hold the shutter half-way down for a full second before you take your picture. Do that ... and I think you'll be impressed.

CraigF2004 said:

Here's my question: How do you (the person reading this) keep
track of whether your rechargeable batteries are ready to go or
need to be charged? I have my own personal system (involving
rubber bands), but am curious as to whether others have a more
clever system of their own.

Click to expand...

Well, I have two sets of Rayovac 1600s ( I marked the ends of one set ) and the Olys that came with the camera. Everything goes in a fanny pack ... with two zipped battery-set sized pockets. One set in each pocket, and one set in the camera. Each set is either just about full or just about empty. I haven't killed two full sets in a day ... and whenever I deplete one, I charge it up at night.

So remembering whether it's the normal Rayos or the red-tipped Rayos hasn't been an issue yet ... but if it comes up, I'll know in a few seconds whether I grabbed the right batteries or not.

Craig said:

Weehee! My new UZI just arrived from buydig.com. What a
deal...there's so much stuff in the box for what I paid. But
I digress.

Here's my question: How do you (the person reading this) keep
track of whether your rechargeable batteries are ready to go or
need to be charged? I have my own personal system (involving
rubber bands), but am curious as to whether others have a more
clever system of their own.

So, if you find that you constantly know what state some cells are
in, let us all know how. Or, if you are constantly wondering what
state your cells are in, you might want to follow this thread.
TIA...

• Craig

Click to expand...

I found that 4 batteries fit perfectly in an old Sony earphone case. When
I take them out of the camera, the polarities of the batteries are mixed - I
put them in the case that way. When I recharge them, I put them in the case
with all the polarities the same. So far, so good.

Darrell

Beth wrote:
Like that polarity idea! Thanks!

I bought two sets(4) of plastic battery containers from Thomas ($1.50/set). Marked two of them w/ indellible marker to keep sets separate. NOw I will use the matched polarity/mixed polarity to keep the used separated from the charged. Great idea!

Great thread idea too...thanks for thinking of it!

Darrell Spreen said:

Craig said:

Weehee! My new UZI just arrived from buydig.com. What a
deal...there's so much stuff in the box for what I paid. But
I digress.

Here's my question: How do you (the person reading this) keep
track of whether your rechargeable batteries are ready to go or
need to be charged? I have my own personal system (involving
rubber bands), but am curious as to whether others have a more
clever system of their own.

So, if you find that you constantly know what state some cells are
in, let us all know how. Or, if you are constantly wondering what
state your cells are in, you might want to follow this thread.
TIA...

• Craig

Click to expand...

I found that 4 batteries fit perfectly in an old Sony earphone
case. When
I take them out of the camera, the polarities of the batteries are
mixed - I
put them in the case that way. When I recharge them, I put them in
the case
with all the polarities the same. So far, so good.

Darrell

Click to expand...

Beth said:

Like that polarity idea! Thanks!

Click to expand...

Me too!

Member said:

I bought two sets(4) of plastic battery containers from Thomas
($1.50/set). Marked two of them w/ indellible marker to keep sets
separate. NOw I will use the matched polarity/mixed polarity to
keep the used separated from the charged. Great idea!

Click to expand...

Good idea as well. I keep my NiCad AAA's for another device in 35mm canisters marked similarly to what you describe. For AA's for my cam, I use rubber bands -- a green rubber band goes around batteries that are charged and ready to go, and a red rubber band goes around batteries that need to be charged. Pretty simple, but it works for me (as long as I don't go red-green color blind any time soon).

Member said:

Great thread idea too...thanks for thinking of it!

Click to expand...

heh...thanks.

Craig said:

Here's my question: How do you (the person reading this) keep
track of whether your rechargeable batteries are ready to go or
need to be charged? I have my own personal system (involving
rubber bands), but am curious as to whether others have a more
clever system of their own.

Click to expand...

In my camera case I can take about 4 sets of batteries and I just use little plastic bags, the kind with the snap seal, and have a little peice of paper in there saying "charged" and "dead".
Does the job for me

Tony

Craig said:

Weehee! My new UZI just arrived from buydig.com. What a
deal...there's so much stuff in the box for what I paid. But
I digress.

Here's my question: How do you (the person reading this) keep
track of whether your rechargeable batteries are ready to go or
need to be charged? I have my own personal system (involving
rubber bands), but am curious as to whether others have a more
clever system of their own.

So, if you find that you constantly know what state some cells are
in, let us all know how. Or, if you are constantly wondering what
state your cells are in, you might want to follow this thread.
TIA...

• Craig

Click to expand...

I have 4 sets of batteries, 2 1600mah and 2 1200mah. I used a sharpie to write "A" on a set, "B" on another "C" and "D"

Somehow I find remembering "C" is after "B" to be more intuitive than Olympus are after Energizer Blue.

This system accomplishes two goals:

1. It ensures that I cycle through all 4 sets of batteries. I put sets in in alphabetical order. Theoretically this should ensure that they all wear out pretty evenly.

2. Since they go in and out of the charger and the camera alphabetically, and I only carry 3 sets on me (one is in the charger) it's pretty easy when I get back home (or hotel) to see that charger has set B in it, and camera has set D in it, therefore must charge C and if possible D.

Hope this helps.

Alessandro

P.S. Ok, we're sharing... so what about your rubber band technique?

P.P.S. For storage I use little boxes from older tape backup tapes. They're close in size. I will however try to con the GirlFriend into making me 3 little bags as were described on here by someone else.

Craig said:

Here's my question: How do you (the person reading this) keep
track of whether your rechargeable batteries are ready to go or
need to be charged?

Click to expand...

Craig:

I purchased three battery holder pockets from Green Batteries. These are cloth pockets, with a velcro closure, and a loop to slide them on the camera case or camera strap. I have sewn three little clear plastic covers on the front of each case. I keep one set of batteries in the camera, and tape a piece of paper with the insertion date and number of frames (from the LCD) left on the memory card to the door to the SM slot. The three battery cases have paper in the plastic window giving me the last charged date of each set of batteries. When a set of batteries (I will change the batteries every 150 shots whether or not the battery indicator is blinking) is dead, I simply remove the piece of paper from the battery holder, put the new batteries in the camera, and the old dead batteries into the now unmarked battery case. By the way, I always have at least one set of batteries in a charger at home. (I have two chargers). The reason for the date last charged on the piece of paper, is because NiMH batteries have a shelf life, and I don't let them sit more than 1 week, before popping them back into a charger.
MDiamond

Alessandro Di Sciascio said:

P.S. Ok, we're sharing... so what about your rubber band technique?

Click to expand...

I mentioned this in another post, but I use rubber bands of two colors. A green rubber band goes around sets of charged AA's and a red rubber band goes around sets of discharged AA's. Granted, I don't get the date benefit that one poster's system offered, but this suits me pretty well. I like the little cloth pocket idea, though.

I've always thought it would be cool to integrate into the AA form factor for rechargeables the same thing that larger camcorder batteries have (or used to have): a little switch that covers/uncovers a red dot to let you indicate on the battery itself whether it's charged or not.

• Craig

Hi Craig,
Welcome to the club!
Now here's what I've done and I am open to improvement.

1. I made a conscious decision since I bought my first spares to never buy identical sets. Until there is ever a significantly superior brand/model, I'll continue this process.

2. I have the 1600mAh Oly, 1600 Sanyo/GE, 1600 Powerex and 1700 Powerex and they are all very different visually. Rotation is first purchased to latest purchased.

3. When I am using the UZi and the camera indicates LoBatt, I take the cells out and put them in a clothing pocket, any pocket. I take out the topmost spare from my bag(Tamrac 5516) and drop them in. They are loose but generally in order. In a true speed load, I won't worry about mixing the cells. I'll get the shots and when time permits, I'll make sure they're unmixed.
4. Repeat #3 until done or out.

5. For maintainence, I agree with a previous poster that a regular interval contingency charge is called for and I leave the interval up to the user as we all use our UZi uniquely.

As for my 6 chips, I use the labels(A-Z) and keep the shiny side up for usable chips. Full chips go black - up. Oh, I carry them in the Oly wallet that my loving daughter got me for Xmas. I love her, you know

Cheers,
David2100uz

Craig said:

Weehee! My new UZI just arrived from buydig.com. What a
deal...there's so much stuff in the box for what I paid. But
I digress.

Here's my question: How do you (the person reading this) keep
track of whether your rechargeable batteries are ready to go or
need to be charged? I have my own personal system (involving
rubber bands), but am curious as to whether others have a more
clever system of their own.

So, if you find that you constantly know what state some cells are
in, let us all know how. Or, if you are constantly wondering what
state your cells are in, you might want to follow this thread.
TIA...

• Craig

Click to expand...

Heh!
molecularly yours,
Tony

Member said:

I found that 4 batteries fit perfectly in an old Sony earphone
case. When
I take them out of the camera, the polarities of the batteries are
mixed - I
put them in the case that way. When I recharge them, I put them in
the case
with all the polarities the same. So far, so good.

Click to expand...

Hi,

I did use a sticker label for my 3 sets of batteries and use the polarity to indicate whether they are charged or not. I tie the batteries with alternate polarities when they are charged (ready for use) and have all the polarities same when they are dead. So, it is the reverse of what you have.

Cheers,
WeeYeow

I have three sets and store the two extra in my camera bag.

The extra sets are in small letter envelopes. Slide them all in with the button up, fold once vertically and once horizontally to "tighten" the space. Last date charged is written on the outside. Slip them into a small pocket in the camera bag - the envelope "case" does not open up. Discharged batteries go back in in a random order. When one "case" wears out - or is full of charging dates - a new one costs about one cent.

Mark

Tony Carro said:

Heh!
molecularly yours,
Tony

Click to expand...

...Tony...

...get a life...why don't you persue something meaningful ...like the answer to "What ever happened to the DPR "refresh" button?"...
...inquisitively yours,
newby

BobTrips said:

I took a Plastic Shell from a Music Cassette and Four Batteries(AA) fit nicely 2 right,2 left and the remote in the middle between the brackets

Click to expand...

Hope this helps somebody,I am happy with it
Dieter

Member said:

Craig said:

Here's my question: How do you (the person reading this) keep
track of whether your rechargeable batteries are ready to go or
need to be charged...

Click to expand...

The one of us who can operate a sewing machine made a bunch of
small flat bags with four compartments, one for each battery. Just
take a rectangle of cloth, fold almost double, sew edges, turn
inside out, sew three dividing lines. Leave a fold over flap.

Charged batteries go in button up, discharged go in button down.
Roll up and secure with rubber band. Keeps sets together.

Some stretchy material works great.

Click to expand...