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Battery Storage

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medialinx

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How do people store their space 5D/7D batteries?

I have plastic battery storage containers for my AA batteries, but currently store the spare 5D battery in a "food bag".

What does everyone else do? I would like a better solution.

Looking forward to seeing what everyone does :-)

Graham.

--
---
Graham Crichton
Photographer & Proprietor

Production Shots
Theatrical & Commercial Specialist Photography
Photography with a flair for the Theatrical™
Tel: 0845 094 2591 (Belfast)
Tel: 020 7871 4534 (London)
Web: http://www.productionshots.com
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Personal Website: http://www.grahamcrichton.com
 
The KM battery came in a plastic cover, which I keep on one of my spares. The other stays in a pocket in my camera bag.
 
What amount of juice for long term (month or more) in storage do people do?

I try to leave 50-75% in the batteries (on in camera, one out). It is hard to know exactly so, best guess for percent on my part.

Also, I have an extra unused Maxell battery still in unopened package. Does anyone know how long that will last? I assume the best approach is to not open it until I need it. In 2-3 years? 3 years unused tops?
 
Basically, all our Minolta (or 3rd party NP-400) batteries are loosing a lot or a little power if you use them or not depending on amount of charge and temperature.

It is best to store any unused battery in the refrigerator or freezer (0° C) at 40% charge while using up the other battery until it is dead dead dead. Periodically check your back up battery to be sure it is at 40%. So even an unopened battery should be charged and kept in cold suspension until you need it.

More on it here:
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm

and here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_ion_battery

Scroll down to Storage temperature and charge section for storage chart.

Before using/charging the cold storage battery, let it warm up for an hour or more at room temperature.

The above advice would typically not apply to the spare battery you may carry with you on a long trip. But when you get home, put the newer battery in cold storage at 40% until the next trip or until the older battery bites the dust.
 
This battery type ages with time as well as with usage (discharge/charge cycles). So, you may as well use it.

I rotate my three batteries and so do not have to worry about self-discharge.
JMCO said:
What amount of juice for long term (month or more) in storage do
people do?
I try to leave 50-75% in the batteries (on in camera, one out). It
is hard to know exactly so, best guess for percent on my part.

Also, I have an extra unused Maxell battery still in unopened
package. Does anyone know how long that will last? I assume the
best approach is to not open it until I need it. In 2-3 years? 3
years unused tops?
Click to expand...
--
Rick
 
I try to rotate them (3) and don't see the need to worry about $15/piece third party battery.
 
How mindless all these wise battery advise pages (better: their authors) are! They all suggest to store the battery at 40% but not one tells us how to find out when 40% is achieved. I bet they don't know themselves. Nincompoops!

Anyway, here is my situation:

I'm conservative, so I want plenty of spare whatever. I bought 4 batteries in total. Just after I bought the last two, I learned that they are already beginning to die, whether I use them or not. Grrrrrreat!

So, I educated myself, learned about the 40% charge for storage and hired a hitman to k*ll that author. Well, he couldn't be found. Good for him.

The newest two batteries are now at what I hope is near 40%, in an air-tight jar, inside my freezer. I took them out of the camera the moment the indicator showed a partially black battery. I recharged for 5 minutes and assume this is exactly 40%. Well, I could be off by a quarter or so per cent. Fully charged, they were 8.4V. Now they are...I wish I could remember. Doesn't matter, they are frozen now.

I think it is important to prepare the freezing-in, though. Start with an open (!) empty jar in the freezer, to get the air in the jar dry. Then insert the batterie(s) without much turbulence, to keep the dry air undisturbed. If you don't do that, you might get condensation inside the glass.

When the time comes and you need the batteries, take the jar out and leave it closed for 24 hours (25 are okay too), or the fresh humid air will condense outside (and inside) the cold batteries. When the batteries are room temperature, you can charge them again.

This procedure should be done once every six months, to keep them at 40%. Just charge for 5 minutes after they got acclimated, then freeze them in again.

For my other two betteries, I keep the spare one uncharged after I take it out of the camera and start charging it once the in-camera one reaches the 40% stage (or if I am going on a shoot and want more capacity). Charging at the last minute prolongs the shelf life (according to the guy I almost had k*lled).

Did I forget anything?

Oh, yeah, a lot of my drivel is TIC, in case you haven't figured that out yet. But I'm serious about the hitman and stuff ;-)
 
There is a hidden battery % meter on the 7D.

Press the shutter twice, then the preview button, then the lens adjustment knob. This will show the charge perfectly but only on the silver body 7D. ;-)
 
I have two batteries. I rotate them. Plus those little silicon gel packs (they are hydroscopic and absorb moisture keeping humidity lower). Well, I save those and have bought some and they permeate my camera bag and the internal pocket the spare battery sits in.

--
mcl
Professional Meteorologist & Amateur Photographer.
 
Advice from Sony:

Fully charge up and then almost use up the battery. Then store the battery in a cool, dry place. If you do not use the battery for a prolonged period, at least repeat the 'fully-charge, discharge' procedure once a year.

I take for granted that this method applies to Minolta batteries too. The remaining problem is - how cool and how dry?
medialinx said:
How do people store their space 5D/7D batteries?

I have plastic battery storage containers for my AA batteries, but
currently store the spare 5D battery in a "food bag".

What does everyone else do? I would like a better solution.

Looking forward to seeing what everyone does :-)

Graham.

--
---
Graham Crichton
Photographer & Proprietor

Production Shots
Theatrical & Commercial Specialist Photography
Photography with a flair for the Theatrical™
Tel: 0845 094 2591 (Belfast)
Tel: 020 7871 4534 (London)
Web: http://www.productionshots.com
---
Personal Website: http://www.grahamcrichton.com
Click to expand...
 
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