Camera Batteries: Do They Have An Expiry Date?

Camera batteries are a crucial component of your device, but they can be a source of frustration if they're not properly maintained. Here's a rundown of the key points to consider when it comes to camera batteries:

- First-Party vs. Third-Party Batteries: Your camera likely came with a first-party battery, made by the manufacturer or a licensed partner. These are designed to work seamlessly with your camera. Third-party batteries, on the other hand, are made by other companies and can vary in quality. While some are high-quality, others may be cheap knock-offs that could damage your camera.

- Voltage and Current: Understanding voltage and current is essential when dealing with batteries. Voltage is like a ditch that traps your enemy, with higher voltage equating to a bigger ditch. Current, on the other hand, is the flow of electricity, like your enemy falling into the ditch.

- Power: Power is the ability of electricity to move things and is measured in Watts (W). It's calculated by multiplying voltage (V) and current (A). Your camera's power rating will give you an idea of how much energy it consumes.

- Lithium-Ion Batteries: These are the most common type of camera battery and offer high energy density, low self-discharge, and stable terminal voltage. However, they can be volatile and prone to explosion if not handled properly.

- Battery Capacity: The energy capacity of a battery is typically measured in Watt-hours (Wh) or milliampere-hours (mAh). You can calculate the number of hours of operation a battery will provide by dividing its capacity by your camera's power rating.

- Temperature Effects: Li-ion batteries perform best at temperatures between 0°C and 45°C (32-113°F). They start to lose energy capability below 0°C and discharge faster at higher temperatures.

- Standard Voltage Cells: Li-ion batteries are designed with standard voltage-sized cells, typically 3.6 V/3.7 V. This is why camera batteries often have voltage ranges like 7.2 V or 14.4 V.

- Backup Batteries: It's always a good idea to have backup batteries for your camera. Aim for at least 24 hours' worth of backup to ensure maximum reliability.

Leaving batteries in your camera for a week or two between uses will be no problem

Leaving the batteries in your camera for a week or two between uses will be no problem. If you plan to leave your camera unused for six months to a year, you might want to take them out.

Lithium-ion batteries are the most common type of battery used in cameras. They have a protection circuit that shields the battery against abuse. This safeguard also turns the battery off and makes it unusable if over-discharged.

Leaving your camera batteries in for a week or two is fine, but if you plan to leave your camera unused for six months to a year, you might want to take them out.

The lithium-ion battery pack used in your camera should hold its charge on the shelf fairly well, so you won't have to worry too much about it being drained just sitting there. If you do need to shelve it for a long time, the battery will be best if stored at a little less than half full.

Some rare cameras may have problems where the battery is drained by the camera even when the camera is off. You'll know if you have one of these by whether your batteries still work after two weeks. In that case, there's still unlikely to be any actual harm; battery life might be shortened somewhat, but not more than it would be by actual heavy use.

It is bad for lithium-ion batteries to be left unused for a long time (more than a few days) with the battery discharged. That's why when you buy something new with a lithium-ion battery, it always has a little bit of charge on it. In normal use, the batteries prefer to stay topped up rather than run right down (that's an old myth).

If you were leaving it for, say, 6 months, it's best for their longevity if you leave them at about 40% charge or a little more. It's very unlikely, but you wouldn't want a battery fault (or a buildup of humidity or condensation) to cause it to leak, melt, etc. in your camera. That's extremely unlikely to happen, though.

If you plan to leave your camera unused for six months to a year, you might want to take them out

If you plan to leave your camera unused for six months to a year, you might want to take the batteries out. The lithium-ion battery pack used in your camera should hold its charge well, so you don't have to worry about it being drained while sitting idle. However, if you do need to store it for a long time, the battery will be best if stored at a little less than half full.

Lithium-ion batteries contain a protection circuit that shields the battery against abuse. This safeguard also turns the battery off and makes it unusable if over-discharged. Slipping into sleep mode can happen when storing a lithium-ion battery in a discharged state for any length of time as self-discharge would gradually deplete the remaining charge. Depending on the manufacturer, the protection circuit of a lithium-ion battery cuts off between 2.2 and 2.9V/cell.

Some battery chargers feature a wake-up function or "boost" to reactivate and recharge batteries that have fallen asleep. Without this provision, a charger renders these batteries unserviceable and the packs would be discarded. Boost applies a small charge current to activate the protection circuit and if a correct cell voltage can be reached, the charger starts a normal charge.

To prolong the life of your camera's lithium-ion batteries, it is recommended to store them in a cool, dry place. Avoid getting the battery too hot on charge and do not leave the battery in the charger for more than a few days. It is also important to note that you should not allow any metal objects to touch the terminals as this can cause a short circuit and damage the battery pack.

Storing lithium-ion batteries presents some uncertainty

Li-ion batteries contain a protection circuit that shields the battery against abuse. This important safeguard also turns the battery off and makes it unusable if over-discharged. Slipping into sleep mode can happen when storing a Li-ion pack in a discharged state for any length of time as self-discharge would gradually deplete the remaining charge. Depending on the manufacturer, the protection circuit of a Li-ion cuts off between 2.2 and 2.9V/cell.

Li-ion batteries are designed in standard voltage-sized cells. The most typical is 3.6 V/3.7 V. This is why you have these weird voltage ranges: 7.2 V, 7.4 V, 14.4 V, 14.8 V.

Li-ion discharges (power lost when the battery is sitting idle) faster at higher temperatures. E.g., at 40°C, it discharges at 15%. It charges faster and works better at lower temperatures, typically between 0°C and 45°C (32-113°F).

Keeping aside sub-zero temperatures as a special case, Li-ion batteries are okay for all other conditions between 0°C and 45°C (32-113°F). Some people even refrigerate the batteries to improve performance! Read the manufacturer’s instructions to see how to take care of your batteries.

Avoid full discharges

Camera batteries, especially rechargeable ones, lose their ability to hold a full charge over time. To ensure your camera battery lasts as long as possible, it is important to avoid full discharges. Here are some tips to help you avoid fully discharging your camera battery:

• Turn on the battery-saving mode: Most modern cameras have a power-saving feature that automatically turns off the camera after a period of inactivity. This is helpful if you forget to turn off the camera manually. You can usually find this feature in the camera's settings.
• Use the viewfinder instead of the LCD screen: The LCD screen is one of the biggest drains on your camera's battery. If your camera has a viewfinder, use it to frame your photos instead. If you must use the LCD screen, turn down the brightness to conserve battery power.
• Avoid using battery-intensive features: Features like automatic flash, continuous autofocus, and image stabilization can drain your battery quickly. Only use these features when necessary, and try to rely on manual settings whenever possible.
• Carry extra batteries: Carrying spare batteries is always a good idea, especially if you're shooting in cold weather or plan to be away from a power source for an extended period. Make sure to keep your spare batteries charged and ready to go.
• Store batteries properly: When not in use, store your camera batteries in a cool, dry place. Lithium-ion batteries should be stored at around 40% charge. It's also a good idea to cover the battery contacts to prevent condensation and corrosion.
• Regularly charge your batteries: Even if you're not using your camera, it's important to charge your batteries periodically. Li-ion batteries can hold their charge for a long time, but they will lose their ability to hold a charge if left uncharged for too long.

By following these tips, you can help prolong the life of your camera batteries and avoid the frustration of running out of power at crucial moments.

Do not over-discharge with a heavy load

Over-discharging a lithium-ion battery with a heavy load is not recommended. Lithium-ion batteries are not meant to be fully discharged, and doing so can reduce their useful lifetime.

Lithium-ion batteries have an undervolt protection circuit that kicks in when the battery is around 10% charged. This is because when a lithium-ion cell drops below 1 volt, it becomes chemically unstable, which can lead to a 'thermal event' and the battery getting hot and being ruined.

To prolong the life of your lithium-ion battery, it is best to avoid fully charging it and instead charge it to around 50% maximum.

Frequently asked questions